JP2006222601A - Receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a receiving device which receives signals sent from call originating sources, wherein a plurality of signals are received in parallel, without mutual interferences. <P>SOLUTION: The receiving device is equipped with a plurality of amplifiers which amplify the plurality of input signals with respective prescribed gains and a gain control section which performs cooperative switching control over the prescribed gains of the a plurality of amplifiers. The gain of only a single amplifier need not be switched independently, because of the cooperative control and the level large/small relation among the plurality of signals before the amplifiers will be maintained, even behind the amplifiers. Consequently, it is sufficient that isolation capabilities among the reception processes by the plurality of amplifiers exist, at prestages of the amplifiers. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a receiving apparatus that receives a signal emitted from a transmission source, and more particularly to a receiving apparatus that receives and processes a plurality of different signals in parallel.

  In a wireless communication system having only a single receiving unit, the gain of a low noise amplifier (LNA) is usually switched according to the magnitude of the power of a signal input from an antenna (for example, the following non-resonance amplifier). Patent Document 1). By switching the gain of the LNA in this way, the range of the output signal power can be reduced, and the width of the dynamic range required in the subsequent stage can be relaxed.

  In actual LNA gain switching, as described in Non-Patent Document 1, there are many cases of switching between two gains, high gain and low gain. The point to decrease and switch from low gain to high gain is set to a different value to provide hysteresis. By providing such hysteresis, it is possible to suppress frequent gain switching when a signal having power near the gain switching point is input.

  A wireless communication system that employs a scheme having a plurality of antennas such as MIMO (multi-input multi-output) and a smart antenna has a receiving unit corresponding to the plurality of antennas. If there is sufficient signal isolation among multiple receivers and mutual input signals do not interfere with each other within the receiver, the conventional single reception is also possible with regard to gain switching of the receivers. As in the case of a receiver having only a portion, good reception characteristics can be obtained by performing individual gain switching according to the input signal power of each receiving portion.

However, when a plurality of receiver circuits are integrated on one chip or mounted as a close module, it is generally difficult to ensure sufficient signal isolation between the plurality of receivers. That is, there is a possibility that sufficient reception characteristics cannot be obtained due to interference from other reception units.
C. Takahashi et al., “1.9 GHz Si direct conversion receiver IC for QPSK modulation system” (“A 1.9 GHz Si direct conversion receiver IC for QPSK modulation system”) ”), Tech. Dig. Of International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC 1995)), (USA), 1995, pp. 19-28. 138-139

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and in a receiving apparatus that receives a signal emitted from a transmission source, a receiving apparatus that can receive and process a plurality of signals in parallel without mutual interference. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a receiving apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of amplifiers that amplify each of a plurality of input signals with a predetermined gain, and gain control that cooperatively switches and controls the predetermined gains of the plurality of amplifiers. It comprises the part.

  That is, the gains of a plurality of amplifiers corresponding to a plurality of input signals are switched and controlled cooperatively by the gain control unit. By controlling in a coordinated manner, the gain of only an independent amplifier is not switched, and the level relationship of the plurality of signals in the previous stage of the amplifier is maintained in the subsequent stage of the amplifier. Therefore, the isolation capability between the reception processes by each of the plurality of amplifiers is sufficient if it is in the previous stage of the amplifier, and there is no need to consider the difference in gain when the amplifier is switched. Therefore, it becomes possible to receive and process a plurality of signals in parallel without mutual interference.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the receiver which receives the signal emitted by the transmission source, it becomes possible to receive-process several signals in parallel without mutual interference.

  As an embodiment of the present invention, an evaluation unit that aggregates and evaluates output side levels of the plurality of amplifiers is further provided, and the gain control unit is configured to determine the predetermined values of the plurality of amplifiers based on an evaluation result by the evaluation unit. The gain can be switched and controlled cooperatively. This is an aspect in which an evaluation unit is provided for cooperative switching control of amplifier gain performed by the gain control unit. The evaluation unit aggregates the output side levels of a plurality of amplifiers, and uses the collected information to evaluate the output side level (e.g., evaluation that is too large, appropriate, or too small).

