Vehicular power booster circuitry for multi-level portable transceiver

Claim 2

A mobile radio transceiver comprising: a portable transceiver comprising means for generating a radio-­frequency (RF) transmit signal and setting power of said signal at one of a set of predetermined power levels; and a vehicular power booster coupled by a connecting cable to said portable transceiver to receive said RF transmit signal, comprising: first power detector means for detecting the power of the RF transmit signal received from the portable transceiver; a reference voltage source for generating a set of reference voltages respectively representing said predetermined power levels; means for identifying one of said reference voltages as corresponding to the power detected by said first power detector means; gain controlled power amplifying means for amplifying said RF transmit signal and applying the power-amplified RF signal to an antenna; second power detector means for detecting power of said power-amplified RF signal; and gain control means responsive to a difference between the power detected by said second power detector means and said identified reference voltage for controlling the gain of said power amplifying means so that said detected power corresponds to the power setting of said portable transceiver.

Claim 3

A mobile radio transceiver as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identifying means comprises: comparator means for comparing said detected output power with said reference voltages; and selector means for selecting one of said reference voltages in response to said comparator means, said power control means being supplied with the selected reference voltage.

Claim 4

A mobile radio transceiver as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said portable transceiver is powered by a battery provided in said portable transceiver, and said vehicular power booster is powered by a vehicle battery.

Claim 5

A mobile radio transceiver as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said vehicular power booster further includes a preamplifier stage for amplifying a RF receive signal detected by said antenna and applying the amplified receive signals to said portable transceiver through said connecting cable.

Claim 6

A mobile radio transceiver comprising: a portable transceiver comprising means for generating a radio-­frequency (RF) transmit signal and setting power of said RF signal at one of a set of predetermined power levels; and a vehicular power booster coupled by a connecting cable to said portable transceiver to receive said RF transmit signal, comprising: gain controlled amplifying means for amplifying the RF transmit signal received from said portable transceiver; first detector means for detecting an average voltage of the amplified RF transmit signal; first gain control means responsive to a first difference between the detected average voltage and a preselected reference voltage for controlling the gain of said amplifying means with a gain control voltage so that said detected average voltage is maintained at a constant value; gain controlled, class C power amplifying means for further amplifying said amplified RF transmit signal and applying the power-­amplified RF transmit signal to an antenna; a reference voltage source for generating a set of reference voltages respectively representing said predetermined power levels of said transceiver; means for identifying one of said reference voltages as corresponding to said gain control voltages of said first gain control means; second detector means for detecting power of the power-­amplified RF transmit signal; and second gain control means responsive to a second difference between the detected power and the identified reference voltage for controlling the gain of said power amplifying means so that said detected power corresponds to the power setting of said portable transceiver.

Claim 7

A mobile radio transceiver comprising: a portable transceiver comprising means for generating a radio-­frequency (RF) transmit signal and setting power of said RF signal at one of a set of predetermined power levels; and a vehicular power booster coupled by a connecting cable to said portable transceiver to receive said RF transmit signal, comprising: gain controlled amplifying means for amplifying the RF transmit signal received from said portable transceiver; first detector means for detecting an average voltage of the amplified RF transmit signal; first gain control means responsive to a first difference between the detected average voltage and a preselected reference voltage for controlling the gain of said amplifying means with a gain control voltage so that said detected average voltage is maintained at a constant value; gain controlled, class C power amplifying means for further amplifying said amplified RF transmit signal and applying the power-­amplified RF transmit signal to an antenna; a reference voltage source for generating a set of reference voltages respectively representing said predetermined power levels of said transceiver; means for identifying one of said reference voltages as corresponding to said gain control voltages of said first gain control means; second detector means for detecting power of the power-­amplified RF transmit signal; and second gain control means responsive to a second difference between the detected power and the identified reference voltage for controlling the gain of said power amplifying means so that said detected power corresponds to the power setting of said portable transceiver.

Claim 8

A mobile radio transceiver as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second gain control means comprises: a reference voltage source for generating a set of second reference voltages corresponding respectively to said power levels of said portable transceiver; and selector means for selecting one of said second reference voltages in response to said identified reference voltage, said second gain control means being responsive to a difference between said detected power and said selected second reference voltage.

