Software creates digital RF test signals.
Press Release Summary:
Providing UWB-WiMedia plug-ins, RFXpress(TM) performs RF/IF/IQ waveform creation and editing of digitally modulated signals for AWG5000 and AWG7000 arbitrary waveform generators. Program supports variety of modulation schemes such as QPSK, QAM, and GMSK, and allows engineers to build their own modulation schemes. RF/IF and IQ signals captured on Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer or oscilloscope can be modified by adding impairments, interference, and distortions using RFXpress.
Original Press Release:
Tektronix Transforms Digital RF Test Signal Creation with RFXpress(TM)
General Purpose UI and UWB WiMedia Software Plug-Ins for AWG5000/7000 Simplify Debug and Conformance Test; Improves Productivity
BEAVERTON, Ore., July 23 /- Tektronix, Inc. (NYSE:TEK), a leading, worldwide provider of test, measurement and monitoring instrumentation, announced the availability of RFXpress(TM), an advanced new software package that performs RF/IF/IQ waveform creation and editing of digitally modulated signals for AWG5000 and AWG7000 arbitrary waveform generators. RFXpress provides a user interface that makes creation and management of general purpose digital RF waveforms far more intuitive. It also provides specialized UWB-WiMedia plug-ins and a library of waveforms for thoroughly testing new designs. With RFXpress software, the AWG5000 and AWG7000 are the easiest to use, most powerful and comprehensive IF/RF and I/Q signal generators -- transforming the testing of emerging digital RF applications including UWB-WiMedia.
Signal generation for stress testing digital RF product designs is a critical step in the development process for modern wireless devices. Historically, this process has been very complicated often requiring many hours of tedious setup and requiring multiple instruments. With RFXpress software, this has been greatly simplified by automating many of the repetitive and arcane functions typically found in competing signal generation solutions.
"RFXpress is ideal for design and test engineers who need to perform validation and characterization of prototype digital RF wireless communication designs," said Mike Higashi, vice president, Signal Source Product Line, Tektronix. "Instead of needing to create mathematical formulas, the intuitive UI provided by the general purpose RFXpress application enables efficient use by providing pre-defined, fill-in the blank templates for frequencies, modulation schemes, etc. The additional capabilities provided by the compliance and custom plug-ins assist with performing a wide range of tests reliably and efficiently for the UWB WiMedia standard."
The RFXpress application supports a variety of modulation schemes like QPSK, QAM, GMSK, etc., and also allows engineers to build their own modulation schemes. Furthermore, RF / IF & IQ signals captured on a Tektronix Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer or using an oscilloscope can now be modified by simply adding impairments, interference and distortions using RFXpress before they are replayed by an AWG7000 or AWG5000.
"The RFXpress Application is a great addition to the AWG platform, effectively transforming a general purpose signal generator into a powerful and easy to use RF generator," said Ray Wang, System Test Manager, Texas Instruments. "Features such as I/Q Impairments, Distortion, and Interference Addition will help validate our products against real-life parameters. Using RFXpress, we essentially get the functionality of both a general purpose and application-specific signal generator in a single package."
For many applications fewer instruments and less complicated setups will be required through the inherent direct synthesis capabilities of the AWG platform combined with RFXpress. Direct synthesis is a flexible and repeatable method for creating ideal or impaired waveforms that are then directly synthesized using an arbitrary waveform generator. For example, the RFXpress WiMedia custom mode plug-in enables engineers to individually configure every part of the WiMedia frame / packet for thorough characterization, limit and stress test of the receiver's PHY layer. With RFXpress and the AWG7000, customers can directly generate band hopping signals for UWB-WiMedia Bandgroup 1 and Bandgroup 2 without the need for multiple instruments. The addition of Tektronix waveform libraries further increases usability and provides engineers with a convenient and intuitive short-cut for testing their latest designs.
Engineers are able to simply recall a setup file that encapsulates all of the relevant standard mandated tests and signal impairments, without the need for any additional external components or mixing required, reducing complexity and cost. AWG setup file deployment can be managed through electronic circulation of files, enabling test systems worldwide to have consistent settings and capabilities and with no external hardware dependencies.
Availability and Pricing
The RFXpress software is currently available for order and runs as an integral part of the AWG5000 or AWG7000 models, or as a standalone application on an external PC. The U.S. MSRP for general purpose RFXpress is $5,000. The UWB WiMedia compliance plug-in for RFXpress is $2,200 and the UWB WiMedia custom plug-in is $7,200. The custom plug-in includes the compliance plug-in capabilities.
Additional information about RFXpress can be obtained through an audio file at http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/pmdetails.lotr?ct=PM&cs=bck&ci=11354&lc=EN.
About the AWG7000
Announced last autumn, the AWG7000 is the only AWG fast enough for high speed serial data test with up to 20GS/s and the ability to generate data streams including imperfections such as noise and jitter for data rates up to 10Gb/s. With two analog channels and four marker outputs, the AWG7000 is capable of generating mixed-signal waveforms to provide for analog signals and digital control channels. For serial data, the high sample rate of the AWG7000 enables developers to create pre- and de-emphasis or multi-level signals such as four PAM (pulse amplitude modulation) without having to work with cumbersome external components and without wasting multiple output channels. It is the most advanced and versatile signal generator available. With the AWG7000, design and test engineers can create, replicate, and generate ideal, distorted, or "real life" signals including noise, jitter, glitches, and other imperfections to assist with prototype, debug, verification, and standards compliance for the latest serial data designs.
About the AWG5000
The AWG5000 Series consists of four models, offering two and four analog channels with two versions of each, with variable sample rates up to 600 MS/s and 1.2 GS/s. All four models feature 14-bit vertical resolution enabling signal generation with a high 80dB SFDR and two digital markers per analog channel. The two channel versions feature an option for a pair of 14-bit parallel digital outputs which enable test of digital IF or digital I/Q systems. Additionally, the four channel models are ideal for test of 4x4 MIMO systems. The combination of speed, resolution and digital output capability is unsurpassed, making the AWG5000 the first signal generator capable of meeting most mixed signal test needs.
About Tektronix
Tektronix is a leading supplier of test, measurement, and monitoring products, solutions and services for the communications, computer, and semiconductor industries -- as well as military/aerospace, consumer electronics, education and a broad range of other industries worldwide. With 60 years of experience, Tektronix enables its customers to design, build, deploy, and manage next-generation global communications networks, advanced and pervasive technologies. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix has operations in 19 countries worldwide. Tektronix' Web address is http://www.tektronix.com/.
Tektronix is a registered trademark of Tektronix, Inc. All other trade names referenced are the service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
CONTACT: Gary Grossman of Tektronix, Inc., +1-503-627-1097, gary.grossman@tektronix.com
Web site: http://www.tektronix.com/
