Switch Modules And Advanced AWG Pack Performance Punch

Nov. 15, 2004
A PXI/VXI switch-module/platform alternative plus a wide-band, wide-dynamic-range arbitrary waveform generator push T&M’s state of the art.

A low-cost, very high-performance alternative to PXI/VXI switch and measurement platforms and an arbitrary waveform generator that offers both wide-band and wide-dynamic-range signals simultaneously—these are just two of the latest arrivals from Agilent's busy test-and-measurement R&D department.

The 34980A multifunction switch/measure unit offers a broad range of core switch/measure functionality as an alternative to VXI and PXI at a 40% lower cost than comparable switch and measurement platforms (Fig. 1). The expandable and reconfigurable platform includes 19 mix-and-match switch and measurement modules. Pricing starts at $2350 for the eight-slot 3U-high mainframe with a built-in 6.5-digit multimeter (DMM). The modules are rated for low-frequency, RF, and microwave switching up to 20 GHz and include digital I/O, analog-to-digital converter, and counter/totalizer capabilities.

The modules support USB, local-area network, and GPIB standards for simple connections to a PC, other system-ready instruments, or a network access point. Standard off-the-shelf cables can be used. The platform can handle up to 560 two-wire multiplexer channels or 1024 two-wire matrix crosspoints. The system is compatible with Visual Basic, C/C++, Agilent VEE, LabView, and Visual Studio.NET with Agilent's T&M Toolkit 2.0 software. The 34980A is available now.

1.25-GSAMPLE/S AWG The N6030A arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) delivers 1.25-Gsample/s signals at 15 bits of vertical resolution simultaneously, giving DSP designers of advanced satellite and emerging communication systems another weapon in their arsenal (Fig. 2).

The AWG's dual differential-output channels drive both single-ended and balanced designs. Each independent channel provides 500 MHz of instantaneous analog bandwidth and a spurious-free dynamic range of ­65 dBc. Combining the N6030A with Agilent's PSG vector signal generator gives designers 1-GHz IQ bandwidths for simulating IF and RF subsystem tests at microwave frequencies. Clock phase noise is rated at ­110 dBc/Hz at a 10-kHz offset and a 1-GHz center frequency. The noise-floor rating is ­150 dBc/Hz.

Other ratings include 6.4-ns trigger resolution for a clock driving up to eight AWGs, 50-ps trigger repeatability, and marker resolution of 1.6 ns for a clock signal driving two AWGs. Marker repeatability is 500 ps.

The AWG comes with standard memory capacity of 8 Msamples/s. Optional 16-Msample/s memory is also available for complex and arbitrary waveforms. The N6030A and optional memory are due out this month. It starts at $50,000, while the optional 16-Msample/s memory costs an additional $10,000.

Agilent Technologies Inc.www.agilent.com
About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.

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