IP Library Granted Patent US 7,676,207
Granted Patent B2
US 7,676,207 · App. 11/370,761 · Granted Mar 9, 2010

System and method for digital autonomous automatic gain control (AGC) for DVB-H receivers

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,676,207
App. No.
11/370,761
Granted
Mar 9, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Digital autonomous AGC for a DVB-H receiver comprises detecting a plurality of RF signals entering a LNA in the DVB-H receiver; detecting a RF transmitter blocker signal occurring at the LNA; and differentiating between a desired RF signal and an undesired RF transmitter blocker signal by varying a differential gain of current through the LNA. A RF servo loop is used for detecting the RF transmitter blocker signal. Logic circuitry of the RF servo loop is integrated with a baseband AGC loop to step control the differential gain of current through the LNA. A RF wideband detector is used for detecting the plurality of RF signals entering the LNA; and sending a voltage output corresponding to voltage levels of the RF signals to a plurality of comparators, wherein each of the plurality of comparators are set at a different programmable voltage threshold level compared with one another.

Claims (45)

1. A method of digital autonomous automatic gain control (AGC) for a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) receiver, said method comprising:

detecting a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signals entering a low noise amplifier (LNA) in said DVB-H receiver;

detecting a RF transmitter blocker signal occurring at said LNA; and

differentiating between a desired RF signal and an undesired RF transmitter blocker signal by varying a differential gain of current through said LNA.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a RF servo loop for detecting said RF transmitter blocker signal.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising integrating logic circuitry of said RF servo loop with a baseband AGC loop to step control said differential gain of current through said LNA.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using a RF wideband detector for detecting said plurality of RF signals entering the LNA; and

sending a voltage output corresponding to voltage levels of said RF signals to a plurality of comparators,

wherein each of said plurality of comparators are set at a different programmable voltage threshold level compared with one another.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising comparing said voltage levels of said RF signals to said voltage threshold level of each comparator.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising stepping down said differential gain of current through said LNA when a voltage level of a particular RF signal is larger than said voltage level of one of said plurality of comparators.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a plurality of differential amplifiers to vary said differential gain of current through said LNA by progressively diverting half of a remaining RF signal current away from an output of said LNA.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising varying said differential gain of current through said LNA by approximately 6 dB decrements.

9. The method of claim 3 , wherein an operational timing of said RF servo loop and said baseband AGC loop occurs during a cycle of approximately one DVB-H data burst.

10. A system for performing digital autonomous automatic gain control (AGC) for a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) receiver, said system comprising:

logic circuitry adapted to detect a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signals entering a low noise amplifier (LNA) in said DVB-H receiver;

logic circuitry adapted to detect a RF transmitter blocker signal occurring at said LNA; and

a control circuit adapted to differentiate between a desired RF signal and an undesired RF transmitter blocker signal by varying a differential gain of current through said LNA.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein said logic circuitry that detects said RF transmitter blocker signal occurring at said LNA comprises a RF servo loop.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a baseband AGC loop integrated with said RF servo loop, wherein the integration of said baseband AGC with said RF servo loop causes a step control of said differential gain of current through said LNA.

13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

a RF wideband detector adapted to detect said plurality of RF signals entering the LNA; and

a plurality of comparators operatively connected to said RF wideband detector, wherein said plurality of comparators are adapted to receive a voltage output corresponding to voltage levels of said RF signals,

wherein each of said plurality of comparators are set at a different programmable voltage threshold level compared with one another.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a multiplexer that compares said voltage levels of said RF signals to said voltage threshold level of each comparator.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of differential amplifiers operatively connected to said LNA, wherein said differential amplifiers step down said differential gain of current through said LNA when a voltage level of a particular RF signal is larger than said voltage level of one of said plurality of comparators.

16. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of differential amplifiers operatively connected to said LNA, wherein said differential amplifiers vary said differential gain of current through said LNA by progressively diverting half of a remaining RF signal current away from an output of said LNA.

17. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of differential amplifiers operatively connected to said LNA, wherein said differential amplifiers vary said differential gain of current through said LNA by approximately 6 dB decrements.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein an operational timing of said RF servo loop and said baseband AGC loop occurs during a cycle of approximately one DVB-H data burst.

19. A circuit for performing digital autonomous automatic gain control (AGC) for a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) receiver, said circuit comprising:

a low noise amplifier (LNA) in said DVB-H receiver, wherein said LNA receive a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signals;

a RF servo loop operatively connected to said LNA, wherein said RF servo loop detects a RF transmitter blocker signal occurring at said LNA; and

a baseband AGC loop integrated with said RF servo loop,

wherein the integration of said baseband AGC with said RF servo loop creates a control circuit that differentiate between a desired RF signal and an undesired RF transmitter blocker signal by varying a differential gain of current through said LNA.

20. The circuit of claim 19 , wherein said integration of said baseband AGC with said RF servo loop causes a step control of said differential gain of current through said LNA.

21. The circuit of claim 19 , further comprising:

a RF wideband detector adapted to detect said plurality of RF signals entering the LNA; and

a plurality of comparators operatively connected to said RF wideband detector, wherein said plurality of comparators are adapted to receive a voltage output corresponding to voltage levels of said RF signals,

wherein each of said plurality of comparators are set at a different programmable voltage threshold level compared with one another.

22. The circuit of claim 21 , further comprising a multiplexer that compares said voltage levels of said RF signals to said voltage threshold level of each comparator.

23. The circuit of claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of differential amplifiers operatively connected to said LNA, wherein said differential amplifiers step down said differential gain of current through said LNA when a voltage level of a particular RF signal is larger than said voltage level of one of said plurality of comparators.

24. The circuit of claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of differential amplifiers operatively connected to said LNA, wherein said differential amplifiers vary said differential gain of current through said LNA by progressively diverting half of a remaining RF signal current away from an output of said LNA.

25. The circuit of claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of differential amplifiers operatively connected to said LNA, wherein said differential amplifiers vary said differential gain of current through said LNA by approximately 6 dB decrements.

26. The circuit of claim 19 , wherein an operational timing of said RF servo loop and said baseband AGC loop occurs during a cycle of approximately one DVB-H data burst.

Assignments (31)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060894/0437 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059363/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059863/0400 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059262/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059333/0222 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057935/0474 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055671/0612 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053468/0705 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053466/0011 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0305 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047103/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046426/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041715/0747 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 6, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ATMEL WIRELESS MCU TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038364/0615 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 6, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
Reel/Frame 038364/0659 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034705/0090 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: BRIDGE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0517 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033908/0435 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033908/0379 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033908/0242 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0775 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0748 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: HORIZON TECHNOLOGY FINANCE CORPORATION
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0702 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 5, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033689/0195 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 5, 2014
From: ATMEL WIRELESS MCU TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033689/0214 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 1, 2013
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: HORIZON TECHNOLOGY FINANCE CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 029956/0891 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 15, 2013
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; NEWPORT MEDIA, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
To: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 029818/0138 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 31, 2012
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: BRIDGE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 029554/0118 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 31, 2012
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 028299/0903 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2006
From: ISMAIL, ALY; SIVASUBRAMANIAM, JANAKAN; YOUSSOUFIAN, EDWARD; YOUSEF, NABIL; CARR, FRANK
To: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
Reel/Frame 017668/0047 →