  Here, as an example, the evaluation unit may perform the evaluation by comparing only a maximum or minimum of the aggregated output side levels with a reference level.

  As another example, the evaluation unit performs the evaluation by comparing only a maximum or minimum one of the aggregated output side levels within a predetermined range with a reference level. You can also. Here, a plurality of mixers provided in each subsequent stage of the plurality of amplifiers for converting the amplified signals into low frequency signals, respectively, and provided in each subsequent stage of the mixer, each of the low frequency signals being converted into a second frequency signal. A plurality of second amplifiers that amplify at a predetermined gain; and a second gain control unit that switches and controls the second predetermined gains of the plurality of second amplifiers based on an evaluation result by the evaluation unit. In such a case, the second gain control unit sets the second predetermined gain for the second amplifier corresponding to the aggregated output side level that is out of the predetermined range, The aggregated output-side levels may be different from the second predetermined gain for the second amplifier corresponding to those within the predetermined range. This is suitable, for example, when a high gain is applied to a large signal that is not within a predetermined range by the amplifier in the previous stage.

  Further, the gain control unit excludes the amplifier corresponding to the output side level aggregated by the evaluation unit out of the predetermined range from the target of cooperation when performing the switching control. It is good also as.

  As yet another example, the evaluation unit may average the aggregated output side levels and perform the evaluation by comparing the average level with a reference level.

  As still another example, the evaluation unit averages the maximum and minimum output levels among the aggregated output side levels, and compares the average level with a reference level to perform the evaluation. It can also be said.

  For the reference level, the evaluation unit has a first reference level and a second reference level smaller than the first level as the reference level, and the first reference level is compared with the comparison target. May be set as a reference level when crossing from below to above, and the second reference level may be set as a reference level when the comparison object crosses from above to below. This is a case where hysteresis is given to the gain switching characteristic.

  Here, the evaluation unit may include a plurality of sets of reference levels obtained by combining the first reference level and the second reference level. In this configuration, the switching control is performed in multiple stages.

  Based on the above, embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, this receiving apparatus has a plurality of reception processing units 10a, 10b,..., 10N, which perform reception processing in parallel on a plurality of inputs. The plurality of reception processing units 10a, 10b,..., 10N may be configured to be integrated as a single-chip IC circuit, for example, or may be mounted in close proximity as separate modules.

  Each reception processing unit 10a (10b,..., 10N) includes an antenna 1a (1b,..., 1N), a band-pass filter 2a (2b,... 2N), a low noise amplifier 3a (3b,..., 3N), and a mixer 4a. (4b,..., 4N), and each low noise amplifier 3a (3b,..., 3N) is controlled cooperatively by the gain control block 11. The gain control block 11 includes a gain control unit 11a and an evaluation unit 11b.

  The antenna 1a (1b,..., 1N) detects a signal radio wave radiated in the air at the transmission source and guides the detected signal to the bandpass filter 2a (2b,..., 2N). The band-pass filter 2a (2b,..., 2N) selects and passes only signals in a predetermined frequency band.

  The low noise amplifier 3a (3b,..., 3N) amplifies a signal in each frequency band that has passed through the bandpass filter 2a (2b,..., 2N) with low noise. Here, the low noise amplifier 3a (3b,..., 3N) may be in a high gain (H) state or a low gain (L) state by being controlled by the gain control unit 11a. The mixer 4a (4b,..., 4N) mixes the output signal of the low noise amplifier 3a (3b,..., 3N) with a predetermined local output (not shown) and converts it to a low frequency signal. The configuration for performing the reception process after the mixers 4a (4b,..., 4N) is cascaded.

