Spectrum Analyzers have EMI measurement capability.

Press Release Summary:



Designed to perform EMI precompliance measurements, PSA Series analyzers come standard with peak, average, and quasi-peak detectors and 6 dB resolution bandwidths of 200 Hz, 9 kHz, and 120 kHz. They are compliant with International Special Committee on Radio Perturbations and offer compliant MIL-STD bandwidths and detectors. PSA displays up to 3 detected traces, and all detected EMI signals appear in single display.



Original Press Release:



Agilent Technologies Adds New EMI Measurement Capability as Standard Feature on PSA Spectrum Analyzers



CISPR-Compliant Peak, Average and Quasi-Peak Detectors Provide Faster, More Sensitive Measurements

PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 9, 2004 -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced the addition of three detectors to its PSA Series high-performance spectrum analyzers for performing electromagnetic interference (EMI) precompliance measurements on devices. The peak, average and quasi-peak detectors and bandwidths are now standard on all PSA models and are compliant with the International Special Committee on Radio Perturbations (CISPR)(1). The PSA series also offers compliant MIL-STD bandwidths and detector.

With the EMI capability, R&D engineers can easily evaluate the conducted and radiated emissions performance of their designs during the development stage using high-performance spectrum analyzers. For electromagnetic-compatibility (EMC) test houses and companies that have dedicated precompliance and in-chamber testing, the PSA with EMI measurement capability is ideal for troubleshooting because of its speed and sensitivity.

The PSA provides the CISPR 16 required, 6-dB resolution bandwidths of 200 Hz, 9 kHz, and 120 kHz, and 1 MHz impulse bandwidth filters. Additionally, the PSA provides the MIL-STD 461-required decade impulse bandwidth filters from 10 Hz to 1 MHz. The PSA displays up to three detected traces on the screen, providing faster measurements. All detected EMI peak, average, and quasi-peak signals of interest appear in a single display.

The EMI measurement capability adds another tool to the PSA, which has the widest range of functionality in a high-performance spectrum analyzer, including phase noise, noise figure, flexible modulation, 11 standards-based measurement personalities and 80 MHz wide-information bandwidth measurements. Multiple connectivity interfaces speed system integration including IVI-COM and VXIplug&play drivers to support VEE, LabView and LabWindows; and GPIB and 10 baseT LAN for automated control and remote operation. Agilent's IntuiLink, BenchLink Web Remote and Connectivity Suite software programs also support the PSA.

Further Information

o Additional information about the Agilent PSA Series spectrum analyzers and the new detectors is available at www.agilent.com/find/PSA.

o A backgrounder describing the importance of electromagnetic compatibility precompliance testing is available at www.agilent.com/find/PSAEMI_backgrounder.

o Images of the PSA are available at www.agilent.com/find/PSAdetector_images.

Availability

The EMI capability is standard with PSA Series spectrum analyzers ordered after July 1, 2004. Earlier models can be upgraded after Aug. 30, 2004, by downloading firmware at no additional charge from the Agilent Web site at www.agilent.com/find/PSA.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 28,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $6.1 billion in fiscal year 2003. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

(1) Comite International Special des Perturbations Radioelectriques.

Information in this news release applies specifically to products available in the United States. Product availability and specifications may vary in other markets.

Further technology, corporate citizenship and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news.

BACKGROUNDER

The Importance of Electromagnetic Compatibility Precompliance Testing

The concept of getting a product to market on time and within budget is nothing new, but com­panies have added some new steps to the introduc­tion process to achieve those goals. One of those steps in the process is the addition of an electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) strategy. Waiting until the end of the development cycle to find out whether or not a product passes regulatory agency require­ments can be an expensive gamble. Failing to pass can result in costly redesigns, so devel­opers are doing preliminary testing of new products from design investigation through preproduction units to evaluate EMC performance. This preliminary testing is called precompliance testing.

Full compliance measurements require the use of a receiver that meets the requirements set forth in the CISPR part 16 document, a qualified open area test site, and an antenna tower and turntable to maximize the signals from the equipment under test (EUT). This can be very expensive; the compliance receiver alone costing more than $100,000.

Precompliance measurements are intended to give an approximation of the EMI performance of the EUT at a fraction of the cost for full compliance testing. The precompliance measurement process is fairly straightforward; however, the more attention to detail, such as a good ground plane and minimizing the number of reflective objects in the measurement area, the better the accuracy of the precompliance measurements.

Conducted and Radiated Emissions

Many manufacturers use electromagnetic interference (EMI) precompliance measurement systems to perform conducted and radiated EMI emissions tests prior to sending the product to a test facility for full compliance testing. Conducted emissions testing focuses on signals, present on the AC mains that are gen­erated by the EUT. The test range for these measurements is from 9 kHz to 30 MHz, depending on the regulation.

Radiated emissions testing looks for signals broad­casted from the EUT through space. The frequency range for these measurements is between 30 MHz and 1 GHz, depending on the regulation. Testing to higher frequencies may be required depending on the device and the internal clock frequency.

PSA Series Spectrum Analyzer for Precompliance Measurements

With a frequency range of 3 Hz to 50 GHz, leading-edge accuracy and sensitivity to -167 dBm, and new CISPR compliant peak, average, and quasi-peak detectors standard on all models, the Agilent PSA Series high-performance spectrum analyzers are well suited for making precompliance EMI measurements.

Performing accurate measurements is very easy with the new digital IF in the PSA. Simply place a marker on the signal and read the amplitude and frequency. The PSA's easy-to-use zoom feature enables focusing in on known signals with a minimum of searching and fine-tuning. The new quasi-peak detector provides excellent pulse response, meeting the CISPR DC pulses response down to 10 Hz. The PSA also has a true CISPR average detector required for conducted emissions tests versus using a video detector.

Isolating the source of conducted or radiated emissions is another part of precompliance evaluation. With the addition of the 11945A close field probe set, the PSA becomes a diagnostic tool to isolate the source of emissions.

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