Patent ID: 6876635

Claim:
A method for reducing current drain in a communication device operating on a traffic channel in a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, the method comprising the steps of: enabling the receiver; determining when the communication device is transmitting; measuring a received signal strength and measuring a level of the transmitter power if the transmitter is gated on; lowering a bias current level to a preset level to operate the receiver in a non-linear mode and adjusting a receiver power amplifier gain level only dependent upon the received signal strength when the communication device is not transmitting; and raising the bias current level to the receiver to operate the receiver in a linear mode with the current level dynamically dependent upon the transmitter power and adjusting a receiver power amplifier gain level dependent upon the received signal strength when the communication device is transmitting and keeping the bias current low if the gain level is at a nominal or lower state dependent upon the received signal strength.