  The gain control unit block 11 aggregates the output side levels of the low noise amplifiers 3a (3b,..., 3N) of the reception processing units 10a (10b,..., 10N), evaluates the aggregated levels, and the evaluation result Based on the above, the gain (high gain / low gain) of each low noise amplifier 3a (3b,..., 3N) is cooperatively switched. Aggregation and evaluation of the output side level are performed by the evaluation unit 11b, and switching control is performed by the gain control unit 11a.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the cooperative amplifier control in the receiving apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2A shows a case where the low noise amplifiers 3a and 3b are not cooperatively controlled and the former is set to the high gain Gh and the latter is set to the low gain Gl. If signal isolation at the output of the low noise amplifiers 3a and 3b is Bout, the signals Pout1 and Pout2 output from the low noise amplifiers 3a and 3b are respectively
Pout1 = Gh · Pin1 + G1 · Pin2 / Bout (1)
Pout2 = Gl · Pin2 + Gh · Pin1 / Bout (2)
(However, Pin1 is an input level to the low noise amplifier 3a, and Pin2 is an input level to the low noise amplifier 3b.)
It becomes.

Here, in the expression (2), when the first term ≦ the second term, the interference (signal leak path 21) of Pin1 becomes large with respect to Pin2 that was originally desired to be received, and the reception characteristics deteriorate. For simplicity, this is shown using specific numerical values. For example,
Pin1 = −55 dBm (3)
Pin2 = −45 dBm (4)
Gh = 15 dB (5)
Gl = -15 dB (6)
Bout = 20 dB (7)
Then, the first term and the second term of the expression (2) are Gl · Pin2 = −60 dBm.
Gh · Pin1 / Bout = −60 dBm
It becomes. Therefore, at the output of the low noise amplifier 3b, the signal level related to Pin2 which is a desired signal is the same as the signal level related to Pin1 which is an interference signal, and the reception characteristics are deteriorated.

FIG. 2 (b) shows a case where the low noise amplifiers 3a and 3b are cooperatively controlled and both are set to, for example, a low gain Gl. In this case, similarly, when the interference considering the signal leak path 21 is evaluated, the result is as follows. That is, instead of the equation (2), the following equation: Pout2 = G1 · Pin2 + G1 · Pin1 / Bout
Gl · Pin2 = −60dBm
Gl · Pin1 / Bout = −90 dBm
It becomes. Therefore, at the output of the low noise amplifier 3b, the signal level related to Pin2 that is a desired signal is 30 dBm higher than the signal level related to Pin1 that becomes an interference signal, and the interference is greatly reduced.

Incidentally, by evaluating the interference due to the leak in the direction opposite to the signal leak path 21 by the following formula instead of the formula (1): Pout1 = G1 · Pin1 + G1 · Pin2 / Bout,
Gl · Pin1 = −70 dBm
Gl · Pin2 / Bout = -80dBm
Thus, the signal level related to Pin 1 that is a desired signal is not an interference level that causes a problem because the level is 10 dBm higher than the signal level related to Pin 2 that is an interference signal.

  The case where the low noise amplifiers 3a and 3b are set to low gain by cooperative control has been described above. However, even when the low noise amplifiers 3a and 3b are set to high gain by cooperative control, the same is true in terms of interference between reception processes, and no problem occurs. .

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by cooperatively controlling the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N, the gain of only an amplifier is not switched independently, and the low noise amplifier 3a The level relationship of the plurality of signals in the previous stage of (3b,. Therefore, the isolation capability between the reception processes in each of the plurality of low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N is sufficient if it is in the preceding stage of the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,. There is no need to consider the gain difference when 3b,..., 3N are switched. Therefore, it becomes possible to receive and process a plurality of signals in parallel without mutual interference.

  Next, a specific function example in the evaluation unit 11b of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described below. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of amplifier cooperative control in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. For simplicity, a case will be described in which the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N are all switched from a high gain state to a low gain state in a coordinated manner. The left side of FIG. 3 is a display in a state where all are in high gain. P1, P2,..., PN on the horizontal axis indicate level names in the respective reception processes aggregated by the evaluation unit 11b, and the vertical axis indicates the level P. The way of viewing the figure is the same as in FIG.

