Agilent Technologies to Showcase Bit Error Ratio Tester at OFC/NFOEC

New Options Enable 32-Gb/s ASIC Component and Optical Transceiver Designs

SANTA CLARA, Calif.- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced it will demonstrate a 32-Gb/s bit error ratio tester with four-tap de-emphasis at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exposition (OFC) and National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference (NFOEC), March 19-21, at the Anaheim Convention Center (Booth 2719), in Anaheim, Calif.

A new era of data-center infrastructure enabling cloud computing, big data and analysis is driving the development of new high-speed data transfer standards such as 100-Gb Ethernet and 32-Gb Fibre Channel. The higher speeds create new testing challenges for designers of servers, network interface cards, backplanes and communication ICs. That's because quality degrades when signals are transmitted over backplanes, printed circuit board traces and long cables.

To address the issue, Agilent has created remotely mountable pattern-generator heads for use with its N4960A BERTs (bit error ratio testers). The new pattern-generator heads (N4951B Option D32 and Option D17) feature integrated four-tap de-emphasis (one pre-cursor, two post-cursors) operating up to 32 Gb/s, which provides designers with the signal compensation required for transmitter emulation when they characterize receivers and systems.

In addition, N4980A multi-instrument BERT software allows engineers to directly compute de-emphasis tap weights from the frequency response (s-parameters) of their signal paths. Designers can easily optimize tap weights in the tool and program them directly into the pattern generator head when they are ready.

"We are the first in the industry to provide de-emphasis functionality operating up to 32 Gb/s," said Juergen Beck, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Digital Photonics Test Division. "With this capability added to the N4960A serial BERT family, high-speed backplane and communication IC designers now have the signal fidelity and signal compensation tools they need to test their next-generation devices."

As part of the N4960A BERT family, the new pattern generators are configured as remote heads connected to the BERT controller with a one-meter control cable. This configuration allows the pattern generator to be located close to the device under test, minimizing the length of the signal cable, which helps minimize signal degradation.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The new de-emphasis options (N4951B-D17 and -D32) are available now. The Agilent N4960A Serial BERT starts at $204,413 for the 32-Gb/s configuration with the de-emphasis option. For existing N4960A serial BERT system owners, the 17-Gb/s and 32-Gb/s pattern generators with integrated de-emphasis are available starting at $73,819.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in chemical analysis, life sciences, diagnostics, electronics and communications. The company's 20,500 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had revenues of $6.9 billion in fiscal 2012. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.

Contact:

Janet Smith, Americas
+1 970 679 5397
Twitter: @JSmithAgilent

Sarah Calnan, Europe
+44 (118) 927 5101
sarah_calnan@agilent.com

Iris Ng, Asia
+852 31977979
iris-hw_ng@agilent.com

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