Patent Publication Number: US-8526893-B2

Title: Power management unit for configurable receiver and transmitter and methods for use therewith

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present U.S. Utility patent application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120, as a continuation, to the following U.S. Utility patent application which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility patent application for all purposes:
         1. U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 13/445,269, entitled POWER MANAGEMENT UNIT FOR CONFIGURABLE RECEIVER AND TRANSMITTER AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH, filed on Apr. 12, 2012, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120, as a continuation, to the following U.S. Utility Patent Application which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes:   2. U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 13/306,144, entitled POWER MANAGEMENT UNIT FOR CONFIGURABLE RECEIVER AND TRANSMITTER AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH, filed Nov. 29, 2011, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,190,101 on May 29, 2012, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §120, as a continuation, to the following U.S. Utility Patent Application which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes:   3. U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 12/326,320, entitled POWER MANAGEMENT UNIT FOR CONFIGURABLE RECEIVER AND TRANSMITTER AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH, filed on Dec. 2, 2008, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,095,080 on Jan. 10, 2012.       

     The present application is related to the following applications: 
     U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 12/326,220, entitled, CONFIGURABLE BASEBAND PROCESSING FOR RECEIVER AND TRANSMITTER AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH, filed on Dec. 2, 2008, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,090,327 on Jan. 3, 2012; 
     U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 12/326,229, entitled, CONFIGURABLE RF SECTIONS FOR RECEIVER AND TRANSMITTER AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH, filed on Dec. 2, 2008, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,121,557 on Feb. 21, 2012; and 
     U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 12/326,255, entitled, CONFIGURATION CONTROLLER FOR RECEIVER AND TRANSMITTER, filed on Dec. 2, 2008, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,145,156 on Mar. 27, 2012; 
     the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to communication devices and more particularly to the communication devices that communicate with multiple networks in multiple frequency bands. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Wireless communication systems are known to support wireless communications between wireless communication devices affiliated with the system. Such wireless communication systems range from national and/or international cellular telephone systems to point-to-point in-home wireless networks. Each type of wireless communication system is constructed, and hence operates, in accordance with one or more standards. Such wireless communication standards include, but are not limited to IEEE 802.11, 802.15, 802.16, long term evolution (LTE), Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), wireless application protocols (WAP), local multi-point distribution services (LMDS), multi-channel multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), and/or variations thereof. 
     An IEEE 802.11 compliant wireless communication system includes a plurality of client devices (e.g., laptops, personal computers, personal digital assistants, etc., coupled to a station) that communicate over a wireless link with one or more access points. As is also generally understood in the art, many wireless communications systems employ a carrier-sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol that allows multiple communication devices to share the same radio spectrum. Before a wireless communication device transmits, it “listens” to the wireless link to determine if the spectrum is in use by another station to avoid a potential data collision. In other systems, transmissions can be scheduled using management frames or power save multi-poll (PSMP), for example. In many cases, the transmitting device (e.g., a client device or access point) transmits at a fixed power level regardless of the distance between the transmitting device and a targeted device (e.g., station or access point). Typically, the closer the transmitting device is to the targeted device, the less error there will be in the reception of the transmitted signal. 
     A cognitive radio is a wireless communication device that can adjust transmission or reception parameters to communicate efficiently to avoiding interference. This alteration of parameters can be based on the active monitoring of several factors in the external and internal radio environment, such as radio frequency spectrum, user behavior and network state. 
     When one or more of these communication devices is mobile, its transmit and receive characteristics can change with the motion of the device, as it moves closer or farther from a device it is communication with, and as the transmission environment changes due to the devices position with respect to reflecting members, interfering stations, noise sources, etc. 
     The limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art through comparison of such systems with the present invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of operation that are further described in the following Brief Description of the Drawings, the Detailed Description of the Invention, and the claims. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention made with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a communication system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of another communication system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  presents a pictorial representation of a wireless network  111  and  107  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a communication device  125  in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an RF transceiver  123  in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a transmitter processing module  146  in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a receiver processing module  144  in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a RF transmitter section in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a RF receiver section in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a configurable power supply in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a power management unit in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a power management unit in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a power management unit in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 20  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a communication system in accordance with the present invention. In particular a communication system is shown that includes a communication device  10  that communicates real-time data  24  and/or non-real-time data  26  wirelessly with one or more other devices such as base station  18 , non-real-time device  20 , real-time device  22 , and non-real-time and/or real-time device  25 . In addition, communication device  10  can also optionally communicate over a wireline connection with non-real-time device  12 , real-time device  14  and non-real-time and/or real-time device  16 . 
     In an embodiment of the present invention the wireline connection  28  can be a wired connection that operates in accordance with one or more standard protocols, such as a universal serial bus (USB), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 488, IEEE 1394 (Firewire), Ethernet, small computer system interface (SCSI), serial or parallel advanced technology attachment (SATA or PATA), or other wired communication protocol, either standard or proprietary. The wireless connections can communicate in accordance with a wireless network protocol such as IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), WIMAX, or other wireless network protocol, a wireless telephony data/voice protocol such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution (EDGE), Personal Communication Services (PCS), WCDMA, LTE or other mobile wireless protocol or other wireless communication protocol, either standard or proprietary. Further, the wireless communication paths can include separate transmit and receive paths that use separate carrier frequencies and/or separate frequency channels. Alternatively, a single frequency or frequency channel can be used to bi-directionally communicate data to and from the communication device  10 . 
