Mobile station having drift-free pulsed power detection method and apparatus

In accordance with a method of this invention, and circuitry for performing the method, there is disclosed a process for operating a radio frequency (RF) signal power detector. The method includes the steps of (a) sampling the output of an RF detector circuit to obtain a measurement of a value of the output when no RF signal is input to the RF detector circuit; (b) storing the measurement; and (c) subtracting, when an RF signal is input to the RF detector circuit, the stored measurement from the output of the RF detector circuit to provide a subtracted output signal. In pulsed (e.g., TDMA) embodiments of this invention the step of sampling occurs between RF bursts, while in continuous wave (cw) embodiments the step of sampling occurs during a time that an RF connection is opened or otherwise blocked at an input of the RF detector circuit and a source of the RF signal. A sample and hold function can be provided for sampling and holding the subtracted output signal during a time that the input of the RF detector circuit is blocked. The step of subtracting includes the steps of combining the measured value with a transmitter power setting signal to obtain a corrected transmitter power setting signal; and subtracting the output of the RF detector circuit, when the RF signal is input to the RF detector circuit, from the corrected transmitter power setting signal.