TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Announces Industry-First Capabilities for Envelope Tracking for LTE Power-Amplifier and Power-Supply Development

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced two software releases that support the design and verification of envelope tracking, a technique that improves the efficiency and linearity of power amplifiers used in mobile handsets. New capabilities available in Agilent Signal Studio software and Agilent 89600 VSA software will help developers quickly optimize their envelope-tracking implementations.

In Signal Studio for LTE/LTE-Advanced (FDD or TDD), developers can now define and optimize test stimuli for power amplifiers using envelope waveforms based on the LTE in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) signal. In addition, the crucial timing alignment between envelope and I/Q can be achieved with picosecond resolution and real-time adjustments. For playback during testing, Signal Studio can download the resulting waveforms to Agilent’s X-Series signal generators and 33500 Series waveform generators.

The latest release of Agilent 89600 VSA software is uniquely able to provide simultaneous envelope and RF analysis, enabling users to characterize and optimize envelope-shaping curves and time alignment. New features include stimulus/response functions with automatic time, amplitude and phase compensation, which simplify power amplifier measurements such as AM/AM, AM/PM and gain compression. Through compatibility with Agilent X-Series signal analyzers and Infiniium oscilloscopes, the software helps users achieve deeper insights into the performance of their envelope-tracking designs.

“By providing advanced signal-creation and analysis in the RF/physical layer, Agilent Signal Studio and 89600 VSA software can help developers thoroughly manage and understand signal behavior inside their latest designs,” said Andy Botka, vice president and general manager of Agilent’s Microwave Communications Division. “The new releases further illustrate our drive to deliver first-to-market capabilities that accelerate wireless communications.”

Agilent has also added functionality to its 89600 WLA software for analysis of LTE user equipment and base stations. In normal closed-loop operation, LTE UE and base stations form a complex, tightly coupled link. Agilent 89600 WLA software now provides simultaneous uplink and downlink analysis, making it easier for users to verify behavior and troubleshoot problems. New charting functions and enhanced sorting capabilities also make it easier to understand message sequences and correlate RF phenomena.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

Agilent Signal Studio

• Available July 2013
• N7624B-KFP Envelope Tracking, fixed, perpetual license: $1,000
• N7625B-KFP Envelope Tracking, fixed, perpetual license: $1,000

Agilent 89600 VSA software

• Available June 2013
• 89601B-200 Basic vector signal analysis, transportable license: $8,396

Agilent 89600 WLA software

• Available June 2013
• 89620B-002 LTE wireless link analysis, transportable license: $5,610

More information is available at www.agilent.com/find/lte_advanced and www.agilent.com/find/89600WLA. High-resolution images are available at www.agilent.com/find/advanced-lte_images and www.agilent.com/find/89600_wla_images .

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.

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