Patent ID: 8149966

Claim:
An apparatus for packet acquisition, the apparatus receiving a plurality of streams of IQ receiver data, the apparatus having: an input for at least one said stream of IQ receiver data and detecting when the signal strength of an associated said stream of IQ receiver data is above a threshold; an input for at least one said stream of IQ receiver data indicating when an AGC process for an associated said stream of IQ receiver data is completed; a packet detector coupled to each said stream of IQ receiver data, said packet detector generating a packet detect output when a repeated preamble sequence is detected on at least one said stream, said packet detector also having a RESET input for suspending packet detect while said RESET input is asserted, and an SNR_MODE input for increasing said packet detector sensitivity when said SNR_MODE is not asserted and decreasing said packet detector sensitivity when said SNR_MODE is asserted; an AGC controller for each said stream of IQ receiver data, said AGC controller establishing an inter-packet gain level and generating a LOCK output when a gain control process has completed, said AGC controller also having a FREEZE input for suspending said gain control process; a signal strength detector for each said stream of IQ receiver data, said signal strength detector asserting a GT_NFLR output when the signal strength of an associated said stream of IQ receiver data increases and also asserting said SNR_MODE if one or more of said GT_NFLR outputs is asserted; said packet acquisition apparatus asserting said FREEZE input to all said AGC controllers if said packet detect output is asserted for any said stream.