  In this specific example, as shown on the left side of FIG. 3, when P1, P2,... PN are aggregated, the largest one (= P2) is set as a comparison target with the reference level Pth, and on the right side of FIG. As shown, when it is determined that the maximum (= P2) exceeds Pth (*) (the above is performed by the evaluation unit 11b), all the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,. Switching (this is done by the gain controller 11a).

Thereby, as is clear from the above description, for example, between the low noise amplifiers 3a and 3b,
Pout1 = Gh · Pin1 + Gh · Pin2 / Bout (8)
Pout2 = Gh · Pin2 + Gh · Pin1 / Bout (9)
From the state of
Pout1 = G1 · Pin1 + G1 · Pin2 / Bout (8)
Pout2 = G1 · Pin2 + G1 · Pin1 / Bout (9)
Can be switched to a state of As described above, this does not cause a problematic interference both before and after switching. The same applies to the other low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N.

  In the above description, as shown in FIG. 1, the levels P1, P2,..., PN aggregated in the evaluation unit 11b are the output side levels of the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,. It is not limited to this. The evaluation unit 11b may collectively evaluate the level (power) at the inputs of the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N. The same applies to the examples described below.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of amplifier cooperative control in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. For the sake of simplicity, a case will be described in which the low-noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,. In this specific example, as shown on the left side of FIG. 4, when P1, P2,..., PN are aggregated, they are within a predetermined range (range indicated by a dot pattern) (= P1, P2, PN,...). ) (= P2) is the target of comparison with the reference level Pth. When it is determined that the maximum value (= P2) exceeds (P *) (*) as shown on the right side of FIG. 4 (the above is performed by the evaluation unit 11b), all the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,. 3N is switched to a low gain (this is due to the gain controller 11a).

  In other words, the switching control focuses on an input signal within a certain range, excluding extremely high power signals and extremely low power signals in n received signals. By performing such control, it becomes difficult for the reception unit processing unit that receives P3 that cannot be compared with the reference level Pth to perform normal reception processing. However, good reception characteristics can be obtained for the entire receiving apparatus.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing still another example of the amplifier cooperative control in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but in contrast to the case shown in FIG. 4, the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,. Shows a case in which the state is switched from a low gain state to a high gain state cooperatively. In this specific example, as shown on the left side of FIG. 5, when P1, P2,..., PN are aggregated, they are within a predetermined range (range indicated by a dot pattern) (= P1, P2, PN,...). ) Is the minimum (= P2) to be compared with the reference level Pth. When it is determined that the maximum value (= P2) has interrupted Pth (*) as shown on the right side of FIG. 5 (the above is performed by the evaluation unit 11b), all the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,. 3N is switched to high gain (this is due to the gain controller 11a).

  In this case, the receiver processing unit that receives P3 that cannot be compared with the reference level Pth performs normal reception processing such as signal saturation in the subsequent processing of the corresponding low-noise amplifier. It becomes difficult. However, good reception characteristics can be obtained for the entire receiving apparatus.

  Here, the configuration of a receiving apparatus for eliminating such signal saturation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a receiving apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. 6, the same components as those described in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. In this receiving device, in each of the plurality of reception processing units 10a, 10b,..., 10N, amplifiers 5a, 5b,. 5N. In each subsequent stage of the amplifiers 5a, 5b,..., 5N, there are IF (intermediate frequency) or BB (baseband) signal processing units (IF stages or BB stages 6a, 6b,..., 6N). The gain control unit 11c is included in the gain control block 11A.

