Patent ID: 7262659

Claim:
One or more circuits for controlling a variable gain amplifier (VGA) operable in a low gain mode and a high gain mode, wherein a level of gain when operating in one of the low gain mode and high gain mode is adjustable according to a control signal, the one or more circuits comprising: interface circuitry for sensing the operating mode of the variable gain amplifier; and a controller operably coupled to the interface circuitry, the controller operable to, at least, determine the current operating mode of the variable gain amplifier; if the current operating mode is the low gain mode, compare the control signal to a first threshold representing a relatively higher level of gain, and set a new operating mode of the variable gain amplifier to the high gain mode, if a level of gain represented by the control signal is greater than the level of gain represented by the first threshold; if the current operating mode is the high gain mode, compare the control signal to a second threshold representing a relatively lower level of gain, and set the new operating mode of the variable gain amplifier to the low gain mode, if the level of gain represented by the control signal is less than the level of gain represented by the second threshold; and make the current operating mode of the variable gain amplifier equal to the new operating mode.