Radio frequency tuner

1. A method for processing a radio frequency (RF) signal in a RF receiver, the method comprising:

receiving the RF signal at the RF receiver;

amplifying the RF signal on a main path in a component with an adjustable level of amplification;

measuring at a first power detector a first power value of the RF signal after amplification by the component;

detecting that the first power value of the RF signal is larger than a first threshold;

conveying the RF signal to a bypass path that produces less amplification than the main path in response to detecting that the first power value of the RF signal is larger than the first threshold;

measuring at a second power detector a second power value of the RF signal after amplification by the bypass path;

detecting that the second power value of the RF signal is smaller than a second threshold;

conveying the RF signal to the main path in response to detecting that the second power value is smaller than the second threshold;

measuring at a third power detector a third power value of the RF signal after amplification by the main path or the bypass path;

detecting whether the third power value is larger or smaller than a preferred power value for the main path or the bypass path; and

decreasing or increasing the amount of amplification on the main path or bypass path in response to detecting that the third power value is larger or smaller than the preferred power value.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting that the first power value is larger than a preferred power value;

continuously decreasing the level of amplification in the component on the main path if the first power value is larger than the preferred power value.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein conveying the RF signal to the bypass path further comprises:

closing one or more switches on the bypass path while opening the one or more switches on the main path, or closing one or more active resistors on the bypass path while opening active resistors on the main path.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

adjusting the level of amplification on the bypass path by modulating the one or more active resistors or the one or more switches on the bypass path, based at least in part on a measured signal power.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

controlling the one or more active resistors or the one or more switches by conveying a control signal to each active resistor or switch, wherein the control signal is produced for each active resistor or switch in a respective comparator by comparing a measured power of the signal with a fixed reference signal in the comparator, wherein a different fixed reference signal is compared to the measured power of the signal in each comparator.

6. An apparatus for processing a radio frequency (RF) signal in a RF receiver, comprising:

an amplifying component that amplifies the RF signal with an adjustable level of amplification on a main path;

a first power detector for measuring a first power value of the RF signal after amplification by the amplifying component;

a switch operable to convey the RF signal to a bypass path that produces less amplification than the main path in response to detecting that the first power value of the RF signal is larger than the first threshold;

a second power detector for measuring a second power value of the RF signal after amplification by the bypass path;

wherein the switch is operable to convey the RF signal to the main path in response to detecting that the second power value is smaller than a second threshold; and

a third power detector for measuring a third power value of the RF signal after amplification by the main path or the bypass path;

wherein the third power value determines whether to decrease or increase the adjustable level of amplification of the RF signal on the main path or the bypass path.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the amplifying component further comprises at least one of: a buffer, a low noise amplifier, and a transconductor.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the amplifying component continuously decreases the level of amplification in the component on the main path if the first power value is larger than a preferred power value.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the amplifying component further contains at least one of: an amplifier or a series of amplifiers; and

amplification is adjusted at least by adjusting the level of amplification in the amplifier or the series of amplifiers, based on the measured power of the signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the one of the amplifier or the series of amplifiers is connected to a source node of an input transistor of the amplifying component.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting whether the first power value is larger or smaller than a preferred power value for the main path; and

decreasing the amount of amplification on the main path in response to detecting that the first power value is larger than the preferred power value; or

increasing the amount of amplification on the main path in response to detecting that the first power value is smaller than the preferred power value.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

detecting whether the second power value is larger or smaller than a second preferred power value for the bypass path; and

decreasing the amount of amplification on the bypass path in response to detecting that the second power value is larger than the second preferred power value; or

increasing the amount of amplification on the bypass path in response to detecting that the second power value is smaller than the second preferred power value.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold and the second threshold are configured to create a power hysteresis.

14. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein in response to detecting that the first power value is larger than a preferred power value, the amplifying component decreases the amount of amplification on the main path; or

in response to detecting that the first power value is smaller than the preferred power value, the amplifying component increases the amount of amplification on the main path.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising: a second amplifying component that amplifies the RF signal with an adjustable level of amplification on the bypass path;

wherein in response to detecting that the second power value is larger than a second preferred power value, the second amplifying component decreases the amount of amplification on the bypass path; or

in response to detecting that the second power value is smaller than the second preferred power value, the second amplifying component increases the amount of amplification on the bypass path.

16. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first threshold and the second threshold are configured to create a power hysteresis.