New solutions to compliance headaches

Q: What is AR’s niche in the test field?

A: Our heritage product is the broadband power amplifier, which we offer in frequencies from DC to 45 GHz and from 1 W to 10 kW. These instruments are used in countless applications, such as communications, physics research, component characterization and testing, and calibration of meters and probes, to name a few. But our key niche is really electromagnetic compliance (EMC) test. Any product containing electronics, whether it be an airplane or a child’s toy, can require EMC certification.

Q: How are the changing needs of your customers shaping product development at AR?

A: Test engineers are faced with an ever-increasing need for more power and higher frequencies. Our amplifiers have always been designed with the maximum possible bandwidth. This gives engineers the product longevity they need as test frequencies increase. Our “subampability” design concept allows addition of subamps to a given product to increase power output by two, three, or four times as requirements grow.

Q: What technical challenges do you face with the rapid proliferation of wireless systems and devices?

A: What we call “frequency creep” provides us with the challenge of developing solid-state products that go up to 20 GHz now and up to 60 GHz in the very near future. We have acquired the clean-room facilities and design resources to apply microelectronic technology to the problem. That has resulted in our new line of 20-GHz amplifiers, which provide the same performance as our lower-frequency amplifiers and offer an alternative to the current traveling wave tube (TWT) technology.

Q: How is AR responding to the demand for easier-to-use products?

A: For our conducted immunity customers, we have designed the CI00250 and CI00400 test systems, which provide a much simpler approach to full calibration and testing. For example, the CI00250 contains all the instruments needed to perform conducted immunity testing to the IEC 61000-4-6 specification. Equipment includes a signal generator, a two-channel power meter, a 75-W minimum AR amplifier for 10 kHz to 250 MHz, plus control software. Everything is contained in a single housing, which eliminates setup issues. In short, you reduce test time and boost productivity, while achieving superior accuracy.

Our SW1006 EMC test software and the TG6100 Automatic Transient Generator are also designed for ease of use. Both of these products feature embedded automatic protocols that comply with IEC, MIL-STD, and automotive test procedures and specifications.

Q: Are more customers asking to have AR products assembled into test systems?

A: Several years ago, we noticed a change in the nature of customer requirements from one of exploratory testing to one of following the requirements of standards and preparing to pass compliance testing by a certified test organization. This led us to develop our line of precompliance test systems.

More recently, we have seen the need to put together “amplifier systems,” particularly in the 1- to 40-GHz range. Heavy losses in waveguide from amplifier to antenna make it almost a necessity to put the whole amplifier/antenna package inside the test chamber and close to the test item. For example, we designed our new AS40000 system to house amplifiers and antennas covering 800 MHz to 40 GHz in two air-conditioned, EMI-shielded equipment racks. We mounted the equipment racks and antenna mast on a rolling skid to create a portable field generation platform. We’ll continue to explore such system solutions for customers.

Read the continuation of this interview.