  The amplifiers 5a, 5b,..., 5N amplify the low frequency signals obtained by the mixers 4a, 4b,. Here, the amplifier 5a (5b,..., 5N) may be in a high gain (H) state or a low gain (L) state by being controlled by the gain control unit 11c. The IF stage or BB stage 6a (6b,..., 6N) processes the output signal (intermediate frequency or baseband signal) of the amplifier 5a (5b,..., 5N) in a predetermined manner.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,... Here, if the low noise amplifier corresponding to P3 shown on the right side of FIG. 5 is the amplifier 3b, in each configuration after the low noise amplifier 3b in the reception processing unit 10Ab, the level of P3 is larger than the signal in the other reception processing units. Saturation is likely to occur. Therefore, the gain controller 11c controls the amplifier 5b to a low gain (L), which is different from the gain control for the amplifiers 5a and 5N in the other reception processors 10Aa and 10AN. Such control by the gain control unit 11c can also be performed based on the evaluation of the aggregation results of P1, P2,..., PN by the evaluation unit 11b. In the configuration shown in FIG. 6, circuit saturation can be prevented after the IF stage or the BB stage 6b, and a further improved receiving operation can be obtained.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 6, amplifiers 5a (5b,... 5N) whose gain can be controlled are provided in the subsequent stage of mixer 4a (4b,... 4N), but gain control is performed on mixer 4a (4b,... 4N) itself. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the control signal from the gain control unit 11c is guided to the mixer 4a (4b,... 4N).

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of amplifier cooperative control in the embodiment shown in FIG. For simplicity, a case will be described in which the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N are all switched from a high gain state to a low gain state in a coordinated manner. In this specific example, as shown on the left side of FIG. 7, when P1, P2,..., PN are aggregated, they are within a predetermined range (range indicated by a dot pattern) (= P1, P2, PN,...). ) (= P2) is the target of comparison with the reference level Pth. Then, as shown on the right side of FIG. 7, when it is determined that the maximum value (= P2) exceeds (P *) (*) (the above is based on the evaluation unit 11b), it corresponds to P3 that cannot be the object of comparison. All the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N except for the low noise amplifier to be switched are switched to low gain (this is due to the gain control unit 11a).

  That is, this is also switching control that focuses on an input signal within a certain range, excluding extremely high power signals and extremely low power signals in n received signals. However, switching to a low gain excludes a low noise amplifier corresponding to P3 that cannot be compared. By performing such control, even a reception processing unit corresponding to P3 that cannot be compared with the reference level Pth can perform more normal reception processing as compared with the specific example of FIG. As a result, the reception characteristics of the entire receiving device are further improved.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of amplifier cooperative control in the embodiment shown in FIG. For simplicity, a case will be described in which the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N are all switched from a high gain state to a low gain state in a coordinated manner. In this specific example, as shown on the left side of FIG. 8, when P1, P2,..., PN are aggregated, the smallest one (= P1) is set as a comparison target with the reference level Pth. Then, as shown on the right side of FIG. 8, when it is determined that the minimum one (= P1) exceeds Pth (*) (the above is performed by the evaluation unit 11b), all the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,. 3N is switched to a low gain (this is due to the gain controller 11a).

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of amplifier cooperative control in the embodiment shown in FIG. For the sake of simplicity, a case will be described in which the low-noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,. In this specific example, as shown on the left side of FIG. 9, when P1, P2,..., PN are aggregated, an average value (= Pav) is obtained and used as a comparison target with the reference level Pth. Then, as shown on the right side of FIG. 9, when it is determined that the average value (= Pav) exceeds Pth (*) (the above is performed by the evaluation unit 11b), all the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,. Is switched to low gain (this is due to the gain controller 11a).

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of amplifier cooperative control in the embodiment shown in FIG. For the sake of simplicity, a case will be described in which the low-noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N are all cooperatively switched from a high gain state to a low gain state. In this specific example, when P1, P2,..., PN are aggregated as shown on the left side of FIG. 10, the average value (= Pav) of the maximum (= P3) and the minimum (= P1). This is used as a target for comparison with the reference level Pth. Then, when it is determined that the average value (= Pav) exceeds Pth (*) as shown on the right side of FIG. 10 (the above is performed by the evaluation unit 11b), all the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,. Is switched to low gain (this is due to the gain controller 11a).

