Bent-pipe relay communication system with automatic gain control and methods of using same

摘要

A bent-pipe relay communication system and method of using same. The bent-pipe relay communication system includes a plurality of bent-pipe relay channels, each channel having automatic gain control. Each channel of the plurality of bent-pipe relay channels includes a radio -frequency-to-intermediate-frequency demodulator, at least one programmable variable gain amplifier, and an intermediate-frequency-to-radio-frequency modulator. The communication system further includes at least one radio frequency power detector operably connected to the intermediate-frequency-to-radio-frequency modulator for each channel. The system also includes at least one controller communicating with the at least one radio frequency power detector and the at least one variable gain amplifier for the each channel to provide the automatic gain control.

主权项

1. A method of providing automatic gain control for a bent-pipe relay communications system, the bent-pipe relay communications system comprising a plurality of bent-pipe relay channels, each channel of the plurality of bent-pipe relay channels comprising at least one programmable variable gain amplifier and an output power detector communicating with the variable gain amplifier, the method comprising:
sampling an output power level of an intermediate frequency range analog signal in the each channel of the plurality of bent-pipe relay channels using the each output power detector; comparing the output power level to a power threshold range, the power threshold range comprising a threshold power, the threshold power plus a power offset, and the threshold power minus the power offset; reducing by one of a percentage and a fixed amount a gain of the intermediate frequency range analog signal after at least one gap between a plurality of signal transmissions, if the output power level is above the power threshold range, by controlling the at least one variable gain amplifier; increasing by one of the percentage and the fixed amount the gain of the intermediate frequency range analog signal, if the output power level is below the power threshold range, by controlling the at least one variable gain amplifier; repeating the comparing the output power level to the power threshold range, the reducing by one of the percentage and the fixed amount the gain of the intermediate frequency range analog signal, and the increasing by one of the percentage and the fixed amount the gain of the intermediate frequency range analog signal until an initial power level of the intermediate frequency range asymptotically approaches the threshold power.