Patent ID: 6950641

Claim:
A radio receiver for receiving a radio frequency signal, the radio receiver comprising: a first-stage portion at which the radio frequency signal is amplified by a selected first-stage gain and direct-converted to a baseband frequency to form a baseband signal; a second-stage portion to which the baseband signal, once converted to the baseband frequency is provided; a first second-stage amplifier adapted to receive the baseband signal, once direct-converted at the first-stage portion to the baseband frequency, said first second-stage amplifier selectably for amplifying the baseband signal at a first selected level of gain such that the baseband signal, once amplified, is nonsaturated; and a gain controller coupled to said first second-stage amplifier and adapted to receive indicia comprising a noise-related value associated with the baseband signal, prior to amplification thereof at said first second-stage amplifier, said gain controller for selecting the selected level of gain by which said first second-stage amplifier amplifies the baseband signals, the selected level one of a first gain level and at least a second gain level, the first gain level greater than the second gain level, wherein said gain controller selects the selected level to be the second gain level when the noise-related value is beyond a selected threshold.