Patent ID: 8090035

Claim:
A method for setting an inter-packet gain in a receiver accepting wireless packets having a preamble and a payload and converting said wireless packets to a baseband digitized output, the receiver having a gain control input for changing a gain level, said receiver coupled to a baseband processor for detecting said packet, the method comprising: during an interpacket interval, iteratively measuring an inter-packet noise level of said baseband digitized output and adjusting the value of said gain control input to generate a baseband digitized output amplitude Eopt, thereafter maintaining said interpacket gain control input value during a signal increase detection interval until an increase in the energy level of said baseband digitized output is detected, and: if said energy level increase is below an energy threshold, performing a one-step gain control input value adjustment and thereafter maintaining said one-step gain control input value while said baseband processor is enabled for packet detection; if said energy level increase is above said energy threshold, performing multiple gain control steps in succession to bring said signal level to a preamble gain level while said baseband processor packet detection is disabled until said multiple gain control steps are completed, thereafter enabling said baseband processor packet detection; where said interpacket interval gain control input value is established from the minimum gain level required for said baseband processor to detect said packet under a minimum signal condition Eopt, and said energy threshold is at least 10 dB above a noise floor level; and where said signal increase is determined using an accumulator comparing the energy level in previous n samples of said baseband digitized output, and where said accumulator is operative using a smaller value n for a large energy level increase than for a comparatively smaller energy level increase.