     Communication device  10  can be a mobile phone such as a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, game console, game device, personal computer, laptop computer, wireless display or other device that performs one or more functions that include communication of voice and/or data via wireline connection  28  and/or the wireless communication paths. In an embodiment of the present invention, the real-time and non-real-time devices  12 ,  14   16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  25  can be base stations, access points, terminals, personal computers, laptops, PDAs, storage devices, cable replacements, bridge/hub devices, wireless HDMI devices, mobile phones, such as cellular telephones, devices equipped with wireless local area network or Bluetooth transceivers, FM tuners, TV tuners, digital cameras, digital camcorders, or other devices that either produce, process or use audio, video signals or other data or communications. 
     In operation, the communication device includes one or more applications that include voice communications such as standard telephony applications, voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications, local gaming, Internet gaming, email, instant messaging, multimedia messaging, web browsing, audio/video recording, audio/video playback, audio/video downloading, playing of streaming audio/video, office applications such as databases, spreadsheets, word processing, presentation creation and processing and other voice and data applications. In conjunction with these applications, the real-time data  26  includes voice, audio, video and multimedia applications including Internet gaming, etc. The non-real-time data  24  includes text messaging, email, web browsing, file uploading and downloading, etc. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, communication device  10  can be a multiservice device that is capable of communicating real time and/or non-real-time data wirelessly with multiple networks either contemporaneously or non-contemporaneously. This multiservice functionality can include the ability to engage in communications over multiple networks, to choose the best network or have the best network chosen for it for engaging in a particular communication. For example, communication device  10  wishing to place a telephone call may launch a traditional telephone call with a remote caller over a cellular telephone network via a cellular voice protocol, a voice over IP call over a data network via a wireless local area network protocol, or on a peer-to-peer basis with another communication device via a Bluetooth protocol. In another example, communication device  10  wishing to access a video program might receive a streaming video signal over a cellular telephone network via a cellular data protocol, receive a direct broadcast video signal, download a podcast video signal over a data network via a wireless local area network protocol, etc. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the communication device  10  includes an integrated circuit, such as an RF integrated circuit that includes one or more features or functions of the present invention. Such integrated circuits shall be described in greater detail in association with  FIGS. 3-20  that follow. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of another communication system in accordance with the present invention. In particular,  FIG. 2  presents a communication system that includes many common elements of  FIG. 1  that are referred to by common reference numerals. Communication device  30  is similar to communication device  10  and is capable of any of the applications, functions and features attributed to communication device  10 , as discussed in conjunction with  FIG. 1 . However, communication device  30  includes two or more separate wireless transceivers for communicating, contemporaneously, via two or more wireless communication protocols with data device  32  and/or data base station  34  of network  6  via RF data  40  and voice base station  36  and/or voice device  38  of network  8  via RF voice signals  42 . 
       FIG. 3  presents a pictorial representation of wireless networks  111  and  107  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless network  111 , includes an access point  110  that is coupled to packet switched backbone network  101 . The access point  110  manages communication flow over the wireless network  111  destined for and originating from each of communication devices  91 ,  93 ,  97  and  125 . Via the access point  110 , each of the communication devices  91 ,  93 ,  97  and  125  can access service provider network  105  and Internet  103  to, for example, surf web-sites, download audio and/or video programming, send and receive messages such as text messages, voice message and multimedia messages, access broadcast, stored or streaming audio, video or other multimedia content, play games, send and receive telephone calls, and perform any other activities, provided directly by access point  110  or indirectly through packet switched backbone network  101 . 
     One or more of the communication devices  91 ,  93 ,  97  and  125 , such as communication device  125  is a mobile device that can include the functionality of communication devices  10  or  30 . In addition, communication device  125  can optionally engage in communications via one or more other networks  107  as discussed in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a communication device  125  in accordance with the present invention. In particular, integrated circuit (IC)  50  is shown that implements communication device  125  in conjunction with microphone  60 , keypad/keyboard  58 , memory  54 , speaker/headset interface  62 , display  56 , camera  76 , antennas  72  . . .  72 ′, and wireline port  64 . In operation, IC  50  includes a plurality of wireless transceivers such as transceivers  73  and  73 ′ having RF and baseband modules for sending and receiving data such as RF real-time data  26  and non-real-time data  24  and transmitting via antennas  72  . . .  72 ′. Each antenna can be a fixed antenna, a single-input single-output (SISO) antenna, a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) antenna, a diversity antenna system, an antenna array that allows the beam shape, gain, polarization or other antenna parameters to be controlled or other antenna configuration. In addition, IC  50  includes input/output module  71  that includes the appropriate interfaces, drivers, encoders and decoders for communicating via the wireline connection  28  via wireline port  64 , an optional memory interface for communicating with off-chip memory  54 , a codec for encoding voice signals from microphone  60  into digital voice signals, a keypad/keyboard interface for generating data from keypad/keyboard  58  in response to the actions of a user, a display driver for driving display  56 , such as by rendering a color video signal, text, graphics, or other display data, and an audio driver such as an audio amplifier for driving speaker  62  and one or more other interfaces, such as for interfacing with the camera  76  or the other peripheral devices. 
     In operation, the RF transceivers  73  . . .  73 ′ generate outbound RF signals from outbound data and generate inbound data from inbound RF signals to communicate with a plurality of networks, such as networks  6 ,  8 ,  107  and  111 , etc. Configuration controller  221  configures one or more of the transceivers  73  . . .  73 ′, the antennas  72  . . .  72 ′ and the power management unit  95  to conform to channel conditions, the particular transmission requirements of data being sent and received by the transceivers  73  . . .  73 ′ in order to conserve power, reduce interference, and to communicate more efficiently with one or more networks or remote devices. 
