Method for transmit power control
View Patent ↗A transceiver has power control circuitry integrated therein. In particular, the power control circuitry receives a signal indicative of the transmit power level and adjusts the gain on a variable gain amplifier within the transceiver such that the output of the transceiver is at a level from which the power amplifier will amplify the signal to the desired transmit power.
1. A method of controlling power transmitted from an antenna, comprising:
sensing the power transmitted from the antenna, wherein sensing the power transmitted from the antenna comprises sensing a power level in a leakage signal from a switch;
determining a desired level for the power transmitted from the antenna;
comparing, in digital circuitry incorporated into a transceiver integrated circuit, the power transmitted from the antenna to the desired level;
generating, in the digital circuitry, a control signal; and
controlling a variable gain amplifier within the transceiver integrated circuit with the control signal, wherein the variable gain amplifier amplifies a transmit signal within the transceiver integrated circuit, such that the power transmitted from the antenna approaches the desired level.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein sensing the power transmitted from the antenna comprises rectifying a signal indicative of the power transmitted from the antenna to create an analog rectified signal.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein sensing the power transmitted from the antenna further comprises converting the analog rectified signal to a digital signal.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein generating, in the digital circuitry, a control signal comprises generating a digital control signal.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising converting the digital control signal to an analog signal to control the variable gain amplifier within the transceiver integrated circuit.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating, in the digital circuitry, a bias signal to control a bias level of a power amplifier.
7. The method of claim 1 comprising forwarding the transmit signal to a power amplifier associated with the antenna, wherein the power amplifier is distinct from the transceiver integrated circuit.