Spectrum Analyzers operate at high frequencies.
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Press Release Summary:
Series PSA provides measurement range to 325 GHz with use of Option AYZ external mixers. With harmonic mixers, analyzers utilize image shift and image suppression to perform signal identification. Image-shift method moves signals by factor of intermediate frequency divided by user-specified harmonic number. Image-suppression blocks out all images that are not true signal. Option AYZ allows bias to be adjusted locally or over IEEE-488 bus.
Original Press Release:
Agilent Technologies Expands Measurement Range of Performance Spectrum Analyzers to 325 GHz
Enhancement Brings Advanced Detection Abilities of PSA Series to Designers of Systems Used in Aerospace, Defense Applications
PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 22, 2003 -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today introduced an enhancement to its PSA Series high-performance spectrum analyzers that increases their measurement frequency range from 50 GHz to as high as 325 GHz with the use of external mixers. The extended frequency range of the PSA Series gives designers of radar, electronic warfare, satellite and terrestrial communications, and other systems a cost-effective solution for performing signal analysis at extremely high frequencies.
The enhancement (Option AYZ) for the PSA Series includes software that maintains all the high-performance capabilities of the PSA Series and takes advantage of external mixers from Agilent with coverage to 110 GHz, as well as from third-party mixer suppliers that offer coverage to 325 GHz.
Agilent offers two mixer families: the 110-GHz 11970 Series harmonic mixers and the 75-GHz 11974 Series preselected mixers. Both families feature very flat frequency response and low conversion loss. No bias or tuning adjustments are required, and each mixer is calibrated over its full range of operating frequencies. In addition, the 11974 Series preselected mixers eliminate the time-consuming signal identification process required with harmonic mixers, in which the many images and harmonics created by the mixing process must be removed from the display to identify the signal of interest.
When the 11970 Series harmonic mixers or unpreselected third-party mixers are used, the analyzer provides two ways of performing signal identification: image shift and image suppression. The image-shift method moves the signals by a factor of the intermediate frequency (IF) divided by a user-specified harmonic number. Only the desired signal will shift by the correct amount. The image-suppression technique (patented by Agilent) automatically suppresses all images that are not the true signal, leaving only the desired signal on the screen.
Since some third-party mixers require mixer bias voltage sent to the IF port of the analyzer to be adjusted for optimum performance, Option AYZ allows bias to be adjusted either locally or over the IEEE-488 bus. Other Option AYZ features include automatic harmonic-number setting or manual setting to match the needs of a specific mixer, and amplitude correction that compensates for conversion loss.
Option AYZ is available for the Agilent E4440A, E4446A, and E4448A PSA Series spectrum analyzers. Upgrade kits are available for PSA Series instruments already in service as a cost-effective way to extend their frequency range.
Additional information about Agilent's PSA Series high-performance spectrum analyzers is available at www.agilent.com/find/psa, and information about Agilent's harmonic and preselected mixers as available at www.agilent.com/find/externalmixers.
U.S. Pricing and Availability
The external mixing capability (Option AYZ) for PSA Series spectrum analyzers is priced at $2,000. Upgrade kits for PSA Series instruments currently in service are also priced at $2,000. Both products are available now.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 30,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $6 billion in fiscal year 2002. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.
