Gain control in radio chains of a receiver

• US 9,907,034 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2014
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Johansson, Bernt, Thillberg, Jan-Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): PHU, SANH D
• Application Number:
  US15/322,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20170164305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 4552341
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/28 varying the amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3078 Circuits generating control signals for digitally modulated signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/10 Means associated with receiver for limiting or suppressing noise or interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0848 Joint weighting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/52 using AGC [Automatic Gain Control] circuits or amplifiers

Abstract

There is provided automatic gain control of radio chains of a receiver. At least two radio frequency (RF) signals are received. Each RF signal is received on an individual radio chain from an antenna array. By comparing the at least two RF signals to a threshold it is determined whether to perform gain control or not of at least one of the at least two RF signals before analog combining of the at least two RF signals. A notification is sent to a detector regarding whether gain control is performed or not. Analog combining of the at least two RF signals is performed, thereby generating a single input to the detector.

Claims

1. A method for automatic gain control of radio chains of a receiver, the method being performed by the receiver, the method comprising:

receiving at least two radio frequency (RF) signals, each RF signal being received on an individual radio chain from an antenna array;

determining, by comparing the at least two RF signals to a threshold, whether to perform gain control or not of at least one of the at least two RF signals before analog combining of the at least two RF signals;

sending a notification to a detector regarding whether gain control is performed or not; and

performing analog combining of the at least two RF signals, thereby generating a single input to the detector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining further comprises:

determining whether to activate or to deactivate performing gain control in case at least one individual RF signal of the at least two RF signals crosses said threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein activating performing gain control comprises subjecting at least one of the two RF signals to a gain value.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein deactivating performing gain control comprises stopping subjecting at least one of the two RF signals to a gain value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein performing gain control comprises subjecting all those of the at least two RF signals on which gain control is to be performed to a single gain value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein performing gain control comprises subjecting each one of those of the at least two RF signals on which gain control is to be performed to an individual gain value.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said individual gain values depend on properties of the antenna array.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein performing gain control comprises performing gain control on less than all of the at least two RF signals.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein performing gain control comprises performing gain control on all of the at least two RF signals.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining, in the event that gain control of at least one of the at least two RF signals is deactivated, further comprises:

activating gain control of at least one of the at least two RF signals in the event that at least one of the at least two RF signals exceeds a first threshold.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining, in the event that gain control of at least one of the at least two RF signals is activated, further comprises:

deactivating gain control of at least one of the at least two RF signals in the event that at least one of the at least two RF signals is less than a second threshold.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said determining, in the event that gain control of at least one of the at least two RF signals is activated, further comprises:

deactivating gain control of at least one of the at least two RF signals in the event that at least one of the at least two RF signals is less than a second threshold, said first threshold being higher than said second threshold.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a notification regarding how many RF signals of the at least two RF signals that crosses said threshold.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a notification regarding which RF signals of the at least two RF signals that crosses said threshold.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selectively activating and deactivating low noise amplification on the at least two RF signals before determining whether to perform gain control or not on the at least two RF signals.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selectively activating and deactivating individual further gain operations on the at least two RF signals according to antenna beam weights after determining whether to perform gain control or not on the at least two RF signals.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said individual further gain operations are performed before performing said analog combining.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said individual further gain operations are performed during the analog combining of the at least two RF signals.

19. A receiver for automatic gain control of radio chains of the receiver, the receiver comprising a processing unit, the processing unit being configured to:

receive at least two radio frequency (RF) signals, each RF signal being received on an individual radio chain from an antenna array;

determine, by comparing the at least two RF signals to a threshold, whether to perform gain control or not of at least one of the at least two RF signals before analog combining of the at least two RF signals;

send a notification to a detector regarding whether gain control is performed or not; and

perform analog combining of the at least two RF signals, thereby generating a single input to the detector.

20. A radio access network node for automatic gain control of radio chains of a receiver of the radio access network node, the radio access network node comprising:

an antenna array;

a detector; and

a receiver of claim 19.

21. A portable wireless device for automatic gain control of radio chains of a receiver of the portable wireless device, the portable wireless device comprising:

an antenna array;

a detector; and

a receiver of claim 19.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising, stored thereupon, a computer program for automatic gain control of radio chains of a receiver, the computer program comprising computer program code configured to, when run on a processing unit, cause the processing unit to:

receive at least two radio frequency (RF) signals, each RF signal being received on an individual radio chain from an antenna array;

determine, by comparing the at least two RF signals to a threshold, whether to perform gain control or not of at least one of the at least two RF signals before analog combining of the at least two RF signals;

send a notification to a detector regarding whether gain control is performed or not; and

perform analog combining of the at least two RF signals, thereby generating a single input to the detector.