Signal Generator suits microwave applications.
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Press Release Summary:
Model E8267C Vector Signal Generator offers I/Q modulation capability. Its internal baseband generator, with 80 MHz of RF modulation BW and 32 MSamples of baseband memory, enables simulation of wideband complex waveforms. It offers wideband vector modulation at frequencies to 20 GHz in one, integrated instrument. Series also includes Analog Signal Generator and CW Signal Generator, which feature analog ramp sweep capability.
Original Press Release:
Agilent Technologies Introduces First Microwave Signal Generator to Provide Vector Modulation up to 20 GHz in a Single Instrument
Next-Generation Performance Signal Generators Simplify the Creation of Real-World, Complex Signals
PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 24, 2002 -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today introduced the industry's first microwave signal generator to provide vector modulation up to 20 GHz in a single, integrated instrument.
The new Agilent E8267C Vector Signal Generator, a member of Agilent's next-generation Performance Signal Generator (PSG) series, features an I/Q modulation capability and internal baseband generator that enables the simulation of wideband complex waveforms for a variety of microwave applications. Other models in this new series include the Agilent E8257C Analog Signal Generator and the Agilent E8247C CW Signal Generator, which feature analog ramp sweep capability for use with the Agilent 8757D Scalar Network Analyzer.
Intended for aerospace and defense design and manufacturing engineers, the Agilent E8267C is the only microwave signal generator offering wideband vector modulation in a single, integrated instrument. The Agilent PSG vector signal generators feature an internal, dual-mode baseband generator that combines the capabilities of a wideband (80 MHz) arbitrary waveform generator with the sophisticated coding power of a real-time baseband generator. This capability sets new points of reference for straightforward, repeatable microwave communications signal generation and enables engineers to solve many of the problems they experience today when testing with golden devices and custom test systems.
In addition, the baseband generator's deep playback memory and waveform sequencing capability facilitates the generation of complex radar test patterns. Arbitrary waveforms representing pulsed radar signals can be defined in the time domain using industry standard tools -- including MATLAB®, Agilent's Advanced Design System (ADS) or Signal Studio software -- and played back using the internal baseband generator. This technique enables custom pulse shaping, accommodates pulse compression, and eliminates many of the synchronization issues associated with pulsing modulated signals using traditional analog techniques.
Since many microwave communications systems lack standardization, Agilent developed the PSG to easily adapt to custom test needs. The Agilent PSG Vector Signal Generator provides a suite of custom I/Q modulation formats, such as Phase Shift Keying (PSK), Minimum Shift Keying (MSK), Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM). By simply selecting one of these formats and setting high-level parameters such as data type, filtering and symbol rate, engineers can quickly generate a test signal for most microwave communications formats.
"As microwave systems increase in complexity, engineers working on radar, broadband wireless, and satellite communications systems have been struggling to find a way to make measurements that truly simulate the real-world environment in which their systems will eventually operate," said John Vink, general manager of Agilent's Signal Sources Product Generation Group. "With this in mind, Agilent developed this new performance vector signal generator that not only breaks through the 6 GHz frequency barrier, but also continues Agilent's commitment to provide the lowest phase-noise performance, highest output power and superior specified level accuracy for microwave frequencies."
The Agilent E8267C Vector Signal Generator provides wideband vector modulation at frequencies up to 20 GHz and features an available high-performance internal baseband generator with 80 MHz of RF modulation BW and 32 MSamples of baseband memory. The PSG Vector Signal Generator also features the following:
o external I/Q inputs with 160 MHz of RF modulation BW;
o leading-edge wideband external I/Q inputs with 1 GHz of uncalibrated RF modulation BW;
o marker trigger signals;
o 6 GB non-volatile storage;
o Pulse Builder Signal Studio Software (option 420); and
o PSG/ESG Download Assistant (free software).
The Agilent 8247C CW and E8257C Analog Signal Generators provide signal generation at frequency ranges to 20 or 40 GHz. New features include the following:
o fast sweep rate with analog ramp sweep;
o high-performance narrow pulse modulation below 3.2 GHz;
o 100 percent backwards code compatibility with the majority of Agilent's legacy microwave signal generators and 80 percent code compatibility with Agilent 8340/41 signal generators; and
o compatibility with the Agilent 8757D scalar network analyzer.
This new generation of PSG signal generators marks the first appearance of Agilent Signal Studio software for microwave applications. Introduced in May 2001, Signal Studio is a suite of Microsoft Windows®-based software tools used to create waveforms for popular communication formats. Pulse Builder Signal Studio Software is a radar emitter test pattern generator that uses the Agilent E8267C PSG Vector Signal Generator to create pulsed signals. The software's user-friendly interface simplifies test pattern generation by enabling the set up of custom pulse sequences while keeping the complicated mathematics required for calculating the I/Q waveform samples transparent to the user.
