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README.md

Integrated Automatic Gain Control (AGC)

License CI Caravan Build


Automatic Gain Control project submission to the Google-funded Open-MPW program.

Introduction

Automatic Gain Control (AGC) is a feedback loop used in receiver architectures for signal amplification. Its primary usage is in environments where the relative signal strength (RSS) is variable and could pose oversaturation on the receiving amplifier, such as that of radar recievers.

Architecture

architecture

In order to achieve optimal amplification from the LNA, a digitally-stepped attenuator (DSA) is placed preceeding the LNA to attenuate any signal over a specific saturation threshold. After the signal is amplified, the output is coupled into a power detector (PD) circuit, which is then fed into an ADC and back into the DSA to drive the signal attenuation. Once the power detector is able to realize oversaturation at the output, it will drive the DSA to further attenuate the signal, reducing the power output.