Agilent unveils design and test products at MTT-S show

Rick Nelson, Chief Editor -- Test & Measurement World, 6/13/2006 8:07:00 AM

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, JUNE 13, 2006—Agilent Technologies today announced several new design and measurement solutions for advanced microwave and wireless research and development, including MIMO analysis capability and new network-analyzer options.

"These introductions demonstrate the breadth of solutions that Agilent offers to accelerate design innovation in wireless devices and networks, while ensuring absolute confidence in those wireless connections," said Ron Nersesian, Agilent VP and GM.

The company is introducing several new capabilities for its PNA series network analyzer to simplify complex measurements for multiport and active device test. Option 551 enables full N-port calibration and S-parameter measurements to increase measurement accuracy on multiport devices. Combining Agilent's 4-port PNA-L network analyzer with the new 20 GHz 4-port test set (Z5623AK44) provides 8-port error correction and measurements with a single device connection. A 2-port PNA Series network analyzer combined with the new 20 GHz 10-port test set (U3022AE10) enables 12-port error correction and measurements. The 4-port 13.5 GHz PNA-L (N5230A Option 140/145) combines accuracy with measurement times as short as 4 microseconds/point. New dual-source 13.5- and 20-GHz 4-port PNA-L network analyzers (N5230A Option 146/246) enable fast fixed IF converter and amplifier tests. PNA-L's new scalar-calibrated converter measurements (Option 082) provide accurate, match-corrected conversion-loss measurements of mixers and converters. In addition, an equation editor allows PNA series network analyzers to automatically calculate and show application-specific parameters such as the K-factor of amplifiers from S-parameter measurement data.

Agilent also announced the availability of an IEEE 802.11n MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) modulation analysis capability for its 89600 series vector-signal-analysis software for developers of MIMO-based IEEE 802.11n components, subsystems, and systems, using general-purpose measurement tools.

The Agilent N4010A wireless connectivity test set (with option 107) supports a Bluetooth EDR (enhanced data rate) test mode, ensuring devices adhere to the Bluetooth 2.0 standard by enabling loop-back testing of EDR transmitters and receivers

The new Agilent 3D electromagnetic (EM) design and verification software, EMDS, is based on the finite element method (FEM). EMDS delivers the full-wave electromagnetic modeling capability needed for characterizing 3D design geometries at a significantly lower cost than competing products.

Agilent also debuted its new E8663B analog signal generator, which the company claims provides the industry's best close-to-carrier phase noise performance available in an off-the-shelf signal generator. The company also introduced an Agilent PSA built-in measuring receiver personality (Option 233), which converts the general-purpose PSA series spectrum analyzer into the flexible and compact N5531S measuring receiver system. The N5531S consists of a PSA, including an optional audio input, a P-Series power meter, and a sensor module with single-input connection up to 50 GHz. Finally, the company rolled out its N191xA power meter, which measures a W-CDMA signal sourced from an E4438C, presenting input and output CCDF curves.

Agilent, www.agilent.com.