Method and apparatus for dynamic biasing of baseband circuitry in a communication system receiver

Abstract

Baseband receiver circuitry is dynamically biased in a communication system receiver by generating gain control information, and controlling an adjustable bias of at least a portion of the baseband circuitry based at least in part on the gain control information. The baseband receiver circuitry comprises at least one amplifier having an adjustable bias associated therewith, with the adjustable bias of the amplifier being controllable utilizing a bias control signal. For example, the amplifier may be an operational amplifier having a gain stage and an output buffer stage, with the bias control signal being applied to the output buffer stage to control an adjustable bias current thereof. More specifically, the bias control signal may be used to control an amount of current provided by at least one of a plurality of current sources associated with the output buffer stage of the amplifier, for example, by controlling a switch which enables or disables one or more of the current sources. Advantageously, the dynamic bias control can substantially reduce power consumption in the receiver. The techniques of the invention can also be applied to other types of devices which utilize gain control.