Methods and apparatus for controlling a gain state of a wireless receiver operating in an idle mode

• US 8,116,712 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Jin, Xin, Jiao, Qingzhong, Young, Tom Yun Sang
• Primary Examiner(s): HANNON, CHRISTIAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/942,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20110053542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 455/245.1, 455/232.1, 455/234.1, 455/246.1, 455/247.1, 455/250.1, 455/343.4, 455/234.2
• US Class Current: 455/234.2
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3052 in bandpass amplifiers (H.F. or I.F.) or in frequency-changers used in a (super)heterodyne receiver H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0283 with sequential power up or power down of successive circuit blocks, e.g. switching on the local oscillator before RF or mixer stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Techniques for controlling a gain state of a wireless receiver involve causing the wireless receiver to enter into a sleep mode; causing the wireless receiver to exit from the sleep mode and enter into a wake-up period; providing, via a multiplexer, a stored gain control state value to the wireless receiver for use during a warm-up period of the wake-up period, the stored gain control state value being previously read from a gain controller during a previous wake-up period of the wireless receiver; and after the warm-up period of the wake up period, providing, via the multiplexer, a current gain control state value from the gain controller to the wireless receiver for use during the wake up period, the current gain control state value being based on a signal level of a currently-received signal in the wireless receiver.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a gain state of a wireless receiver, the method comprising:

causing the wireless receiver to enter into a sleep mode;

causing the wireless receiver to exit from the sleep mode and enter into a wake-up period;

providing, via a multiplexer, a stored gain control state value to the wireless receiver for use during a warm-up period of the wake-up period, the stored gain control state value being previously read from a gain controller during a previous wake-up period of the wireless receiver; and

after the warm-up period of the wake up period, providing, via the multiplexer, a continuously variable gain control state value from the gain controller to the wireless receiver for use during the wake up period, the continuously variable gain control state value being based on a signal level of a currently-received signal in the wireless receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

for subsequent sleep modes and wake-up periods of the wireless receiver;

repeating the causing of the wireless receiver to enter into the sleep mode, the causing of the wireless receiver to exit from the sleep mode and enter into the wake-up period, the providing of the stored gain control state value to the wireless receiver, and the providing of the continuously variable gain control state value from the gain controller to the wireless receiver.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reading a gain control state value from the gain controller during the previous wake-up period, and storing the gain control state value in memory.

4. The method claim 1, further comprising:

running a sleep mode timer for the sleep mode; and

in response to expiration of the sleep mode timer, causing the wireless receiver to exist from the sleep mode and enter into the wake-up period.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the act of providing the stored gain control state value to the wireless receiver comprises providing it to a low noise amplifier (LNA) of the wireless receiver; and

wherein the act of providing the continuously variable gain control state value from the gain controller to the wireless receiver comprises providing the continuously variable gain control state value from the gain controller to the LNA.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the continuously variable gain control state value is monotonically non-increasing with respect to the signal level.

7. A circuit for a receiver, comprising:

a processor;

memory coupled to the processor;

an amplifier configured to amplify radio frequency (RF) signals in the wireless receiver;

a level detector configured to detect a signal level of the RF signals;

a gain controller configured to provide a gain control state value in response to the signal level;

a multiplexer having an output for providing a gain control input to the amplifier; and

the processor being configured to;

cause the receiver to enter into a sleep mode;

cause the receiver to exit from the sleep mode and enter into a wake-up period;

provide, via the multiplexer, a stored gain control state value from the memory to the amplifier for use during a warm-up period of the wake-up period, the stored gain control state value being read from the gain controller and stored in the memory during a previous wake-up period of the receiver; and

after the warm-up period of the wake up period, provide, via the multiplexer, a current gain control state value from the gain controller to the amplifier for use during the wake up period, the current gain control state value being based on the signal level of a currently-received signal in the receiver.

8. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to, for subsequent sleep modes and wake-up periods of the receiver, repeat the causing of the receiver to enter into the sleep mode, the causing of the receiver to exit from the sleep mode and enter into the wake-up period, the providing of the stored gain control state value to the receiver, and the providing of the current gain control state value from the gain controller to the receiver.

9. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the amplifier comprises a low noise amplifier (LNA) of a front end stage of the receiver.

10. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the gain controller is further configured to provide a step gain control state value including a plurality of gain state values in response to the signal level.

11. A mobile station, comprising:

a processor;

memory coupled to the processor;

a receiver configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals;

an amplifier of the receiver which is configured to amplify the RF signals;

a level detector configured to detect a signal level of the RF signals;

a gain controller configured to provide a gain control state value at an output in response to the signal level;

a multiplexer having an output coupled to a gain control input to the amplifier;

the processor being configured to;

cause the receiver to enter into a sleep mode;

cause the receiver to exit from the sleep mode and enter into a wake-up period;

provide, via the multiplexer, a stored gain control state value from the memory to the amplifier for use during a warm-up period of the wake-up period, the stored gain control state value being read from the gain controller and stored in the memory during a previous wake-up period of the receiver; and

after the warm-up period of the wake up period, provide, via the multiplexer, a current gain control state value from the gain controller to the amplifier for use during the wake up period, the current gain control state value being based on the signal level of a currently-received signal in the receiver.

12. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to, for subsequent sleep modes and wake-up periods of the receiver, repeat the causing of the receiver to enter into the sleep mode, the causing of the receiver to exit from the sleep mode and enter into the wake-up period, the providing of the stored gain control state value to the receiver, and the providing of the current gain control state value from the gain controller to the receiver.

13. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the amplifier comprises a low noise amplifier (LNA) of a front end stage of the receiver.

14. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the gain controller is further configured to provide a step gain control state value including a plurality of gain state values in response to the signal level.

15. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the gain controller provides a continuously-variable gain control state value in response to the signal level.

16. The mobile station of claim 15, wherein the continuously variable gain control state value is monotonically non-increasing with respect to the signal level.

17. The mobile station of claim 11, wherein the gain controller provides a step gain control state value from a plurality of gain control state values and a continuously-variable gain control state value in response to the signal level.