Digital signal processor based AGC

Claim 2

In a signal processor having a desired output signal level, a buffer, an input signal, a signal gain that may be adjusted, and an output signal, a method for adjusting said signal gain based on said input signal comprising the steps of: (a) providing said input signal; (b) delaying said input signal by a predetermined time interval in said buffer; (c) determining a desired signal gain value responsive to said input signal; (d) adjusting said signal gain responsive to said desired signal gain value; (e) providing said output signal responsive to the product of said input signal and said signal gain.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said determining step (c) includes determining a short-term energy value ("S") responsive to the average magnitude of said input signal over a predetermined short-term time interval.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein said determining step (c) includes determining a long-term energy value ("L") responsive to the average magnitude of said input signal over a predetermined long-term time interval.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein said adjusting step (d) includes adjusting said signal gain substantially to zero when S is less than a predetermined noise threshold.

Claim 6

The method claim 4 wherein said adjusting step (d) includes adjusting said signal gain responsive to the ratio of said desired output signal level and S, when S is substantially much greater than L.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 wherein said adjusting step (d) includes adjusting said signal gain responsive to the ratio of said desired output signal level and S, when S is substantially much less than L.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 wherein said adusting step (d) includes adjusting said signal gain responsive to the ratio of said desired output signal level and L, when S exceeds said predetermined noise threshold and is substantially steady state.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7 wherein said adjusting step (d) includes resetting the present value of L to substantially equal the present value of S, when S is substantially much greater than L or when S is substanially much less than L.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8 wherein said predetermined long-term time interval is responsive to the sum of said predetermined short-term time interval and the time elapsed since resetting L.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8 wherein said steps (a) through (e) are substantially performed by a digital signal processor (DSP).

Claim 12

A signal processor having a desired output signal level, a buffer, an input signal, a signal gain that may be adjusted, and an output signal, said processor comprising: means for providing said input signal; means for delaying said input signal by a predetermined time interval is said buffer; means for determining a desired signal gain value responsive to said input signal; means for adjusting said signal gain responsive to said desired signal gain value; means for providing said output signal responsive to the product of said input signal and said signal gain.

Claim 13

A signal processor having a desired output signal level, a buffer, an input signal, a signal gain that may be adjusted, and an output signal, said processor comprising: means for providing said input signal; means for delaying said input signal by a predetermined time interval is said buffer; means for determining a desired signal gain value responsive to said input signal; means for adjusting said signal gain responsive to said desired signal gain value; means for providing said output signal responsive to the product of said input signal and said signal gain.

Claim 14

The signal processor of claim 11 wherein said determining means includes means for determining a short-term energy value ("S") responsive to the average magnitude of said input signal over a predetermined short-term time interval.

Claim 15

The signal processor of claim 12 wherein said determining means includes means for determining a long-term energy value ("L") responsive to the average magnitude of said input signal over a predetermined long-term time interval.

Claim 16

The signal processor of claim 13 wherein said adjusting means includes means for adjusting said signal gain substantially to zero when S is less than a predetermined noise threshold.

Claim 17

The signal processor of claim 14 wherein said adjusting means includes means for adjusting said signal gain responsive to the ratio of said desired output signal level and S, when S is substantially much greater than L.

Claim 18

The signal processor of claim 15 wherein said adjusting means includes means for adjusting said signal gain responsive to the ratio of said desired output signal level and S, when S is substantially much less than L.

Claim 19

The signal processor of claim 16 wherein said adjusting means includes means for adjusting said signal gain responsive to the ratio of said desired output signal level and L, when S exceeds said predetermined threshold and is substantially steady state.

Claim 20

The signal processor of claim 17 wherein said adjusting means includes means for resetting the present value of L to substantially equal the present value of S, when S is substantially much greater than L or when S is substantially much less than L.

Claim 21

The signal processor of claim 18 wherein said predetermined long-term time interval is responsive to the sum of said predetermined short-term time interval and the time elapsed since resetting L.

Claim 22

The signal processor claim 18 wherein said providing means, said determining means and said adjusting means are substantially embodied by a digital signal processor (DSP).

Claim 23

A programmable signal processor (such as a digital signal processor) having a desired output signal level, a buffer, an input signal, a signal gain that may be adjusted, and an output signal, and programmed for adjusting said signal gain based on said input signal according to the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing said input signal; (b) delaying said input signal by a predetermined time interval in said buffer; (c) determining a desired signal gain value responsive to said input signal; (d) adjusting said signal gain responsive to said desired signal gain value; (e) providing said output signal responsive to the product of said input signal and said signal gain.

Claim 24

A programmable signal processor (such as a digital signal processor) having a desired output signal level, a buffer, an input signal, a signal gain that may be adjusted, and an output signal, and programmed for adjusting said signal gain based on said input signal according to the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing said input signal; (b) delaying said input signal by a predetermined time interval in said buffer; (c) determining a desired signal gain value responsive to said input signal; (d) adjusting said signal gain responsive to said desired signal gain value; (e) providing said output signal responsive to the product of said input signal and said signal gain.

Claim 25

The programmable signal processor of claim 21 wherein said determining step (c) includes determining a short-term energy value ("S") responsive to the average magnitude of said input signal over a predetermined short-term time interval.

Claim 26

The programmable signal processor of claim 22 wherein said determining step (c) includes determining a long-term energy value ("L") responsive to the average magnitude of said input signal over a predetermined long-term time interval.

Claim 27

The programmable signal processor of claim 23 wherein said adjusting step (d) includes adjusting said signal gain substantially to zero when S is less than a predetermined noise threshold.

Claim 28

The programmable signal processor of claim 24 wherein said adjusting step (d) includes adjusting said signal gain responsive to the ratio of said desired output signal level and S, when S is substantially much greater than L.

Claim 29

The programmable signal processor of claim 25 wherein said adjusting step (d) includes adjusting said signal gain responsive to the ratio of said desired output signal level and S, when S is substantially much less than L.

Claim 30

The programmable signal processor of claim 26 wherein said adjusting step (d) includes adjusting said signal gain responsive to the ratio of said desired output signal level and L, when S exceeds said predetermined noise threshold and is substantially steady state or stable.

Claim 31

The programmable signal processor claim 27 wherein said adjusting step (d) includes resetting the present value of L to substantially equal the present value of S, when S is substantially much greater than L or when S is substantially much less than L.

Claim 32

The programmable signal processor of claim 28 wherein said predetermined long-term time interval is responsive to the sum of said predetermined short-term time interval and the time elapsed since last resetting L.