IoT comprehensive analyzer

IoT comprehensive analyzer realizes instrument based teaching IOTA-1100

The IoT comprehensive analyzer integrates functions such as air protocol analyzer, low-power analyzer, spectrum analyzer, and signal generator. This will bring new visual and instrumental teaching effects to course teaching and experimental training, allowing students to see wireless data packaging (Zigbee, WIFI, Bluetooth data packet capture) for wireless communication, see waveforms, spectra, and signals, and comprehensively master the professional technology of the Internet of Things.

The wireless technology used in the Internet of Things involves very high communication frequencies and a relatively wide spectrum range,For example, in2.4GHzStandardized wireless devices and technologies running on top(Like Bluetooth4.0、ZigBeePRO、WiFi) ,This frequency can be conveniently used almost anywhere in the world. However, in order to improve the penetration and transmission distance of the building, reduce various interferences, and decrease power consumption in wireless communication,Engineers involved in design and development may consider using other frequency bands specified by various countries(Example:5.8GHZ、915MHZ、779MHZ、433MHZ、315MHZWait).

In IoT technology, in addition to involving relatively high frequencies and wide spectrum ranges, various communication protocol stacks are also involved (including ZIGBEE IEEE802.15.4, Bluetooth, WIFI, and other different communication protocols). These protocol stacks are implemented by software according to different communication standards, ultimately achieving communication between different network nodes, routers, and gateways. For wireless communication, a large amount of communication data is transmitted in different packets over the air, which requires a special high-frequency instrument to collect and analyze these data packets that we cannot see or touch in order to effectively verify and troubleshoot communication protocols and improve software protocol stack development efficiency.

Also, as battery nodes in the Internet of Things, they need to work for a long time on very small batteries. Measuring and monitoring these micro power consumption states is also an important task because in order to save power consumption, these nodes are usually in an instantaneous working state. Therefore, measuring the long cycle, instantaneous power consumption, and automated recording and analysis of these nodes has become a complex task that requires specialized instruments to undertake.

It is precisely based on the practical needs of IoT product design and technology development that a new type of RF instrument has emerged, which is the IoT comprehensive analyzer. This instrument meets the requirements of the above four aspects in one instrument. Below, we will briefly introduce the practical application of this new instrument.

Function of Air Protocol Analyzer

The air protocol analyzer is an advanced digital analysis and detection device that can collect and analyze data packets transmitted over the air by different communication protocols of the Internet of Things and sensor networks. The collection and analysis of IoT sensor network networks that comply with the IEEE 802.15.4 standard is a basic configuration function of the IoT comprehensive analyzer air protocol analyzer; For the collection and analysis of other communication standards, different protocol extension modules can be used to achieve it.

Figure 1 shows a template for analyzing and collecting data from two different ZIGBEE sensor nodes. We will use this template to see how to use the basic functions of an air protocol analyzer;

Firstly, we choose to enter the air protocol analysis function (IEEE802.15.4 protocol analyzer function) on the IoT comprehensive analyzer, and see this multi window screen appearing on the screen. Each window has multiple functions such as air data packaging collection display, air packaging time flow display, packaging content analysis, network topology display, etc.:

Activate the automatic acquisition command of the analyzer, and the analyzer will automatically use its internal 2.4GHz wireless multi-channel 2.4GHz RF circuit and antenna to perform multi-channel automatic scanning. If data packaging that meets the ZIGBEE standard is found in the air, it will automatically complete the air packaging acquisition and automatically store and display these data;

Two ZIGBEE networks are shown in Figure 1. One is a ZIGBEE network composed of battery powered micro modules, consisting of four modules including gateway, router, and node (blue). The other is a ZIGBEE micro sensor network composed of five energy harvesting modules (green). Through complex algorithms such as automatic acquisition, packaging, and analysis by high-speed embedded computers inside the analyzer, we can observe the operation and topology of these two independent networks in real time in the network topology window. The blue network consists of a coordinator, two routers, and one terminal node forming a mesh network; Another energy harvesting network (green) consists of a coordinator, 2 routers, and 2 terminal nodes to form an independent battery free wireless sensor network;

Within the packaging collection window, we can gain a detailed understanding of the format and internal information of each data package, including various self-organizing network information such as network and routing, network traffic and busyness, network reliability and health status, and achieve transparent monitoring and real-time analysis of wireless sensor networks with multiple independent RF channels.

Figure 1: Demonstration of Air Protocol Collection and Analysis for Two Independent ZIGBEE Sensor Networks

RF amplifier circuit design, testing, and analysis

In order to enhance the coverage of the IoT sensing layer, we often need to add various RF amplifiers to the wireless sensor system on chip (SoC) in the design. As these amplifiers operate in the microwave RF frequency band of 315MHz to 2.4GHz, expensive RF spectrum analyzers are required for testing and analysis. In order to facilitate engineers to use low-cost testing and development tools, IoT analyzers are equipped with different spectrum analyzer modules for engineers to use. Due to the shared use of embedded computers, color LCD displays, and touch screens within the IoT analyzer, the overall cost increase of the instrument is not very high;

The IoT analyzer has two standard 50 ohm RF plugs on the front panel, which can output and input RF signals. The built-in software can achieve up to 2.45GHz RF spectrum analyzer and RF signal generator functions (using the selection function module can achieve up to 5.8GHz).

Figure 2 is a test demonstration of a receiving amplifier and a transmitting amplifier

Figure 2: Schematic diagram of RF amplifier testing and development configuration

In Figure 2, there are two circuit boards (green and blue) for the wireless module of the sensor network. During actual testing, only one board can be connected and tested and debugged;

Firstly, we test the transmitting amplifier (green circuit board in Figure 2), which is usually a power amplifier. We connect the analyzer's RF output cable to the input end of the green circuit board (disconnect the wireless transceiver output), adjust the output signal to the frequency we need (300MHz, 433MHz, 900MHz, 2.45GHz, etc.), connect the output end (antenna end) to the analyzer's receiving cable, and set the analyzer to spectrum receiving state. We can observe the RF spectrum signal on the analyzer, which can be displayed using waveform or density display, as well as advanced numerical functions such as observing the maximum spectrum trajectory and average spectrum trajectory; By using an RF signal generator and spectrum analyzer, we can test various RF parameters of the power generator, adjust the output impedance, power, noise, etc. of the amplifier, and complete a high-quality power amplifier debugging and testing process;

To test and debug the low noise amplifier (blue circuit board in Figure 2), simply connect the input and output terminals of the analyzer to different RF frequencies, which can also easily and conveniently achieve the testing and debugging of high difficulty RF sensor modules such as the low noise amplifier.

Other functions and extended function modules

IOTA-1100The IoT analyzer also has the function of a low-power analyzer, and as a standard configuration, it can achieve continuous testing of various sensor nodes under different instantaneous power states, automatically recording and testing parameters such as power consumption, average current, maximum current, etc;

At the same time, selection modules for new series of functions will be gradually added to the instrument's selection configuration, which will include HF and UHF RFID analysis function modules, 5.8GHZ spectrum analyzer function modules and signal transmission function modules, 2.7GHZ RF network analyzer function modules, RF4CE， Bluetooth 4.0 and Bluetooth micro power consumption, 3G/4G RF telecommunications network testing and analysis functional modules, etc.