  The above description with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 10 (except for FIG. 5 and FIG. 6) is for simplicity, and the low-noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,. However, the case where all the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N are cooperatively switched from a low gain state to a high gain state can be similarly described.

  For example, FIG. 11 illustrates switching opposite to the description of the switching control illustrated in FIG. That is, in this case, as shown on the left side of FIG. 11, when P1, P2,..., PN are aggregated, the minimum one (= P3) is set as a comparison target with the reference level PthL, and on the right side of FIG. As shown, when it is determined that the smallest one (= P2, where the smallest has changed from P3 to P2) has interrupted PthL (*) (the above is based on the evaluation unit 11b), All the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N are switched to high gain (this is by the gain control unit 11a). Such a description can be similarly applied to FIGS. 3 to 10 (except for FIGS. 5 and 6).

  Here, the reference levels Pth and PthL can generally be set as different values in a relationship of Pth> PthL. When such setting is performed, the relationship between the level P aggregated by the evaluation unit 11b and the output levels of the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N exhibits hysteresis characteristics as shown in FIG. By doing in this way, it can prevent that the gain switching of each low noise amplifier 3a, 3b, ..., 3N occurs frequently, and can stabilize operation | movement.

  In the above description, the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N are all assumed to be in high gain (or low gain) as the state before switching, but in the example shown in FIG. Of course, the state before switching is when all of the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N excluding those excluded from the target are in high gain (or low gain).

  FIG. 13 shows a combination of the switching from the high gain to the low gain shown in FIG. 8 and the corresponding switching from the low gain to the high gain. That is, on the upper side, as shown on the left side, when P1, P2,..., PN are aggregated, the smallest one (= P2) is set as a comparison target with the reference level PthH. Then, as shown on the right side, when it is determined that the minimum one (= P2) exceeds PthH (*) (the above is performed by the evaluation unit 11b), all the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N Is switched to low gain (this is due to the gain controller 11a).

  On the lower side, when P1, P2,..., PN are aggregated as shown on the right side, the maximum one (= P3) is set as a comparison target with the reference level PthL. As shown on the left side, when it is determined that the maximum (= P3) has interrupted PthL (*) (the above is performed by the evaluation unit 11b), all the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,..., 3N Is switched to high gain (this is due to the gain controller 11a).

  The description of bi-directional switching including such hysteresis characteristics is possible for each of the above figures (FIGS. 3 to 10 (excluding FIG. 6)).

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing multi-stage amplifier control (with hysteresis characteristics) applicable in the configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. In the description of FIGS. 11 to 13, the case where the upper reference level PthH and the lower reference level PthL are one set has been described, but it is also possible to give the evaluation unit 11b a plurality of sets based on the same idea. It is done. The relationship between the values of the plurality of sets is, for example, as shown on the vertical axis in FIG. If the value of each group is the group of the reference level described above, and the gain control of each of the low noise amplifiers 3a, 3b,... 3N is multistage, the output level is as shown in FIG. It exhibits the characteristics of multi-stage change. Of the multi-stages, the three-stage ones are practical.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the receiver which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The figure for demonstrating the effect of amplifier cooperation control in the receiver shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of amplifier cooperation control in embodiment shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows another example of amplifier cooperation control in embodiment shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows another example of amplifier cooperation control in embodiment shown in FIG. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the receiver which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows another example of amplifier cooperation control in embodiment shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows another example of amplifier cooperation control in embodiment shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows another example of amplifier cooperation control in embodiment shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows another example of amplifier cooperation control in embodiment shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows another example of amplifier cooperation control in embodiment shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the hysteresis characteristic of the amplifier control in embodiment shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows another example of amplifier cooperation control in embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing multi-stage amplifier control (with hysteresis characteristics) applicable in the configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

  1a, 1b, 1N ... antenna, 2a, 2b, 2N ... band-pass filter, 3a, 3b, 3N ... low noise amplifier, 4a, 4b, 4N ... mixer, 5a, 5b, 5N ... amplifier, 6a, 6b, 6N ... IF stage or BB stage, 10a, 10b, 10N, 10Aa, 10Ab, 10AN ... reception processing unit, 11, 11A ... gain control block, 11a ... gain control unit, 11b ... evaluation unit, 11c ... gain control unit, 21 ... signal Leak path.