     Power management circuit (PMU)  95  includes one or more DC-DC converters, voltage regulators, current regulators or other power supplies for supplying the IC  50  and optionally the other components of communication device  10  and/or its peripheral devices with supply voltages and or currents (collectively power supply signals) that may be required to power these devices. Power management circuit  95  can operate from one or more batteries, line power, an inductive power received from a remote device, a piezoelectric source that generates power in response to motion of the integrated circuit and/or from other power sources, not shown. In particular, power management module  95  can selectively supply power supply signals of different voltages, currents or current limits or with adjustable voltages, currents or current limits in response to control signals received from configuration controller. While shown as an off-chip module, PMU  95  can be alternatively implemented as an on-chip circuit. 
     In addition, IC  50  may include an location generation module  48  that generates location or motion parameters based on the location or motion of the device such as a longitude, latitude, altitude, address, velocity, velocity vector, acceleration (including deceleration), and/or other location or motion parameter. Location generation module  48  can include a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, one or more accelerometers, gyroscopes or positioning sensors, a device that operates via triangulation data received via the network, or other location generation devices that generate or receive such location or motion parameters. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the IC  50  is a system on a chip integrated circuit that includes at least one processing device. Such a processing device, for instance, processing module  225 , may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions. The associated memory may be a single memory device or a plurality of memory devices that are either on-chip or off-chip such as memory  54 . Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note that when the IC  50  implements one or more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the associated memory storing the corresponding operational instructions for this circuitry is embedded with the circuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. 
     Also note that while certain modules of communication device  125  are shown to be included on IC  50  while others are not, IC  50  is shown for illustrative purposes and may include more or less of the modules of communication device  125 , depending on the particular implementation. Further, communication device  125  can include additional modules or fewer modules than those specifically shown. In operation, the IC  50  executes operational instructions that implement one or more of the applications (real-time or non-real-time) attributed to communication devices  125  as discussed above and in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of RF transceiver  123 , such as transceiver  73  or  73 ′, in accordance with the present invention. The RF transceiver  123  includes an RF transmitter  129 , and an RF receiver  127 . The RF receiver  127  includes a RF front end  140 , a down conversion module  142  and a receiver baseband processing module  144  that operate under the control of control signals  141 . The RF transmitter  129  includes a transmitter baseband processing module  146 , an up conversion module  148 , and a radio transmitter front-end  150  that also operate under control of control signals  141 . 
     As shown, the receiver and transmitter are each coupled to an antenna  171  and a diplexer (duplexer)  177 , such as antenna interface  72  or  74 , that converts the transmit signal  155  to produce outbound RF signal  170  and converts the inbound signal  152  to produce received signal  153 . Alternatively, a transmit/receive switch can be used in place of diplexer  177 . While a single antenna is represented, the receiver and transmitter may share a multiple antenna structure that includes two or more antennas. In another embodiment, the receiver and transmitter may share a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna structure, diversity antenna structure, phased array or other controllable antenna structure that includes a plurality of antennas. Each of these antennas may be fixed, programmable, and antenna array or other antenna configuration. 
     In operation, the transmitter receives outbound data  162  from other portions of its a host device, such as a communication application executed by processing module  225  or other source via the transmitter processing module  146 . The transmitter processing module  146  processes the outbound data  162  in accordance with a particular wireless communication standard (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, RFID, GSM, CDMA, et cetera) to produce baseband signal that may either a true baseband signal with no frequency offset or be a low intermediate frequency (IF) transmit (TX) signals that contains outbound data  162 . The baseband or low IF TX signals  164  may be digital baseband signals (e.g., have a zero IF) or digital low IF signals, where the low IF typically will be in a frequency range of one hundred kilohertz to a few megahertz. Note that the processing performed by the transmitter processing module  146  can include, but is not limited to, scrambling, encoding, puncturing, mapping, modulation, and/or digital baseband to IF conversion. 
     The up conversion module  148  includes a digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) module, a filtering and/or gain module, and a mixing section. The DAC module converts the baseband or low IF TX signals  164  from the digital domain to the analog domain. The filtering and/or gain module filters and/or adjusts the gain of the analog signals prior to providing it to the mixing section. The mixing section converts the analog baseband or low IF signals into up-converted signals  166  based on a transmitter local oscillation. 
     The radio transmitter front end  150  includes a power amplifier and may also include a transmit filter module. The power amplifier amplifies the up-converted signals  166  to produce outbound RF signals  170 , which may be filtered by the transmitter filter module, if included. The antenna structure transmits the outbound RF signals  170  to a targeted device such as a RF tag, base station, an access point and/or another wireless communication device via an antenna interface  171  coupled to an antenna that provides impedance matching and optional bandpass filtration. 
     The receiver receives inbound RF signals  152  via the antenna and off-chip antenna interface  171  that operates to process the inbound RF signal  152  into received signal  153  for the receiver front-end  140 . In general, antenna interface  171  provides impedance matching of antenna to the RF front-end  140 , optional bandpass filtration of the inbound RF signal  152  and optionally controls the configuration of the antenna in response to one or more control signals  141  generated by processing module  225 . 
