News Briefs
-- Test & Measurement World, 5/1/2009 2:00:00 AM
Agilent, Maury Microwave support nonlinear measurement
Agilent Technologies has introduced an arbitrary load impedance X-parameter option—Option 520—for its PNA-X nonlinear vector network analyzer. When used in conjunction with Maury Microwave tuners and software, the new option provides the capability to measure and simulate nonlinear component behavior at all load impedances.
The addition of Option 520 to the PNA-X allows R&D engineers in the wireless communications and aerospace/defense industries to extend X-parameter design cascadeability to arbitrarily large load mismatches; measure and predict dynamic load lines at input and output ports under arbitrary loading conditions, even under very large compression; measure and simulate magnitude and phase data at the input and output for each fundamental and harmonic frequency as nonlinear functions of power, bias, and arbitrary load impedance; and model devices as well as design multistage Doherty or other complex amplifier circuits within Agilent’s ADS (Advanced Design System) software.
X-parameters are mathematically correct scattering coefficients for active components. They provide an automated process for capturing nonlinear component behavior over arbitrary complex impedances, input powers, and DC biases across various frequencies. Engineers can use the PNA-X nonlinear vector network analyzer to measure X-parameters and create X-parameter models that can be imported into Agilent’s ADS to simulate actual linear and nonlinear component behavior.
The behavior of a device under large-signal operating conditions can be captured and modeled in ADS using Agilent’s new NVNA option, an external Maury load tuner, and Maury’s load-pull software. Option 520 is priced at $8000. The Maury ATS (Automated Tuner System) software begins at $17,500, and a single Maury ATS tuner begins at $22,500. www.agilent.com; www.maurymw.com.
Averna acquires broadband test competitor
Montreal-based Averna has acquired DAQTron, a developer of communications test systems. In addition to giving the company a US headquarters in Atlanta, GA, Averna says the acquisition will bring greater functionality to its Universal Receiver Tester that supports radio, video, and navigation signals.
DAQTron’s products include a DOCSIS 3.0 RF protocol analyzer, the Mercury and Jupiter manufacturing and design-verification test systems, and the Trident software for simulating and testing digital signals.
“We believe that the convergence of radio, video, and navigation content into mobile devices will continue to fuel demand for multifunctional test instruments and systems,” said Pascal Pilon, president and CEO of Averna. He added that acquiring DAQTron “concentrates our strengths and positions Averna to lead the trend towards computer-based instrumentation.” www.averna.com; www.daqtron.com.
Optical sampling for the next network
With optical network speeds about to increase to 40 Gbps and then to 100 Gbps, the PSO-100 series of optical oscilloscopes can show the signals to you. The Models PSO-101 (one-channel) and PSO-102 (two-channel) oscilloscopes connect to your PC through a USB port. They use a sampling technique that optically captures and time stretches repetitive signals, creating a time-stretched copy of the original signal. The scopes convert elongated samples to electrical form before digitizing them. Using this technique, the instruments can use a sample rate in the tens of megasamples per second while maintaining 500-GHz overall bandwidth.
A PSO-100 series oscilloscope captures samples by using a short pulse that opens an optical gate to capture light. The instrument then converts the optical signal to electrical form and digitally processes the captured signal, measuring jitter (RMS and peak-to-peak), rise time, fall time, eye amplitude, duty-cycle distortion, extinction ratio, and other parameters. Both models let you analyze signals that use return-to-zero and non-return-to-zero modulation. The PSO-102 adds DPSK, DQPSK, and D8PSK complex modulation formats with the use of a demodulator. The instruments use software-based clock recovery and thus don’t require an external trigger.
Price range: $124,500 to $157,500. EXFO, www.exfo.com.
Compact spectrum analyzers reach 26.5 GHz
Aeroflex 3250 Series spectrum analyzers offer RF frequency ranges spanning 1 kHz to 26.6 GHz and serve engineers working in military, communications, satellite, radar, and PMR (portable mobile radio) applications. The compact instruments weigh just 24 to 29 lbs.
The 3250 Series includes four spectrum analyzer models, each measuring a frequency range beginning at 1 kHz, with the 3251 ranging up to 3 GHz, the 3252 to 8 GHz, the 3253 to 13.2 GHz, and the 3254 to 26.5 GHz. All models have a Windows XP operating system, a removable hard disk, and a 7-in. touch-panel screen. Three traces can be displayed per window and as many as nine markers can be selected with a marker table viewable in an alternate window. The instruments support remote control via LAN, GPIB, and RS-232C interfaces.
The 3250 Series includes digital demodulation capabilities for the analysis of 802.11a/b/g wireless networks. Optional measurement personalities include GSM/EDGE, WCDMA, and WiMAX, and the instruments can also perform EMC precompliance tests. An optional built-in tracking generator is available across the entire range.
Base price: $15,000. Aeroflex, www.aeroflex.com.
Calendar
International Microwave Symposium, June 7–12, Boston, MA. IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society. www.ims2009.org.
Sensors Expo, June 8–10, Rosemont, IL. Questex Media. www.sensorsexpo.com.
Semicon West, July 14–16, San Francisco, CA. SEMI. www.semiconwest.org.
Design Automation Conference (DAC), July 26–31, San Francisco, CA. IEEE, ACM, EDA Consortium. www.dac.com.
To learn about other conferences, courses, and calls for papers, visit www.tmworld.com/events.
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