The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 09, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 26, 2000
Normand T. Lemay, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Brian T. Brunn, Lakeville, MN (US);
John W. MacConnell, Spokane, WA (US);
Eric Sadowski, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Eric W. Lofstad, Eagan, MN (US);
Itron, Inc., Spokane, WA (US);
Abstract
The present invention presents a closed loop system that utilizes a non-linear reference to control a power amplifier's output power in order to obtain a linear transfer function of dB per adjustment step of a reference input. The closed loop system demonstrates that each non-linear stage/step in an automatic gain control system can create a linear closed loop system when using a non-linear reference. The closed loop system of the present invention eliminates the need for a linearization circuit for the system's power detector. The closed loop system may be used with most power amplifiers when linear control in terms of dB vs. adjustment setting of the input reference signal is desired. Output power in terms of dBms can be accurately set in linear steps where power control over a wide dynamic range is desired.