A Fast RSSI using Novel Logarithmic Gain Amplifiers for Wireless Communication

This paper presents a fast received signal strength indicator (RSSI) circuit for wireless communication application. The proposed circuit is developed using power detectors and an analog-to-digital converter to achieve a fast settling time. The power detector is consisted of a novel logarithmic variable gain amplifier (VGA), a peak detector, and a comparator in a closed loop. The VGA achieved a wide logarithmic gain range in a closed loop form for stable operation. For the peak detector, a fast settling time and small ripple are obtained using the orthogonal characteristics of quadrature signals. In 0.18-μm CMOS process, the RSSI value settles down in 20 μs with power consumption of 20 mW, and the maximum ripple of the RSSI is 30 mV. The proposed RSSI circuit is fabricated with a personal handy-phone system transceiver. The active area is 0.8 × 0.2 mm.