US6417730B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic gain control system and related method
Assignee: North South Holdings Inc
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Filing: 2000-11-29
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Granted: 2002-07-09
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Expires: 2020-11-29
Abstract
Abstract An automatic gain control (AGC) system includes at least one variable-gain component having a controllable gain over a gain control range and a sensor for sensing an amplitude of a signal from the at least one variable-gain control component. The sensor may have an operating window based upon the signal that is smaller than the gain control range of the at least one variable-gain component. The AGC system may also include a controller responsive to the sensor for controlling the at least one variable-gain component according to coarse and fine gain values to set the amplitude of the signal within the operating window of the sensor. The controller may implement at least one coarse gain jump from a current coarse gain value to a new coarse gain value when the sensor indicates the amplitude is outside the operating window. The controller may further implement movement to a fine gain value when the sensor indicates the amplitude is in the operating window.
Inventors
- 👤 Greg P. Segallis
- 👤 Gary L. Bastin
- 👤 Dennis A. Green
- 👤 David S. Albert
- 👤 Robert L. Johnson
- 👤 Frank R. Brueggeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:14
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03G; H03G3/00; H03G3/001; H03G3/20; H03G3/30; H03G3/3052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
An automatic gain control system comprising: at least one variable-gain component having a controllable gain over a gain control range; a sensor for sensing an amplitude of a signal from said at least one variable-gain control component, said sensor having an operating window that is smaller than the gain control range of said at least one variable-gain component; and a controller responsive to said sensor for controlling said at least one variable-gain component according to coarse and fine gain values to set the amplitude of the signal within the operating window of said sensor, said controller implementing at least one coarse gain jump from a current coarse gain value to a new coarse gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is outside the operating window, and said controller further implementing movement to a fine gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is in the operating window.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
An automatic gain control system comprising: at least one variable-gain component having a controllable gain over a gain control range; a sensor for sensing an amplitude of a signal from said at least one variable-gain control component, said sensor having an operating window that is smaller than the gain control range of said at least one variable-gain component; and a controller responsive to said sensor for controlling said at least one variable-gain component according to coarse and fine gain values to set the amplitude of the signal within the operating window of said sensor, said controller implementing at least one coarse gain jump from a current coarse gain value to a new coarse gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is outside the operating window, and said controller further implementing movement to a fine gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is in the operating window.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 1 wherein said controller sets coarse and fine gain values to substantially center the amplitude of the signal from said at least one variable-gain control component within the operating window of said sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 1 wherein a size of the at least one coarse gain jump from the current coarse gain value to the new coarse gain value is based upon a prior coarse gain value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 3 wherein each coarse gain jump is half-way between the current coarse gain value and either a previous lower coarse gain value or a lowest coarse gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is at or below a low end of the operating window; and wherein each coarse gain jump is half-way between the current coarse gain value and either a previous higher coarse gain value or a highest coarse gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is at or above a high end of the operating window.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 3 wherein a direction for each coarse gain jump is downward when said sensor indicates the amplitude is at a lower end of the gain control range, and upward when said sensor indicates the amplitude is at a higher end of the gain control range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 1 wherein a range of fine gain values extends at least over a range of spacing between adjacent coarse gain values.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 1 wherein said controller comprises a digital processing circuit for generating at least one control signal for said at least one variable-gain component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 7 wherein said digital processing circuit comprises: an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for converting an output from said sensor to a digital value; a digital control loop connected to said A/D converter; and an output section for generating at least one control signal for said at least one variable-gain component based upon said digital control loop.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 8 wherein said at least one variable-gain component comprises: at least one first variable-gain component having an increasing gain for an increasing control signal; and at least one second variable-gain component connected in series with said at least one first variable-gain component and having a decreasing gain for an increasing control signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 8 wherein said output section comprises a digital-to-analog converter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
190 words
An automatic gain control system comprising: at least one variable-gain component having a controllable gain over a gain control range; a sensor for sensing an amplitude of a signal from said at least one variable-gain control component, said sensor having an operating window that is smaller than the gain control range of said at least one variable-gain component; and a controller responsive to said sensor for controlling said at least one variable-gain component according to coarse and fine gain values to set the amplitude of the signal within the operating window of said sensor, said controller implementing at least one coarse gain jump of a size based upon a prior coarse gain value from a current coarse gain value to a new coarse gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is outside the operating window, said controller further implementing movement to a fine gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is in the operating window, and said controller also setting coarse and fine gain values to substantially center the amplitude of the signal from said at least one variable-gain control component within the operating window of said sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
