Agilent Technologies Introduces Powerful RFID Modulation Analysis for Troubleshooting EPC Gen2 RFID Systems


SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 1, 2007 -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced an RFID modulation analysis capability for its 89600 Vector Signal Analysis software. Featuring sophisticated new error analysis and filtering tools, as well as the ability to measure both analog and digital signals anywhere from the baseband to the antenna, it is the ideal solution for R&D designers troubleshooting RFID products, subsystems and systems.

The Agilent 89601A Option BHC RFID modulation analysis provides an advanced tool set for unfolding the intricate physical layer structure of the popular EPCglobal Class-1 Generation-2 (EPC Gen2) UHF signals. Other format RFID signals can also be analyzed using built-in presets or by manually setting the demodulation format, line coding and bit rate. With its well-designed user interface, RFID-specific measurements and up to six simultaneous, user-selected displays, R&D designers can efficiently and effectively analyze interrogator power on individual data bursts of both the RFID interrogator and tag.

Designers of EPC Gen2 systems today face a range of RF problems that are not present in systems based on previous generation standards operating at lower frequencies. These problems greatly complicate the troubleshooting process and require the use of a powerful measurement solution. Agilent's 89600 Option BHC RFID modulation analysis software addresses this challenge through its innovative combination of existing 89600 measurement and display functionality with new RFID-specific measurements and displays. These features, coupled with ease of use, provide the designer with quick and easy access to the time error and modulation information that is so crucial for effective troubleshooting of interrogator/tag systems.

Agilent's RFID modulation analysis software is the only solution on the market today that enables measurements to be made anywhere from the baseband to the antenna, on both digitized and analog signals, using a wide range of front ends, or even ADS or The MathWorks' Simulink simulations. This capability provides a significant cost and time savings since the designer can use one measurement console with consistent measurements and displays for all measurements made between the baseband and the antenna. More conventional solutions require designers to create and use different displays and measurement algorithms for each measurement.

The Agilent 89600 Vector Signal Analysis software offers a wide range of troubleshooting tools for analyzing LMDS, 802.11a/b/g and 802.11n-HT wireless LAN, Bluetooth(r) systems, MB-OFDM UWB for certified wireless USB, WiMAX, 3G, and more. Its flexible demodulation option is particularly well suited for testing proprietary single-carrier signaling formats. The analyzer features innovative error analysis tools and user-adaptive equalization to help engineers identify the existence and cause of problems.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The Agilent 89600 Option BHC RFID modulation analysis software is available now and can be purchased through any of Agilent's field engineers, worldwide distributors or Agilent's online store. Pricing is as follows:

89601A-BHC RFID modulation analysis software $7,500
(node-locked license)

89601AN-BHC RFID modulation analysis software $9,750
(floating license)

Information about the Agilent 89601A Option BHC is available at www.agilent.com/find/89600. Photos of the product are available at www.agilent.com/find/RFID_image.

About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 19,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $5.0 billion in fiscal 2006. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

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