     The down conversion module  142  includes a mixing section, an analog to digital conversion (ADC) module, and may also include a filtering and/or gain module. The mixing section converts the desired RF signal  154  into a down converted signal  156  that is based on a receiver local oscillation, such as an analog baseband or low IF signal. The ADC module converts the analog baseband or low IF signal into a digital baseband or low IF signal. The filtering and/or gain module high pass and/or low pass filters the digital baseband or low IF signal to produce a baseband or low IF signal  156 . Note that the ordering of the ADC module and filtering and/or gain module may be switched, such that the filtering and/or gain module is an analog module. 
     The receiver processing module  144  processes the baseband or low IF signal  156  in accordance with a particular wireless communication standard (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, RFID, GSM, CDMA, et cetera) to produce inbound data  160 . The processing performed by the receiver processing module  144  includes, but is not limited to, digital intermediate frequency to baseband conversion, demodulation, demapping, depuncturing, decoding, and/or descrambling. 
     Further, configuration controller  221  generates one or more control signals  141  to configure or adapt the RF transceiver  123 . In operation, configuration controller  221  generates control signals  141  to modify the transmit and/or receiver parameters of the RF transceiver  125  such as protocol parameters, data rates, modulation types, channel utilization methods, and other data parameters used by receiver processing module  144  and transmitter processing module  146 , frequency bands, channels and bandwidths, filter settings, gains, power levels, ADC and DAC parameters, and other parameters used by RF front-end  140 , radio transmitter front-end  150 , down conversion module  142  and up conversion module  148 , as well as antenna configurations used by antenna interface  171  to set the beam pattern, gain, polarization or other antenna configuration of the antenna. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the configuration controller receives channel data  143  from RF front end that indicates the receive conditions of the channel such as a receive signal strength, a signal to noise ratio, a signal to noise and interference ratio, and/or an automatic gain control signal or other data that indicates the current performance of the channel. In addition or in the alternative, configuration controller  221  can receive channel data  145  from receiver processing module  144 . The channel data  145  can include a bit error rate, and/or a packet error rate that further indicates current channel conditions. Further, configuration controller  221  can receive requirements data corresponding to the stream of inbound data, wherein the requirements data includes a quality of service, a signal latency limit, and a signal content, for instance a signal type such as a real-time MPEG2 video stream, a real-time audio stream, a non-real-time data file, etc. 
     The configuration controller  221 , receiver processing module  144  and transmitter processing module  146  can each be implemented with a dedicated or shared processing device. Such a processing device, for instance may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions. The associated memory may be a single memory device or a plurality of memory devices that are either on-chip or off-chip. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note that when configuration controller  221 , receiver processing module  144  and transmitter processing module  146  implement one or more of their functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the associated memory storing the corresponding operational instructions for this circuitry is embedded with the circuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, configuration controller  221  includes a lookup table that generates control signals  141 , based on the requirements data  223  and channel data  143  and  145 . The control signals  141  can be analog signals, digital signals, discrete-time signals of other signals that control the modules of RF transceiver  123  to adapt to communication based on channel data  143  and  145  and requirements data  223 . In particular, control signal  141  can be a plurality of individual signals or a single multidimensional signal that independently control the various modules of RF transceiver  123 , that adjusts, adapts, controls or otherwise configures the operation of other similar transceivers  123  and the power management unit  95 . Further details regarding particular conditions for generating control signals  141  will be discussed in conjunction with  FIGS. 6-20  that follow. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a transmitter processing module  146  in accordance with the present invention. In particular, transmitter processing module  146  processes outbound data in a plurality of transmitter stages to produce at least one baseband signal, such as baseband or low IF transmit signal  164 . In the embodiment shown, these transmitter stages include scrambling stage  180 , encoding stage  181 , interleaving stage  182 , mapping stage  183 , and space/time coding stage  184 . Transmitter processing module  146  further includes inverse FFT module  185 , that can optionally be bypassed as well. In response to control signals  141 , each of these stages can be individually and selectively bypassed by the multiplexers  186 . In operation, the multiplexers  186  implement a switching matrix for selectively switching-in or bypassing each of the transmitter stages to place the transmitter processing module  146  in different configurations. Each of the transmitter stages can be individually powered via a dedicated power supply signal from power management unit  95 . In this fashion, transmitter stages not in use can be powered down to conserve power. 
     In addition, each of the transmitter stages  180 - 184  can also be individually configured. In this fashion, control signal  141  can select from one of a plurality of scrambling methods, or use different scrambling seeds or encryption keys, can select from one of a plurality of encoding techniques, can select from one of a plurality of interleaving configurations, can select from one of a plurality of mappings and one of a plurality of space/time codings. 
     By selectively bypassing one or more transmitter stages and/or configuring each of these stages, transmitter processing module  146  can be configured in response to control signal  141  to one of a plurality of modulation modes such as a minimum shift keying mode, a binary phase shift keying mode, a quadrature phase shift keying mode, a quadrature amplitude modulation module, and a frequency shift keying mode, and to a selected one of a plurality of channel utilization modes, such as a orthogonal frequency division multiplexing mode, a coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing mode, a time division multiplexing mode, a frequency division multiplexing mode, a code division multiplexing mode and a spread spectrum mode. 
     While transmitter processing module  146  is shown to produce a single baseband or low IF transmit signal  164 , multiple baseband or low IF transmit signals can be generated by one or more redundant paths for applications such as where transmitter processing module  146  is coupled to an RF transmitter section that itself is configurable to generate a plurality of RF signal for transmission by a plurality of antennas. In this embodiment, the transmitter processing module  146  can be configurable in response to the control signal  141  to a selected one of a plurality of antenna modes, such as a single input single output mode, a multi-input single output mode, a single input multi-output mode and a multi-input multi-output mode. 
