Frequency-converting sensor and system for providing a radio frequency signal parameter

1. An apparatus comprising:

an analog receiver configured to receive an input radio frequency (RF) signal and to convert the signal into corresponding I/Q values using a local oscillator frequency signal;

analog to digital (A/D) converters configured to respectively convert the corresponding analog I/Q values into digital I/Q values;

a digital processor, disposed downstream from the A/D converters, configured to process a resulting signal based on the digital I/Q values, wherein the digital processor comprises an adjustable filter configured to select a frequency band of the input RF signal, and a calculating unit configured to calculate at least one RF signal parameter from the I/Q values of the selected frequency band;

a first signal interface configured to provide the at least one RF signal parameter; and

a second signal interface configured to provide the digitized I/Q values for further RF signal analysis, and

wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in one or more of a first operating mode consisting of a normal receiving mode involving an intermediate frequency, and a second operating mode consisting of a single receive band receiving mode involving a down-conversion to approximately zero hertz, and in the second receiving mode the adjustable filter of the digital processor is deactivated.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one RF signal parameter comprises an electrical power value.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second operating mode is selected for input signals comprising a bandwidth higher than the bandwidth of an intermediate frequency and/or for input signals with an electrical power value above a predefined threshold value.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the digital processor further comprises a frequency shifter configured to digitally shift the digital I/Q values with an intermediate frequency signal, and wherein the frequency shifter is disposed between the analog to digital converter and the filter.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the frequency shifter is activated in a first operating mode of the sensor.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the analog receiver comprises an anti-aliasing-filter, wherein the anti-aliasing filter is activated in a first operating mode of the apparatus.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a local frequency oscillator signal interface configured to provide the local oscillator frequency signal.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a third signal interface configured to provide the RF input signal, wherein the first signal interface is configured to provide an electrical power value as a one of the at least one RF signal parameter.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a fourth signal interface configured to provide one or more of a system-clock signal, a trigger signal and a reference signal.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus obtains a power supply via a bidirectional data interface.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus provides the at least one RF signal parameter via a web-based interface.

12. A system for analyzing an input radio frequency (RF) signal, the system comprising:

a device under test configured to generate the input RF signal;

a first frequency-converting sensor comprising

an analog receiver configured to receive the input RF signal and to convert the signal into corresponding I/Q values using a local oscillator frequency signal,

analog to digital (A/D) converters configured to respectively convert the corresponding analog I/Q values into digital I/Q values,

a digital processor, disposed downstream from the A/D converters, configured to process a resulting signal based on the digital I/Q values, wherein the digital processor comprises an adjustable filter configured to select a sideband of the digital I/Q values, and a calculating unit configured to calculate at least one RF signal parameter from the I/Q values of the selected sideband,

a first signal interface configured to provide the at least one RF signal parameter, and

a second signal interface configured to provide the digitized I/Q values for further RF signal analysis, and

wherein the first frequency-converting sensor is configured to operate in one or more of a first operating mode consisting of a normal receiving mode involving an intermediate frequency, and a second operating mode consisting of a single receive band receiving mode involving a down-conversion to approximately zero hertz, and in the second receiving mode the adjustable filter of the digital processor is deactivated; and

a display device configured to display the at least one RF signal parameter.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the device under test is directly connected to a test signal interface of the first frequency-converting sensor.

14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the display device is contactless or contact-based, and is connected to the first signal interface of the first frequency-converting sensor.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the display device is incorporated into the first frequency-converting sensor, and the first frequency-converting sensor provides the digital I/Q values via the second signal interface or via the first signal interface.

16. The system according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a second frequency-converting sensor, wherein the first frequency-converting sensor supplies a trigger signal, a system clock signal and a local oscillator frequency signal to the second frequency-converting sensor, and

wherein the system is configured to perform vector-based measurements.

17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein a reference signal is provided to the first frequency-converting sensor or to the second frequency-converting sensor.

18. The system according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a second frequency-converting sensor, wherein the first frequency-converting sensor supplies a trigger signal and a system clock signal to the second frequency-converting sensor, and

wherein the system is configured to perform time-domain system measurements.

19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein a reference signal is provided to the first frequency-converting sensor or to the second frequency-converting sensor.

20. The system according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a second frequency-converting sensor, wherein the first frequency-converting sensor supplies a trigger signal to the second frequency-converting sensor, and

wherein a reference signal is provided to the first frequency-converting sensor and to the second frequency-converting sensor, and

wherein the system is configured to perform time-domain system measurements.

21. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the display device is incorporated into a measurement device, the system further comprising:

a second frequency-converting sensor, wherein the first frequency-converting sensor and the second frequency-converting sensor further provide digitized I/Q values to the measurement device for time-domain system measurements.