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News and New Products
VNA analyzes active-device nonlinear behavior
By Rick Nelson, Editor-in-Chief -- EDN, 6/19/2008
Agilent Technologies has announced NVNA (nonlinear-vector-network-analyzer) capability for its PNA-X microwave-network analyzer, which operates from 10 MHz to 26.5 GHz. Requiring minimal external hardware, the Agilent NVNA software effectively converts a four-port PNA-X into a high-performance nonlinear analyzer. Featuring nonlinear component characterization, nonlinear pulse-envelope-domain capabilities, and support for nonlinear parameters that Agilent calls X parameters, the new capability targets R&D engineers and scientists researching and designing active-RF components.
The instrument’s new X-parameter support extends linear S-parameter-measurement capability into the nonlinear operating region and enables an accurate portrayal of both nonlinear-device and cascaded-nonlinear-device behavior using measurement-based data. You can use the X parameters in Agilent’s Advanced Design System software to simulate and design using nonlinear components, modules, and systems.
One of the NVNA’s key capabilities is its ability to measure the calibrated amplitude and cross-frequency relative phase of measured spectra from 10 MHz to 26.5 GHz, including the fundamental, harmonics, and cross-frequency products. As a result, engineers can better understand and control the nonlinear behavior of their devices under test. The unit can display data in the time, frequency, power, or user-defined custom domains, providing additional insight into the nonlinear behavior of components.
The NVNA also provides a nonlinear pulse-envelope-domain measurement, which enables researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the memory effects their devices exhibit by displaying harmonic-pulse envelopes. The NVNA can display both the amplitude and the phase of the pulse in the time domain, which shows the changes over time. The base price for the nonlinear-support option for the N5242A PNA-X microwave-network analyzer is $56,000.