     In this fashion, configuration controller  221  can configure the channel utilization, antenna mode for efficient throughput based on the channel conditions reflected by channel data  143  and  145  and further based on the requirements data  223 . For example, when excellent channel conditions are observed with high received power and low interference, particular redundancies and channel compensating features can be reduced or bypassed altogether to simplify the generation of the baseband or low IF transmit signal, and or to reduce power by reducing processing speeds and/or by disabling bypassed transmit stages. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a receiver processing module  144  in accordance with the present invention. In a complementary fashion to transmitter processing module processing module  146 , receiver processing module  144  includes a plurality of receiver stages that can be individually configured and selectively bypassed in response to control signal  141  to produce a stream of inbound data  160 . In particular, these stages include a descrambling stage  194 , a decoding stage  193 , a deinterleaving stage  192 , a demapping stage  191 , and a space/time decoding stage  190  as well as FFT stage  189  that also may be selectively bypassed, based on the particular implementation. Each of the receiver stages can be individually powered via a dedicated power supply signal from power management unit  95 . In this fashion, receiver stages not in use can be powered down to conserve power. 
     One or more down converted signals  156  can be processed in this fashion with the processed signals being combined in combination module  197  that performs summing, maximum ratio recombination or other combining to generate inbound data  160  in response thereto. Combination module  197 , optionally generates channel data  145  by determining a packet error rate, bit error rate of other metric that indicates current channel conditions. 
     By selectively bypassing one or more transmitter stages and/or configuring each of these stages, receiver processing module  144  can be configured in response to control signal  141  to one of a plurality of modulation modes such as a minimum shift keying mode, a binary phase shift keying mode, a quadrature phase shift keying mode, a quadrature amplitude modulation module, and a frequency shift keying mode, and to a selected one of a plurality of channel utilization modes, such as a orthogonal frequency division multiplexing mode, a coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing mode, a time division multiplexing mode, a frequency division multiplexing mode, a code division multiplexing mode and a spread spectrum mode. 
     In addition, one or more redundant paths can be selectively enabled or disabled in response to control signal  141  to configure the receiver processing module  144  to a selected one of a plurality of antenna modes such as a single input single output mode, a multi-input single output mode, a single input multi-output mode and a multi-input multi-output mode. 
     In this fashion, configuration controller  221  can configure the channel utilization, antenna mode and for efficient throughput based on the channel conditions reflected by channel data  143  and  145  and further based on the requirements data  223 . For example, when excellent channel conditions are observed with high received power and low interference, particular redundancies and channel compensating features can be reduced or bypassed altogether to simplify the processing of the down converted signals  156  and or to reduce power by reducing processing speeds and/or by disabling bypassed receive stages. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a RF transmitter section in accordance with the present invention. In particular, an RF transmitter section is shown, such as radio transmitter front end  150  and up conversion module  148 . The RF transmitter section generates one or more RF signals  224  from the at least one baseband signal, such as baseband or low IF transmit signal  164 , that are coupled to antenna module  214 , such as antenna  171 . Antenna module  214  can include a plurality of antennas driven by the RF signals  224 . The antenna module  214  and the RF transmitter section are configurable via multiplexers  222  and demultiplexers  220  in response to the control signal  141  to a selected one of a plurality of antenna modes such as a single input single output mode, a multi-input single output mode, a single input multi-output mode and a multi-input multi-output mode. 
     In addition, a beamforming stage  204  is included for generating a plurality of beamformed upconverted signals with controlled amplitudes and phases that can be passed to a plurality of parallel power amplification sections  226  to generate the RF signals  224  for antenna module  214  for transmitting signals with directed beams as part of a phased array, to achieve spatial diversity, as part of a space/time coding, for transmission with controlled polarization, etc. In a low power mode, one or more power amplifier stages  226  can be shut down to save power. 
     In operation, the RF transmitter section is configurable to operate in a mixed signal mode of operation in response to control signal  141  by the selection of I-Q up conversion module  202  that operates based on the generation of in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) signals. Further, RF transmitter section is configurable to operate in a phase modulation mode of operation, in response to control signal  141  by selecting the phase modulation up-conversion module  200  that includes a phase locked loop or other phase or frequency modulator. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, each of the modules of the RF transmitter section can be individually powered via dedicated power supply signals  228  from power management unit  95 . In this fashion, modules not in use can be powered down to conserve power. 
     As previously discussed, the RF transmitter section includes a plurality of power amplifier stages  226  that, for instance, each correspond to one of the plurality of antennas in antenna module  214 . Each power amplifier stage  226  is driven by a driver  206  or other pre-amplification stage. The power amplification stages  226  are configured in parallel, can be selectively bypassed in response to the control signal  141  for low power operation. As shown, each of the power amplifier stages  226  includes a linear power amplifier  208  and a nonlinear power amplifier  210 . The linear power amplifier  208  and the nonlinear power amplifier  210  are independently selectable in response to control signal  141  based on the desired power level. Further, the linear power amplifier  208  can be a polar amplifier that operates on modulating signal  151  included in baseband or low IF transmit signal  164 , to produce an amplitude modulated output. 
