Multiple band portable spectrum analyzer

Abstract

A device for detecting RF power information, for use as a stand alone purpose built device, or connectable to an external computing instrument such as a laptop, PDA, or cell phone, or other similarly capable technology. The device scans two or more bands in the wireless frequency and provides output to the user with wireless information about multiple bands of information.

1 . An apparatus for receiving radio frequency signals and detecting radio frequency signals on at least two different bands, comprising:
 a housing for enclosing components of the apparatus;   an antenna attached to said housing for receiving radio frequency signals;   a switch for selecting a band of radio frequency signals for detection by sending signals directly to a radio system for detection or to a band pass filter;   a band pass filter for selecting a radio frequency band;   a mixer for down converting radio frequency signals to a band received by said radio system;   an oscillator for generating a local oscillator signal for said mixer, for defining the frequency of signals passed by said mixer;   said radio system comprising at least a first radio receiver configured to detect RF power in a single radio frequency band; and   a computing device with a graphical user interface and configured to display data from said radio system; wherein   said apparatus is configured to detect RF power on two or more radio frequency bands, with said first radio of said radio system configured to detect information from only one radio frequency band, by said radio system receiving data for a first band from said antenna, or from a second radio frequency band by routing second radio frequency band signals through said band pass filter for down conversion then through said mixer in which second radio frequency band signals are converted to said first band whereby said radio system can detect second radio frequency band signals.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  in which computing device comprises a separate device configured to interface with said apparatus for receiving radio frequency signals and detecting radio frequency signals on at least two different bands. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said radio system further comprises a least a 2.4 GHz radio receiver, a microcontroller, memory, and at least one port configured for communication with a USB port on said computing device.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said oscillator is a voltage controlled oscillator and the output frequency of said voltage controlled oscillator is controlled by said microcontroller; wherein, said voltage controlled oscillator frequency is varied to allow a narrow band radio to scan a broad band.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which said mixer is configured to down convert signals in the 5 GHz band to 2.4 GHz for RF power detection by said radio system. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which said first radio has a capacity to detect RF power in approximately a bandwidth of 100 MHz in the 2.4 GHz band. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which said oscillator output is stepped in increments, for scanning the full width of said second radio frequency band in an incremental manner, for RF power detection by a radio with a bandwidth at least as wide as said stepped increments. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  in which said oscillator output is stepped in 100 MHz increments, for scanning the full width of the 5 GHz band in an incremental manner, for RF power detection by a radio with a 100 MHz bandwidth. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which further comprises a second radio for detecting RF power in the 2.4 GHz band, with said signal from said antenna being routable to said second radio for detection of RF power in the 2.4 GHz band, and with said signal from said antenna being routable to said mixer for down conversion to 2.4 GHz and for detection of RF power in the 5 GHz band in the 2.4 GHz first radio. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for receiving radio frequency signals and detecting radio frequency signals on at least two different bands, for use with a computing device, wherein said computing device includes a graphical user interface, comprising:
 a housing for enclosing components of the apparatus;   an antenna attached to said housing for receiving radio frequency signals;   a switch for selecting a band of radio frequency signals for detection by sending signals directly to a radio system for detection or to a band pass filter;   a band pass filter for selecting a radio frequency band;   a mixer for down converting signals in the 5 GHz band to 2.4 GHz for RF power detection by a 2.4 GHz radio receiver;   an oscillator for generating a local oscillator signal for said mixer, for defining the frequency of signals passed by said mixer, with said oscillator being a voltage controlled oscillator controlled by said microcontroller; wherein, said voltage controlled oscillator frequency is varied to control the down conversion at said mixer;   said radio system comprising at least a 2.4 GHz first radio receiver, a microcontroller, memory, and at least one port configured for communication with a USB port on said computing device configured to detect RF power in a single radio frequency band; and   a connector attached to said housing and configured for removable attachment to said computing device, said connector for transfer of detected network information from said radio system to said computing device and configured to exchange commands and data with said computing device; wherein   said apparatus is configured to detect RF power on two or more radio frequency bands, with said first radio of said radio system configured to detect information from only one radio frequency band, by said radio system receiving data for a first band from said antenna, or from a second radio frequency band by routing second radio frequency band signals through said band pass filter for down conversion then through said mixer in which second radio frequency band signals are converted to said first band whereby said radio system can detect second radio frequency band signals.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  in which said first radio has a capacity to detect RF power in approximately a bandwidth of 100 MHz in the 2.4 GHz band. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  in which said oscillator output is stepped in increments, for scanning the full width of said second radio frequency band in incremental manner, for RF power detection by a radio with a bandwidth at least as wide as said stepped increments. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  in which said oscillator output is stepped in 100 MHz increments, for scanning the full width of the 5 GHz band in incremental manner, for RF power detection by a radio with a 100 MHz bandwidth. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  which further comprises a second radio for detecting RF power in the 2.4 GHz band, with said signal from said antenna being routable to said second radio for detection of RF power in the 2.4 GHz band, and with said signal from said antenna being routable to said mixer for down conversion to 2.4 GHz and for detection of RF power in the 5 GHz band in the 2.4 GHz first radio. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for receiving radio frequency signals and detecting radio frequency signals on at least two different bands, for use with a computing device where said computing device includes a graphical user interface, comprising:
 a housing for enclosing components of the apparatus;   an antenna attached to said housing for receiving radio frequency signals;   a switch for selecting a band of radio frequency signals for detection by sending signals to a second radio for detection or to a band pass filter before routing to a first radio;   a band pass filter for selecting a radio frequency band;   a mixer for down converting radio frequency signals to a band received by said radio system;   an oscillator for generating a local oscillator signal for said mixer, for defining the frequency of signals passed by said mixer;   said radio system comprising a first radio receiver configured to detect RF power in the 2.4 GHz band and a second radio receiver for detecting RF power in the 2.4 GHz band, with said signal from said antenna being routable to said second radio for direct detection of RF power in the 2.4 GHz band, and with said signal from said antenna being routable to said mixer for down conversion from the 5 GHz band to 2.4 GHz, for detection of RF power in the 5 GHz band in the 2.4 GHz first radio; and   a connector attached to said housing and configured for removable attachment to said computing device, said connector for transfer of detected network information from said radio system to said computing device and configured to exchange commands and data with said computing device; wherein   said apparatus is configured to detect RF power on two or more radio frequency bands, with said second radio of said radio system configured to detect RF power from the 2.4 GHz band radio frequency band, by said radio system receiving data for the 2.4 GHz band from said antenna, or from the 5 GHz band by routing radio frequency signals through said band pass filter to said mixer for down conversion from 5 GHz to 2.4 GHz.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  in which said first radio has a capacity to detect RF power in approximately a bandwidth of 100 MHz in the 2.4 GHz band. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  in which said oscillator output is stepped in increments, for scanning the full width of the 5 GHz band in incremental manner, for RF power detection by a radio with a bandwidth at least as wide as said stepped increments. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  in which said oscillator output is stepped in 100 MHz increments, for scanning the full width of the 5 GHz band in incremental manner, for RF power detection by a radio with a 100 MHz bandwidth. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15  which further comprises a second radio for detecting RF power in the 2.4 GHz band, with said signal from said antenna being routable to said second radio for detection of RF power in the 2.4 GHz band, and with said signal from said antenna being routable to said mixer for down conversion to 2.4 GHz and for detection of RF power in the 5 GHz band in the 2.4 GHz first radio.