IP Library Granted Patent US 8,335,484
Granted Patent B1
US 8,335,484 · App. 11/496,767 · Granted Dec 18, 2012

Systems and methods for dynamically controlling an analog-to-digital converter

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,335,484
App. No.
11/496,767
Granted
Dec 18, 2012
Kind
B1
Abstract

Systems and methods for dynamically controlling an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in order to conserve power are provided. In exemplary embodiments, a receiver device comprises a tuner configured to receive a signal, at least one programmable analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a digital signal processing hardware comprising a control logic. The exemplary control logic is configured to generate a control signal to configure components within the receiver device to conserve power at the ADC.

Claims (45)

1. A system for power conservation in a receiver device, comprising:

a tuner;

a programmable analog-to-digital converter (ADC); and

a digital signal processing hardware (DSPHW) including logic executable by the DSPHW to:

configure the tuner to operate in a first mode,

measure a first power of a desired signal and a first total power at an input of the ADC,

determine a first ratio based at least in part on the first power of the desired signal and the first total power at the input of the ADC,

configure the tuner to operate in a second mode,

measure a second power of the desired signal and a second total power at the input of the ADC,

determine a second ratio based at least in part on the second power of the desired signal and the second total power at the input of the ADC,

configure the tuner to operate in the first mode or the second mode based at least in part on a comparison of the first ratio and the second ratio,

measure a third power of the desired signal;

generate a control signal to configure components within the receiver device to conserve power at the ADC,

calculate an available noise margin between the third power of the desired signal and a noise floor,

calculate a resolution of the ADC based at least in part on the available noise margin, and

configure the ADC with the calculated resolution.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the ADC switches between different output resolutions.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver components include a phase locked loop (PLL) that provides a sampling clock to the ADC.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver components include clock dividing circuitry that divides a sampling clock provided to the ADC.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tuner further includes an automatic gain controller that controls power of the received signal at an input to the ADC.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the tuner includes a low-IF architecture.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the ADC includes a Sigma Delta ADC.

8. The system for power conservation in a receiver device of claim 1 wherein the first mode is an upper sideband (USB) mode, the second mode is a lower sideband (LSB) mode, the first ratio is the first power of the desired signal to the first total power, the second ratio is the second power of the desired signal to the second total power, and the tuner is configured to operate in the USB mode when the first ratio is greater than the second ratio and configured to operate in the LSB mode when the first ratio is less than the second ratio.

9. A method for power conservation in a receiver device, comprising:

receiving a signal at the receiver device, the receiver device including a programmable analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a tuner, and an oscillator;

measuring a first power of the signal and a first total power at an input of the ADC,

determining a first ratio based at least in part on the first power of the signal and the first total power at the input of the ADC,

configuring the tuner to operate in a second mode,

measuring a second power of the signal and a second total power at the input of the ADC,

determining a second ratio based at least in part on the second power of the signal and the second total power at the input of the ADC,

configuring the tuner to operate in the first mode or the second mode based at least in part on a comparison of the first ratio and the second ratio,

measuring a third power of the signal;

calculating an available noise margin between the third power of the signal and a noise floor;

calculating a resolution for the ADC based at least in part on the available noise margin; and

dynamically adjusting the resolution by adjusting the frequency of the local oscillator sine wave such that an effective dynamic range of the ADC is minimized to conserve power at the ADC while allowing for reliable demodulation of the signal, the adjustment of the frequency of the oscillator being based at least in part on a power of a desired signal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein dynamically adjusting the resolution further comprises changing a sampling clock of the ADC.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein dynamically adjusting the resolution further comprises controlling a sampling frequency produced by a phase locked loop (PLL).

12. The method of claim 9 wherein dynamically adjusting the resolution further comprises controlling a sampling frequency produced by a clock dividing circuitry.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein dynamically adjusting the resolution further comprises changing a bias voltage of an amplifier circuitry.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein dynamically adjusting the resolution further comprises changing a number of integrator circuitries.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein dynamically adjusting the resolution further comprises controlling a start time of an ADC resolution reconfiguration.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein dynamically adjusting the resolution further comprises controlling gain of at least one automatic gain control.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein dynamically adjusting the resolution further comprises determining a new dynamic range of the ADC.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein the resolution for the ADC is determined for a Sigma Delta ADC.

19. The method for power conservation in a receiver device of claim 9 wherein the first mode is an upper sideband (USB) mode, the second mode is a lower sideband (LSB) mode, the first ratio is the first power of the desired signal to the first total power, the second ratio is the second power of the desired signal to the second total power and the tuner is configured to operate in the USB mode when the first ratio is greater than the second ratio and configured to operate in the LSB mode when the first ratio is less than the second ratio.

Assignments (8)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2013
From: SIPORT, INC.
To: INTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031619/0719 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2011
From: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IV, INC.; VENTURE LENDING & LEASING V, INC.
To: SIPORT, INC.
Reel/Frame 026339/0046 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2011
From: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING V, INC.
To: SIPORT, INC.
Reel/Frame 026339/0117 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2011
From: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING V, INC.; VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IV, INC.
To: SIPORT, INC.
Reel/Frame 026339/0154 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 16, 2010
From: SIPORT, INC.
To: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING VI, INC.; VENTURE LENDING & LEASING V, INC.
Reel/Frame 025504/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 6, 2009
From: SIPORT, INC.
To: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING V, INC.
Reel/Frame 023080/0372 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 30, 2008
From: SIPORT, INC.
To: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IV, INC.; VENTURE LENDING & LEASING V, INC.
Reel/Frame 021192/0293 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2006
From: ARAD, OREN; SHARMA, SRIDHAR
To: SIPORT, INC.
Reel/Frame 018124/0154 →