     In operation, configuration controller  221  generates control signal  141  based on channel data  143  and/or  145 . Control signal  141  configures the RF transmitter section to produce one or more RF signals  226  having a selected power level, wherein the selected power level. If, for instance, RF transceiver  123  is communicating with an external device and is receiving an inbound RF signal  152  with high signal strength, the strength of received signal  153  can be used to generate channel data  143  that controls the gain of the RF front-end lower and that can be used by configuration controller  221 , via control signal  141 , to configure the RF transmitter section to a lower power mode of operation, by turning off or bypassing one or more of the power amplification stages. This can conserve power and possibly battery life, when the device that incorporates RF transceiver  123  is a mobile communication device, and can help reduce interference for other stations in range of RF transceiver  123  that may be communicating with the same access point or base station or that may otherwise be using the same spectrum. 
     Similarly, if for instance, RF transceiver  123  is communicating with an external device and is receiving an inbound RF signal  152  with low signal strength, that exhibits higher that acceptable bit error rate or packet error rate, or with strict QOS requirements, the configuration controller  221  can generate control signals, to select a higher power level for the RF signals  224 , to engage more power amplification stages and transmit via more of all of the antennas of antenna module  214 , to more carefully beamform the antenna pattern etc. This can help the outbound RF signal  170  reach an external device that may be distant, or that has a partially obstructed communication path to RF transceiver  123 . 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a RF receiver section in accordance with the present invention. In particular, an RF receiver section, such as RF front-end  140  and down conversion module  142  is shown coupled to antenna module  214 . The RF receiver section that generates one or more downconverted signals  156  from at least one received RF signal generated by antenna module  214 . Each of the modules of the RF receiver section can be individually powered via dedicated power supply signals  238  from power management unit  95 . In this fashion, modules not in use can be powered down to conserve power. 
     The RF receiver section includes a plurality of RF receiver stages  236  that are configured in parallel, and wherein each of the plurality of RF receiver stages can be selectively enabled by selectively powering these devices via dedicated supply signals. For instance, the RF receiver section can be configured in one of a plurality of antenna modes such as a single input single output mode, a multi-input single output mode, a single input multi-output mode and a multi-input multi-output mode. In operation, power management unit  95  is responsive to control signal  141  to selectively and individual stages of the circuit that are actually in use while powering down the other stages. Channel data generator  236  generates channel data  143  based on a measurement such as a receive signal strength, a signal to noise ratio, a signal to noise and interference ratio, automatic gain control data and/or other data that indicates the conditions of the particular channel being received. 
     As shown, the RF receiver stages  236  include a low noise amplifier  232  and one or more of the RF receiver stages  236  further include a blocking circuit  234  that can be selectively engaged in response to the control signal  141  to provide interference blocking via filtration, cancellation or other blocking technique. In this fashion, when high interference is indicated via channel data  143  and/or channel data  145 , one or more blocking circuits  234  can be selectively engaged. In an embodiment of the present invention, the configuration controller  221  can selectively engage the blocking circuits and monitor the channel data  143  and/or  145  to determine if channel conditions are better with or without each of the individual blocking circuits  234  being engaged or disengaged. 
     The RF receiver section includes a plurality of down conversion modules  230 , such as down conversion module  142 , and the RF receiver section is configurable, in response to the control signal  141 , to generate a plurality of downconverted signals from a plurality of RF signals. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a configurable power supply in accordance with the present invention. In particular, a power supply  240  is shown that can include power management unit  95  for supplying one or more power supply signals Vdd RF  for powering a configurable RF section  244 , such as the RF transmitter section of  FIG. 8  and the RF receiver section of  FIG. 9 . In addition, power supply  240  generates one or more power supply signals Vdd BB  for powering a configurable baseband processing module  242 , such as the transmitter processing module  146  and the receiver processing module  144 . In operation, power supply  240  Vdd RF  and Vdd BB  in accordance with a plurality of power consumption parameters and adjusts at least one of the plurality of power consumption parameters based on the control signal  241 , such as control signal  141 . In an embodiment of the present invention, individual modules within the configurable RF section  244  and configurable baseband processing module  242  can be individually powered via dedicated power supply signals Vdd RF  and Vdd BB  from power supply  240 . In this fashion, modules not in use can be powered down to conserve power. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the power supply  240  can further adjust power consumption parameters such as a receiver supply signal voltage, a receiver supply signal current, a transmitter supply signal voltage, and a transmitter supply signal current included in Vdd RF  and Vdd BB . In this fashion, as the configuration controller  221  configures the RF and baseband sections of the receiver and transmitter, the control signals  241  contemporaneously configures the power supply  240  to adjust the power supply signals Vdd RF  and Vdd BB  to conform with changing power requirements of the configurable BB processing module  242  and the configurable RF section  244 . 