Available as Option 420 for the E8267C PSG Vector Signal Generator, Pulse Builder is the first of many software applications that will be available for the E8267C to enhance the platform's capability. More information is available at www.agilent.com/find/signalstudio.
Also new to Agilent's lineup of time saving software tools is the Agilent PSG/ESG Download Assistant. This tool allows the user to create unique waveform files within MATLAB and then download them directly from the MATLAB environment into a PSG or ESG vector signal generator. More information and the free software are available at www.agilent.com/find/psg.
U.S. Pricing and Availability
The new PSG platform, including the Agilent E8267C Vector Signal Generator, the E8257C Analog Signal Generator and E8247C CW Signal Generator is available for purchase Oct. 1, 2002. Agilent Pulse Builder Signal Studio Software (Option 420) is available now, and is priced at $15,900.
Model Bandwidth Typical Base Price
PSG E8247C CW Signal Generator 250 kHz - 20 GHz $21,400
250 kHz - 40 GHz $31,900
PSG E8257C Analog Signal Generator 250 kHz - 20 GHz $30,000
250 kHz - 40 GHz $43,300
PSG E8267C Vector Signal Generator 250 kHz - 20 GHz $66,700
More information about the PSG platform is available at www.agilent.com/find/psg. High-resolution images are available at http://www.get.agilent.com/press/index.cgi?PSP_NEXT=ShowPR&Release:release_id=53.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics and life sciences. The company's 37,000 employees serve customers in more than 120 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $8.4 billion in fiscal year 2001. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.
MATLAB is a U.S. registered trademark of The Math Works Inc.
Microsoft is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Sales information is available by calling +1 800 452 4844, ext. 7747.
Information in this news release applies specifically to products available in the United States. Product availability and specifications may vary in other markets.
Agilent Technologies, Test and Measurement Organization, 5301 Stevens Creek Blvd., MS 54LAK, Santa Clara, Calif. 95052.
Further technology, corporate citizenship and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news.
Agilent Technologies PSG E8267C Vector Signal Generator
Engineers working on applications such as radar, broadband wireless access, and satellite communications continue to develop increasingly complex systems. They can no longer rely on test methods based on analog techniques -- using narrow band analog methods for testing wideband digital applications -- to test systems that operate at frequencies beyond 6 GHz. What engineers need is a signal generator that truly simulates signals as they occur in the real-world environments where these systems and components will eventually operate.
Agilent Technologies' new PSG E8267C Vector Signal Generator is the industry's first microwave signal generator to provide I/Q modulation up to 20 GHz in a single instrument. The platform also provides the lowest phase-noise performance, the highest output power and superior level accuracy for microwave frequencies.
The Agilent E8267C features I/Q modulation capability and an optional internal baseband generator that enables the simulation of wideband complex waveforms for a variety of microwave applications. The baseband generator features dual-mode operation, which combines the functional capabilities of a wideband (80 MHz) arbitrary waveform generator with the sophisticated coding power of a real-time baseband generator. This capability sets a new standard for straightforward, repeatable microwave communications signal generation. Also, since many microwave communications systems are not standardized, the Agilent E8267C is designed with the flexibility required to easily adapt to custom test needs.
Features for Generating Custom Waveforms
Many systems that operate at microwave frequencies need modulation bandwidths ranging from tens to hundreds of megahertz, whether they are pulsed radar sets or broadband wireless systems employing digital modulation to transfer high data rate signals. The E8267C features that enable the generation of these signals include:
o standard I/Q modulation capability, which enables users to input external baseband analog I/Q signals up to 160 MHz through BNC ports on the front panel.
o optional wideband I/Q inputs with a bandwidth of 1 GHz. Although uncalibrated, unfiltered and unleveled, these inputs are useful for many broadband applications.
o optional internal baseband generator, which operates in dual mode and combines the capabilities of a deep memory (32 Msamples) arbitrary waveform generator with the sophisticated coding power of a real-time baseband generator. The internal baseband generator provides 80 MHz of modulation bandwidth that can accommodate most of today's broadband technologies. The 32 Msamples of memory allows users to play back long, unique and non-repetitive waveforms, which reduces test time by facilitating testing under multiple signal environments with a single test waveform. Waveform sequencing is a feature used to replay predefined waveform segments repetitively and in any order the user defines. Up to 4096 segments can be defined, which can simplify the creation of custom waveforms and expand the memory available.
