Patent ID: 7158762

Claim:
A direct conversion Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver integrated circuit comprising: a local oscillator that generates a RF local oscillation signal corresponding to a RF channel; a receiver section operably coupled to the local oscillator that receives an incoming RF signal and down converts the incoming RF signal based upon the RF local oscillation signal to produce a baseband signal; a transmitter section operably coupled to the local oscillator that receives an outgoing baseband signal and up converts the outgoing baseband signal to produce an outgoing RF signal; and wherein the transmitter section further comprises: a power amplifier; at least one adjustable gain element operably coupled on an input side of the power amplifier; and means for generating a gain level input to the at least one adjustable gain element wherein the means for generating a gain level input generates the gain level input based upon at least one of: an indication of the operating temperature of the power amplifier; an indication of the output power of the power amplifier; and an indication that power may be reduced to lower signal quality to a specified signal quality metric.