     For instance, power supply  240  adjusts the power supply signals Vdd RF  and Vdd BB  in response to the control signal  241  to correspond to a selected one of a plurality of antenna modes such as a single input single output mode, a multi-input single output mode, a single input multi-output mode and a multi-input multi-output mode. In another example, power supply  240  adjusts the power supply signals Vdd RF  and Vdd BB  in response to the control signal  241  to correspond to a selected one of a plurality of modulation modes such as a minimum shift keying mode, a binary phase shift keying mode, a quadrature phase shift keying mode, a quadrature amplitude modulation module, and a frequency shift keying mode. In a further example, power supply  240  adjusts the power supply signals Vdd RF  and Vdd BB  in response to the control signal  241  to correspond to a selected one of a plurality of channel utilization modes such as a orthogonal frequency division multiplexing mode, a coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing mode, a time division multiplexing mode, a frequency division multiplexing mode, a code division multiplexing mode and a spread spectrum mode. Also, power supply  240  can adjust the power supply signals Vdd RF  and Vdd BB  in response to the control signal  241  to correspond to a selected one of a plurality of power amplification modes such as a linear power amplification mode, a nonlinear power amplification mode, a low power mode, and a polar power amplification mode. 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of power management circuitry in accordance with the present invention. In particular, selected modules of IC  50  are shown that include RF transceiver  123  and configuration controller  221 . Off-chip power management circuit  95  receives the control signal  241  and generates a plurality of power supply signals  254  to power off-chip modules and on-chip modules as these modules are in use such as one or more transmitter power supply signals  252  and one or more receiver supply signals  250 . As discussed in conjunction with  FIG. 10 , transmitter supply signal  252  and receiver supply signal  250  (including one or more power supply signals Vdd R  and Vdd BB ) can be adjusted based on the control signal  141  and the particular mode of operation corresponding thereto. 
     For example, the various operational modes of RF transmitter  129  and RF receiver  127  can include a low, medium and high power ranges of power levels, transmitter power amplification modes, antenna modes, modulation modes and channel utilization modes. Control signal  141  can indicate to the off-chip power management circuit  95  the selected mode of the RF transmitter  129  so that off-chip power management circuit  95  can supply the necessary power supply signals  254  to meet the power demands of the selected mode of operation. This methodology allows power to be generated for the RF transmitter and/or the various modules contained therein, only as required to address the current power mode in use. 
     Also, if communication device  10  or  30  is using certain peripheral devices and/or certain interfaces or modules at a given time, off-chip power management circuit  95  can be commanded to supply only those power supply signals  254  that are required based on the peripheral devices, interfaces and/or other modules that are in use. Further, if a USB device is coupled to wireline port  64 , then a power mode command can be sent to off-chip power management module  95  to generate a power supply signal  204  that supplies a power supply voltage, (such as a 5 volt, 8 milliamp supply voltage) to the wireline port  64  in order to power the USB device or devices connected thereto. In another example, if the communication device  10  includes a mobile communication device that operates in accordance with a GSM or EDGE wireless protocol, the off-chip power management circuit  95  can generate supply voltages for the baseband and RF modules of the transceiver only when the transceiver is operating. 
     Further, peripheral devices, such as the camera  76 , memory  54 , keypad/keyboard  58 , microphone  60 , display  56 , and speaker  62  can be powered when these peripheral devices are attached (to the extent that they can be detached) and to the extent that these devices are currently in use by the application. 
     The power management features of the present invention operates based on the configuration controller  221  determining, a power mode that corresponds to the other operational modes of the IC  50 . The configuration controller  221 , via look-up table, calculation or other processing routine, determines the power mode by determining the particular power supply signals required to be generated based on the devices in use and optionally their own power states. 
     The off-chip power management circuit  95  can be implemented as a multi-output programmable power supply, that receives the control signal  141  and generates and optionally routes the power supply signals  254  to particular ports, pins or pads of IC  50  or directly to peripheral devices via a switch matrix, as commanded based on the control signal  141 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the control signal  141  is decoded by the off-chip power management module to determine the particular power supply signals to be generated, and optionally—their characteristics such as voltage, current and/or current limit. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, IC  50  couples the control signal  141  to the off-chip power management circuit  95  via one or more dedicated digital lines that comprise a parallel interface. Further, the IC  50  can couple the control signal  141  to the off-chip power management circuit via a serial communication interface such as an I 2 C interface, serial/deserializer (SERDES) interface or other serial interface. 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a power management unit in accordance with the present invention. In particular, on-chip power management circuit  95 ′ operates in a similar fashion to off-chip power management unit  95  to generate power supply signals  255  that are similar to power supply signals  254 . On-chip power management circuit  95 ′ includes one or more DC-DC converters, voltage regulators, current regulators or other power supplies for supplying the IC  50 , and optionally the other components of communication device  10  and/or its peripheral devices with supply voltages and or currents (collectively power supply signals) that may be required to power these devices. On-chip power management circuit  95 ′ can operate from one or more batteries, line power and/or from other power sources, not shown as discussed in conjunction with  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 13  is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a power management unit in accordance with the present invention. In particular, a MIMO configuration is shown for transceiver  73  . . .  73 ′ that includes multiple RF transceivers  350 , such as RF transceiver  123 , that transmits outbound data  162  via each transceiver  350  and that generates inbound data  160  by combining inbound data from each of the transceivers  350  via maximum ratio recombination or other processing technique. Each transceiver includes a RF transmitter, such as RF transmitter  129 , and an RF receiver, such as RF receiver  127  that share a common antenna, that share a common antenna structure that includes multiple antennas or that that employ separate antennas for the transmitter and receiver. In this configuration, configuration controller  221  generates control signals  141  based on requirements data  223  and channel data  147 , such as channel data  143  and  145 , received from each of the transceivers  350 . 
