Patent ID: 7830992

Claim:
An automatic gain control (AGC) circuit for receiving an input signal having an input power level and for maintaining an output signal having a desired output power level, the AGC circuit comprising: a peak detector for detecting a peak voltage of the input signal; an averaging circuit for determining an average voltage of the input signal; a comparator for receiving the peak voltage and the averaged voltage, and for determining whether the input signal is one of a QAM signal or a CW signal; a QAM/CW gain switch controlled by the comparator, the QAM/CW gain switch for passing the input signal when determined to be a QAM signal, and for bypassing the input signal when determined to be a CW signal, wherein when the input signal is bypassed, the input power level of the input signal is attenuated by a predetermined level; and an error integrator for receiving the averaged voltage having been one of bypassed or attenuated, the error integrator for providing an adjusting voltage, wherein the adjusting voltage ensures the desired output power level.