Claim 9

A mobile radio transceiver as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein said portable transceiver is powered by a battery provided in said portable transceiver, and said vehicular power booster is powered by a vehicle battery.

Claim 10

A mobile radio transceiver as claimed in claim 5, 6, or 7, wherein said vehicular power booster further includes a preamplifier stage for amplifying a RF receive signal detected by said antenna and applying the amplified receive signals to said portable transceiver through said connecting cable.

Claim 11

A mobile radio transceiver comprising: a portable transceiver comprising means for generating a radio-­frequency (RF) transmit signal and setting power of said signal at one of a set of predetermined power levels; and a vehicular power booster coupled by a connecting cable to said portable transceiver to receive said RF transmit signal, comprising: power detector means for detecting the power of the RF transmit signal received from the portable transceiver; a reference voltage source for generating a set of reference voltages respectively representing said predetermined power levels; means for identifiying one of said reference voltages as corresponding to the power detected by said power detector means; gain controlled power amplifying means for amplifying said RF transmit signal and applying the power-amplified RF signal to an antenna; and gain control means responsive to said identified reference voltage for controlling the gain of said power amplifying means so that output of said power amplifying means corresponds to the power setting of said portable transceiver.

Claim 12

A mobile radio transceiver comprising: a portable transceiver comprising means for generating a radio-­frequency (RF) transmit signal and setting power of said signal at one of a set of predetermined power levels; and a vehicular power booster coupled by a connecting cable to said portable transceiver to receive said RF transmit signal, comprising: power detector means for detecting the power of the RF transmit signal received from the portable transceiver; a reference voltage source for generating a set of reference voltages respectively representing said predetermined power levels; means for identifiying one of said reference voltages as corresponding to the power detected by said power detector means; gain controlled power amplifying means for amplifying said RF transmit signal and applying the power-amplified RF signal to an antenna; and gain control means responsive to said identified reference voltage for controlling the gain of said power amplifying means so that output of said power amplifying means corresponds to the power setting of said portable transceiver.

Claim 13

A mobile radio transceiver comprising: a portable transceiver comprising means for generating a radio-­frequency (RF) transmit signal and setting power of said RF signal at one of a set of predetermined power levels; and a vehicular power booster coupled by a connecting cable to said portable transceiver to receive said RF transmit signal, comprising: gain controlled amplifying means for amplifying the RF transmit signal received from said portable transceiver; detector means for detecting an average voltage of the amplified RF transmit signal; first gain control means responsive to a difference between the detected average voltage and a preselected reference voltage for controlling the gain of said amplifying means with a gain control voltage so that said detected average voltage is maintained at a constant value; gain controlled, class C power amplifying means for further amplifying said amplified RF transmit signal and applying the power-­amplified RF transmit signal to an antenna; a reference voltage source for generating a set of reference voltages respectively representing said predetermined power levels of said transceiver; means for identifiying one of said reference voltages as corresponding to said gain control voltage of said first gain control means; and second gain control means responsive to the identified reference voltage for controlling the gain of said power amplifying means so that output of said power amplifying means corresponds to the power setting of said portable transceiver.

Claim 14

A mobile radio transceiver comprising: a portable transceiver comprising means for generating a radio-­frequency (RF) transmit signal and setting power of said RF signal at one of a set of predetermined power levels; and a vehicular power booster coupled by a connecting cable to said portable transceiver to receive said RF transmit signal, comprising: gain controlled amplifying means for amplifying the RF transmit signal received from said portable transceiver; detector means for detecting an average voltage of the amplified RF transmit signal; first gain control means responsive to a difference between the detected average voltage and a preselected reference voltage for controlling the gain of said amplifying means with a gain control voltage so that said detected average voltage is maintained at a constant value; gain controlled, class C power amplifying means for further amplifying said amplified RF transmit signal and applying the power-­amplified RF transmit signal to an antenna; a reference voltage source for generating a set of reference voltages respectively representing said predetermined power levels of said transceiver; means for identifiying one of said reference voltages as corresponding to said gain control voltage of said first gain control means; and second gain control means responsive to the identified reference voltage for controlling the gain of said power amplifying means so that output of said power amplifying means corresponds to the power setting of said portable transceiver.