o two-tone and multi-tone applications, which are built into the PSG Vector Signal Generator. Users can press a few simple softkeys to quickly generate multi-tone waveforms, and define relative tone spacing, relative tone power and phase relationships. These capabilities eliminate the issues associated with combining multiple signal generators, and significantly reduce test costs.
o industry-standard software packages -- including Agilent's Advanced Design System (ADS) software and other industry standard software packages such as MATLAB® -- which make it easy to generate customized arbitrary waveform files. Agilent is also introducing Pulse Builder Signal Studio software (option 420), which allows radar system developers to create optimized pulsed signals using the I/Q signals from the baseband generator. Once a waveform file has been developed, engineers can use Agilent's free PC software to download the file into the signal generator. The PSG/ESG Download Assistant application works entirely in the MATLAB environment. Developers can use these functions to download MATLAB I/Q data into the volatile memory (ARB) of the signal generator and play back with a single command.
o ARB Settings. The table below outlines the settings available in the arbitrary waveform generator mode of the internal baseband generator:
Clock
Sample rate: Hz to 100MHz
Resolution: 0.001 Hz
Basic modulation types
PSK BPSK
QPSK, OQPSK, P/4DQPSK
8PSK, D8PSK
16PSK
MSK User-defined phase offset from 0 to 100°
QAM 4, 16, 32, 64, 256
FSK Selectable:
2, 4, 8, 16 level symmetric
Custom map of up to 16 deviation levels
Waveform segments
Segment length:
60 samples to 32 Msamples
Maximum number of segments: 4,096 (32 Msamples memory)
Waveform sequences
(Continuously repeating)
Maximum number of sequences: 16,384
Maximum segments/sequence: 32,768
Maximum segment repetitions:
65,536
o real-time baseband generator. The table below outlines the setting available in the real-time baseband generator mode of the internal baseband generator:
Symbol rate
Internal:
Max: 50 Msymbols/sec
Min: 1000 symbols/sec
External:
Max: 50 Mbits/sec
#bits/symbol
Min: 1000 symbols/sec
Basic modulation types
PSK BPSK
QPSK, OQPSK, P/4DQPSK
8PSK, D8PSK
16PSK
MSK User-defined phase offset from 0 to 100°
QAM 4, 16, 32, 64, 256
FSK Selectable:
2, 4, 8, 16 level symmetric
Custom map of up to 16 deviation levels
I/Q Custom map of 256 unique values
FIR filter
Custom FIR
o 16-bit resolution
o up to 64 symbols long
o automatically resampled to 1024 coefficients [max]
Selectable
o Nyquist, root Nyquist, Gaussian, rectangular a: 0 to 1, BbT: 0.1 to 1
New Methods for Complex Microwave Systems
The Agilent E8267C PSG vector signal generator is the only microwave signal generator that easily generates real-world signals with a single box. Until now, microwave system developers working in applications such as radar, satellite communications and broadband wireless access have needed expensive multi-instrument test beds to verify designs. Manufacturers have often relied on problematic "golden devices." The PSG vector's versatile ability to generate waveforms allows engineers to use new test methods that reduce test costs and add the flexibility required to test boundary conditions quickly and thoroughly.
Agilent also has updated the PSG analog and CW signal generators by adding the customer-requested features of ramp sweep, automated operation with the 8757D scalar analyzer, and narrow pulses (10 ns) below 3.2 GHz. The E8257C PSG analog and E8247C PSG CW signal generators retain the industry-leading specifications in power level, phase noise and level accuracy.
More information about the PSG series is available at www.agilent.com/find/psg.
Pricing of the PSG and Options
Model Bandwidth Base Price
PSG E8247C CW 250 kHz - 20 GHz $21,400
Signal Generator 250 kHz - 40 GHz $31,900
PSG E8257C Analog 250 kHz - 20 GHz $30,000
Signal Generator 250 kHz - 40 GHz $43,300
PSG E8267C Vector 250 kHz - 20 GHz $66,700
Signal Generator
Option Description Price
1E1 Step Attenuator (included with the E8267C) $3100/$4700*
1EA High Power (included with the E8267C) $5000/$6200*
1E6 Narrow Pulse below 3.2 GHz $3500
UNR Low Phase Noise $5900
007 Analog Ramp Sweep/Scalar Analyzer Interface $8300
1ED Type N Connector $525
1EM Rear Panel Connector $525
Available only with the PSG E8267C Vector Signal Generator:
420 Pulse Builder Signal Studio Software $15,300
002 32 Msample Baseband Generator $11,900
005 Hard Disk Waveform Storage $525
015 Extended Bandwidth (1 GHz) $10,600
*20 GHz and 40 GHz respectively
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