New test platform targets wireless networking

Agilent Technologies Inc. has announced a new test platform that enables system-level testing for wireless networking and cellular communications systems. The company said its Connected Solutions Workbench makes RF hardware measurements such as swept error vector magnitude , complementary cumulative density function and bit error rate analysis possible for prototype hardware.

“As design teams move from simulation to building prototypes and testing parts, Connected Solutions Workbench can shorten the overall design cycle by eliminating complex test construction or development of custom test signals or data processing,” said Jim McGillivary, general manager of Agilent’s EEsof EDA division. “This unique test capability is not available from any other EDA or test company, and early feedback from customers has been very positive.”

In the past, test systems have been configured using Agilent’s Advanced Design System (ADS) EDA software and test instrumentation, which required detailed knowledge of both the wireless system and the EDA software. The company said the new test system encapsulates tests into easy-to-use pre-configured setups without the need for extensive familiarity with the wireless system under test, EDA software knowledge or programming skills.

Connected Solutions Workbench includes pre-configured test setups that support wireless standards such as Mobile WiMax and WLAN 802.11a/b/g, ultrawideband and third-generation partnership program. For custom tests using communications standards that are not supported, R&D engineers can create custom test setups in ADS, export them to Connected Solutions Workbench, and share them with test engineers, making the tests available in the general lab environment to verify the prototype’s performance prior to entering the manufacturing phase.

The new test system runs independently in the PC environment and provides the high-level functions to automate the test and to perform signal creation, parameter sweeps, signal recovery, signal measurement and data handling, Agilent said, eliminating the need for programming languages or outmoded instrument control commands.

The Agilent Connected Solutions Workbench is already available, with prices starting at $15,000.

Agilent will demonstrate its Mix Signal Oscilloscope and other mix signal debugging and searching tools at the 6th Annual Embedded Systems Conference-Taiwan on August 17-18 at the Taipei International Convention Center.