Claims (15)

A plurality of amplifiers each amplifying a plurality of input signals with a predetermined gain;
And a gain control unit for cooperatively switching and controlling the predetermined gains of the plurality of amplifiers. An evaluation unit that aggregates and evaluates the output side levels of the plurality of amplifiers;
The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gain control unit cooperatively switches and controls the predetermined gains of the plurality of amplifiers based on an evaluation result by the evaluation unit.   The low gains of the plurality of amplifiers are all in a high gain state, one of the output side levels of the plurality of amplifiers is excessive, and the evaluation unit should operate the plurality of amplifiers at a low gain. The receiver according to claim 2, wherein the gain control unit controls all the low gains of the plurality of amplifiers to a low gain state.   The low gains of the plurality of amplifiers are all in a low gain state, one of the output side levels of the plurality of amplifiers is too small, and the evaluation unit should operate the plurality of amplifiers with high gain. The receiver according to claim 2, wherein the gain control unit controls all the predetermined gains of the plurality of amplifiers to a high gain state.   The receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation unit performs the evaluation by comparing only a maximum or minimum of the aggregated output side levels with a reference level.   3. The reception according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation unit performs the evaluation by comparing only a maximum or minimum one of the aggregated output side levels within a predetermined range with a reference level. apparatus. A plurality of mixers provided in respective subsequent stages of the plurality of amplifiers, each for converting the amplified signal into a low-frequency signal;
A plurality of second amplifiers provided in each subsequent stage of the mixer, each amplifying the low-frequency signal with a second predetermined gain;
A second gain control unit that switches and controls the second predetermined gain of the plurality of second amplifiers based on an evaluation result by the evaluation unit;
The second gain control unit calculates the second predetermined gain for the second amplifier corresponding to the aggregated output side level that is out of the predetermined range, by the aggregated output side. The receiving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the level is different from the second predetermined gain for the second amplifier corresponding to a level within the predetermined range. A plurality of mixers provided in each subsequent stage of the plurality of amplifiers, each for converting the amplified signal into a low frequency signal and amplifying the low frequency signal with a second predetermined gain;
A second gain control unit that switches and controls the second predetermined gain of the plurality of mixers based on an evaluation result by the evaluation unit;
The second gain control unit determines the second predetermined gain for the mixer corresponding to the aggregated output side level that is out of the predetermined range, out of the aggregated output side level. The receiving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second predetermined gain for the mixer corresponding to the predetermined range is different from the second predetermined gain.   The gain control unit removes the amplifier corresponding to the output side level aggregated by the evaluation unit out of the predetermined range from the target of cooperation when the switching control is performed. The receiving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:   When the predetermined gain is switched from a high gain to a low gain by the gain control unit as an amplifier other than the amplifier excluded from the cooperation target, the amplifier excluded from the cooperation target is the gain. The receiving device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit keeps the high gain.   When an amplifier other than the amplifier excluded from the cooperation target is switched from a low gain to a high gain by the gain control unit as a result of the cooperation, the amplifier excluded from the cooperation target is the gain. The receiving device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit keeps the low gain.   The receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the evaluation unit performs the evaluation by averaging the aggregated output side levels and comparing the average level with a reference level.   The evaluation unit performs the evaluation by averaging a maximum level and a minimum level among the aggregated output side levels and comparing the average level with a reference level. Receiver.   When the evaluation unit has a first reference level and a second reference level smaller than the first level as the reference level, and the comparison target crosses the first reference level from below to above The receiving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second reference level is a reference level when the comparison object crosses from the upper side to the lower side.   15. The receiving apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the evaluation unit has a plurality of sets of reference levels obtained by combining the first reference level and the second reference level.

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