190 words
An automatic gain control system comprising: at least one variable-gain component having a controllable gain over a gain control range; a sensor for sensing an amplitude of a signal from said at least one variable-gain control component, said sensor having an operating window that is smaller than the gain control range of said at least one variable-gain component; and a controller responsive to said sensor for controlling said at least one variable-gain component according to coarse and fine gain values to set the amplitude of the signal within the operating window of said sensor, said controller implementing at least one coarse gain jump of a size based upon a prior coarse gain value from a current coarse gain value to a new coarse gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is outside the operating window, said controller further implementing movement to a fine gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is in the operating window, and said controller also setting coarse and fine gain values to substantially center the amplitude of the signal from said at least one variable-gain control component within the operating window of said sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 11 wherein each coarse gain jump is half-way between the current coarse gain value and either a previous lower coarse gain value or a lowest coarse gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is at or below a low end of the operating window.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 11 wherein each coarse gain jump is half-way between the current coarse gain value and either a previous higher coarse gain value or a highest coarse gain value when said sensor indicates the amplitude is at or above a high end of the operating window.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 11 wherein a direction for each coarse gain jump is downward when said sensor indicates the amplitude is at a lower end of the gain control range, and upward when said sensor indicates the amplitude is at a higher end of the gain control range.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 11 wherein a range of fine gain values extends at least over a range of spacing between adjacent coarse gain values.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 11 wherein said controller comprises a digital processing circuit for generating at least one control signal for said at least one variable-gain component.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 16 wherein said digital processing circuit comprises: an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for converting an output from said sensor to a digital value; a digital control loop connected to said A/D converter; and an output section for generating at least one control signal for said at least one variable-gain component based upon said digital control loop.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 17 wherein said at least one variable-gain component comprises: at least one first variable-gain component having an increasing gain for an increasing control signal; and at least one second variable-gain component connected in series with said at least one first variable-gain component and having a decreasing gain for an increasing control signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The automatic gain control system of claim 17 wherein said output section comprises a digital-to-analog converter.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for controlling a signal gain comprising: sensing an amplitude of a signal from at least one variable-gain component having a controllable gain over a gain control range; and controlling the gain of the at least one variable-gain component responsive to the sensed amplitude and according to coarse and fine gain values to set the amplitude within an operating window smaller than the gain control range of the at least one variable-gain component by implementing at least one coarse gain jump from a current coarse gain value to a new coarse gain value when the amplitude is outside the operating window, and implementing movement to a fine gain value when the amplitude is in the operating window.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for controlling a signal gain comprising: sensing an amplitude of a signal from at least one variable-gain component having a controllable gain over a gain control range; and controlling the gain of the at least one variable-gain component responsive to the sensed amplitude and according to coarse and fine gain values to set the amplitude within an operating window smaller than the gain control range of the at least one variable-gain component by implementing at least one coarse gain jump from a current coarse gain value to a new coarse gain value when the amplitude is outside the operating window, and implementing movement to a fine gain value when the amplitude is in the operating window.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 20 wherein controlling comprises setting coarse and fine gain values to substantially center the signal from the at least one variable-gain control component within the operating window.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 20 wherein a size of the at least one coarse gain jump from the current coarse gain value to the new coarse gain value is based upon the prior coarse gain value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method of claim 22 wherein each coarse gain jump is half-way between the current coarse gain value and either a previous lower coarse gain value or a lowest coarse gain value when the amplitude is at or below a low end of the operating window; and wherein each coarse gain jump is half-way between the current coarse gain value and either a previous higher coarse gain value or a highest coarse gain value when the sensor indicates the signal is at or above a high end of the operating window.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 22 wherein a direction for each jump is downward when the sensor indicates the signal is at a lower end of the gain control range, and upward when the sensor indicates the signal is at a higher end of the gain control range.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 20 wherein a range of fine gain values extends at least over a range of spacing between adjacent coarse gain values.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-07-08 | 2006-01-07 | 2006-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-07-08 | 2010-01-07 | 2010-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-07-08 | 2014-01-07 | 2014-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |