Comparative Signal Strength Detection

Abstract

A method for signal strength detection begins by comparing a signal strength representation of a signal with a signal strength representation of a reference signal. The method continues by adjusting, when the signal strength representation of the signal compares unfavorably with the signal strength representation of the reference signal, at least one of the signal strength representation of the signal and the signal strength representation of the reference signal until the signal strength representation of the signal compares favorably with the signal strength representation of the reference signal. The method continues by determining signal strength of the signal based on the adjusting of the signal strength representation of the signal and signal strength of the reference signal.

1 . A impedance divider network comprises:
 a plurality of impedance pairs, wherein each of the plurality or impedance pairs has a corresponding divider ratio; and   a plurality of switching elements operably coupled to the plurality of impedance pairs, wherein, the plurality of switching elements enable at least one of the plurality of impedance pairs to provide a divider value for the impedance divider network based on a state of a control signal, wherein the plurality of corresponding divider ratios provide a desired step change of the divider value in accordance with a corresponding state change of the control signal, wherein the desired step change contains nonlinear steps.   
     
     
         2 . The impedance divider network of  claim 1 , wherein the desired step change comprises a logarithmic step change. 
     
     
         3 . The impedance divider network of  claim 1  comprises:
 a first divider ratio of the plurality of corresponding divider ratios including a divide-by-x 1*     n    ratio.   a second divider ratio of the plurality of corresponding divider ratios including a divide-by-x 2*     n    ratio; and   a third divider ratio of the plurality of corresponding divider ratios including a divide-by-x3*   x    ratio, where “n” is an integer and “x” is a real number.