Agilent Technologies is pursuing a development strategy that leverages algorithms and devices from Agilent Labs to build the multiuse components and subsystems that make up a variety of PXI and AXIe modules as well as handheld and bench-top instruments. The results of that strategy with respect to PXI and handheld instruments are on display with a recently introduced PXIe vector signal generator and 14 FieldFox handheld analyzers.
Carla Feldman, marketing manager for Agilent's software and modular solutions division, described the M9381A as 1-MHz to 3- or 6-GHz vector signal generator as the industry's fastest in a PXIe form factor. She said a list mode supports switching speeds to better than 10 µs within the instrument's baseband (up to 160 MHz); switching speed is better than than 200 µs over the full RF bandwidth. A frequency-reference fractional-N engine minimizes spurs, an ALC loop-source output improves accuracy and speed, and ASIC-enabled real-time correction capability facilitates EVM measurements.
The ability to let customers carry precision into the field is the goal of the new line of FieldFox analyzers released last week, said Henri Komrij, general manager for performance network analyzers at Agilent's component test division. Komrij quoted a senior calibration engineer at a spacecraft R&D center as saying, “FieldFox’s result is almost identical to my PNA. I want one of these for all of my engineers.” The new FieldFox analyzers offer frequency ranges to 26.5 GHz and are available as RF and microwave combination analyzers, microwave vector network analyzers, and microwave spectrum analyzers.
Komrij said the instruments serve a variety of applications, including communications test, microwave backhaul, radar installation and maintenance, satellite ground-station installation and maintenance, frequency management, electronic warfare system support, and R&D and education.
PCIe Software and Spice Models
In other news, Agilent recently announced fully integrated PCI Express (PCIe) 3.0 receiver test calibration and transmitter test software. The software provides an integrated environment for calibrating the stressed voltage and stressed receiver eye using an Agilent J-BERT bit error-ratio tester, an Agilent 90000A-, Q- or X-Series oscilloscope, an Agilent pulse function generator, and Agilent PCI Express 3.0 calibration test channels.
Agilent N5393C Option 004 PCI Express 3.0 receiver test calibration software provides a receiver signal calibration test suite that allows engineers to set up a J-BERT N4903B bit error-ratio tester for performing PCI Express 3.0 jitter tolerance testing under the PCIe 3.0 Base specification. By automating the calibration of the bit error-ratio test signal, engineers save test time and are able to achieve a consistent and reliable stressed eye signal, ensuring their PCIe 3.0 devices meet the requirements of the specification for jitter and voltage stress levels.
In addition, Agilent recently announced the shipment of its first release of the Spice modeling tools it obtained through the acquisition of Accelicon Technologies in February. The tools—Model Builder Program (MBP), Model Quality Assurance (MQA), and Advanced Model Analysis (AMA)—are now an integral part of Agilent’s device-modeling portfolio.
“The release today unambiguously demonstrates our full and long-term commitment to MBP, MQA and AMA, all of which have enjoyed popular and unwavering support from our worldwide customer base,” said Brian Chen, device modeling product manager with Agilent EEsof EDA, in a press release.