       FIG. 14  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. In particular, a method is presented for use in conjunction with one or more of the functions and features described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-13 . In step  400 , a receiver processing module is configured in response to a control signal to selectively bypass at least one of a plurality of receiver processing stages. In step  402 , a transmitter processing module is configured in response to the control signal to selectively bypass at least one of the plurality of transmitter processing stages. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the transceiver further includes a plurality of antennas, and wherein the transmitter processing module and the receiver processing module are configured to a selected one of a plurality of antenna modes, wherein the plurality of antenna modes includes a single input single output mode, a multi-input single output mode, a single input multi-output mode and/or a multi-input multi-output mode. The transmitter processing module and the receiver processing module can be configured to a selected one of a plurality of modulation modes, wherein the plurality of modulation modes includes a minimum shift keying mode, a binary phase shift keying mode, a quadrature phase shift keying mode, a quadrature amplitude modulation module, and/or a frequency shift keying mode. The transmitter processing module and the receiver processing module can also be configured to a selected one of a plurality of channel utilization modes, wherein the plurality of channel utilization modes includes an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing mode, a coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing mode, a time division multiplexing mode, a frequency division multiplexing mode, a code division multiplexing mode and/or a spread spectrum mode. 
       FIG. 15  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. In particular, a method is presented for use in conjunction with one or more of the functions and features described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-14 . In step  410 , the plurality of RF receiver stages are selectively enabled in response to a control signal. In step  412 , the configurable RF transmitter section is configured to operate in one of: a mixed signal mode of operation and a phase modulation mode of operation, in response to the control signal. 
       FIG. 16  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. In particular, a method is presented for use in conjunction with one or more of the functions and features described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-15 . In step  420 , a plurality of antennas coupled to the RF receiver section and the RF transmitter section, are configured in response to the control signal to a selected one of a plurality of antenna modes, wherein the plurality of antenna modes includes a single input single output mode, a multi-input single output mode, a single input multi-output mode and/or a multi-input multi-output mode. 
       FIG. 17  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. In particular, a method is presented for use in conjunction with one or more of the functions and features described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-16 . In step  430 , a beamforming stage for generating a plurality of beamformed upconverted signals the corresponding plurality of antennas is selectively enabled for. 
       FIG. 18  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. In particular, a method is presented for use in conjunction with one or more of the functions and features described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-17 . In step  440 , interference blocking is selectively enabled in at least one of the plurality of RF receiver stages. 
       FIG. 19  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. In particular, a method is presented for use in conjunction with one or more of the functions and features described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-18 . In step  450 , one of a plurality of power amplification modes is selected, the plurality power amplification modes including a linear power amplification, a nonlinear power amplification, a low power mode, and/or a polar power amplification mode. 
       FIG. 20  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. In particular, a method is presented for use in conjunction with one or more of the functions and features described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-19 . In step  460 , a stream of inbound data is generated from at least one received RF signal via an RF receiver that is configurable in response to a control signal. In step  462 , at least one RF signal is generated from a stream of outbound data via an RF transmitter section that is configurable in response to the control signal. In step  464 , at least one receiver supply signal and at least on transmitter supply signal are generated in accordance with a plurality of power consumption parameters. In step  466 , a control signal is generated based on channel data. In step  468 , at least one of the plurality of power consumption parameters is adjusted based on the control signal. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of power consumption parameters includes a receiver supply signal voltage, a receiver supply signal, a transmitter supply signal voltage, and/or a transmitter supply signal current. 
     The RF transceiver and the RF transmitter can be configurable in response to the control signal to a selected one of a plurality of modulation modes, wherein the plurality of modulation modes includes a minimum shift keying mode, a binary phase shift keying mode, a quadrature phase shift keying mode, a quadrature amplitude modulation module, and/or a frequency shift keying mode and wherein the adjusting of the at least one of the plurality of power consumption parameters is based on the selected one of the plurality of modulation modes. 
     The RF transceiver and the RF transmitter can be configurable in response to the control signal to a selected one of a plurality of channel utilization modes, wherein the plurality of channel utilization modes includes an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing mode, a coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing mode, a time division multiplexing mode, a frequency division multiplexing mode, a code division multiplexing mode and/or a spread spectrum mode, and wherein the adjusting of the at least one of the plurality of power consumption parameters is based on the selected one of the plurality of channel utilization modes. 
     The control signal can generated based on channel data that includes a receive signal strength, a signal to noise ratio, a signal to noise and interference ratio, automatic gain control data, a bit error rate, a packet error rate, a quality of service, a signal latency limit, and/or a signal content. 
     The RF transmitter can be configurable to one of a plurality of power amplification modes and adjusting the plurality of power consumption parameters is based on the selected one of the plurality of power amplification modes. The plurality or power amplification modes can include a linear power amplification mode, a nonlinear power amplification mode, a low power mode, and/or a polar power amplification mode. 
     As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately” provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding term and/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit process variations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermal noise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a few percent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, the term(s) “coupled to” and/or “coupling” and/or includes direct coupling between items and/or indirect coupling between items via an intervening item (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, an element, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for indirect coupling, the intervening item does not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As may further be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”. As may even further be used herein, the term “operable to” indicates that an item includes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s), etc., to perform one or more its corresponding functions and may further include inferred coupling to one or more other items. As may still further be used herein, the term “associated with”, includes direct and/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item being embedded within another item. As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items, signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal  1  has a greater magnitude than signal  2 , a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude of signal  1  is greater than that of signal  2  or when the magnitude of signal  2  is less than that of signal  1 . 
     The present invention has also been described above with the aid of method steps illustrating the performance of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functional building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined herein for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships are appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. 
     The present invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the performance of certain significant functions. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significant functions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certain significant functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and still perform the certain significant functionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. One of average skill in the art will also recognize that the functional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules and components herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discrete components, application specific integrated circuits, processors executing appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.