Patent ID: 8145166
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: G01R,H03G

Abstract:
1. An enhanced programmable automatic level control loop comprising: an input for receiving an input RF signal; a level modulator, wherein the level modulator receives the input RF signal and a control signal and wherein the level modulator produces a first signal; a mixer that receives the first signal and mixes it with a LO signal to produce a second signal; a programmable attenuator that receives the second signal and produces an output signal; a level detector that monitors RF power of the output signal and produces a DC voltage proportional the RF power; a selectable filter that receives the DC voltage from the level detector and produces a filtered DC voltage, wherein filter characteristics of the selectable filter are software controllable and wherein the filtered DC voltage is fed to a gain selectable amplifier; the gain selectable amplifier that receives the filtered DC voltage from the selectable filter and produces an amplified voltage that is fed to a loop amplifier; and wherein the amplified voltage and a reference voltage are summed at the loop amplifier which produces the control signal such that the reference voltage and the amplified voltage cancel at a summation point.