TMCnet News
Aeroflex adds FM and ZigBee analysis to PXI 3000 Series(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Stevenage, UK -- Aeroflex Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aeroflex Holding Corp. (NYSE:ARX), announced today the addition of the Generic Measurement Suite to its PXI 3000 Series of RF modular instruments, enhancing the capability of this fast, flexible modular range of RF test equipment to meet the current and future testing needs of wireless communication devices. The Generic Measurement Suite, designated PXI 3030 Option 111, is new software that enables production test and development engineers using Aeroflex PXI 3000 systems to perform a variety of generic analyses of analog and digital modulated signals. The initial release supports the analysis of broadcast FM signals as well as Phase Shift Keying (PSK ) modulation types including Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), Quadrature Phase-Shift-Keying (QPSK), and Offset-Quadrature Phase-Shift-Keying (OQPSK) for example as used by ZigBee devices. Future software releases will expand upon this capability. The addition of the Generic Measurement Suite to PXI 3000 provides users with a versatile and affordable platform for general purpose analog and digital communications test. commented Tim Carey, product manager at Aeroflex Limited. This first release, although targeted at specific applications in FM broadcast analysis and ZigBee analysis, is a generic tool kit with new modulation analysis functions and additional extensions to PXI 3000s underlying spectral measurement functionality to correctly analyse continuous or discontinuous RF signals. ZigBee analysis is addressed by configuring the appropriate parameter settings for the measurement of modulation, power, and spectrum parameters (e.g. ACP, SEM, OBW) specific to ZigBee. These same parameters can easily be configured to analyze other PSK based systems. Our initial focus on FM broadcast and PSK modulated signals is in direct response to two market drivers increased integration of FM broadcast transmission and reception within cellular, WLAN or WPAN communications devices, and the growth in popularity of ZigBee as a WPAN standard. In supporting these additional standards, Aeroflex continues to reaffirm its leadership in modular instrumentation, with the industrys most comprehensive offering of low cost RF PXI hardware and software for multiple communications standards, Carey said. The ZigBee standard presents some measurement challenges in that to correctly characterize the signal requires the ability to perform both modulation and spectral analysis of discontinuous RF power bursts. The flexibility of the Generic Measurement Suite provides the required functionality to analyze ZigBee RF burst modulation and spectrum parameters simultaneously. The ZigBee standard has been in use for a number of years, mainly in home and building automation, smart energy and healthcare applications. It is now being extended to mobile handsets and portable devices to enable a wide variety of value-added services, including mobile gaming, location-based services, secure mobile payments, mobile advertising, and peer-to-peer data-sharing services. These developments are leading to the requirement to test ZigBee performance in alongside cellular standards, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and broadcast FM in mobile devices, an application that is ideally suited to a multi-communications test platform such as PXI 3000. Among the wide range of measurements supported by the Generic Measurement Suite are Modulation Accuracy, Adjacent Channel Power (ACP), Occupied Bandwidth, and spectrum mask measurements for continuous or burst signals. Entirely new capabilities include broadcast FM deviation accuracy measurements for mono or stereo signals, and associated analysis of demodulated audio for Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), Signal-to-Noise and Distortion ratio (SINAD), Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) and Stereo isolation measurements. The software defined functionality of Aeroflex PXI 3000 allows the user to maximize re-use of the modular equipment. This flexibility allows R&D engineers to accelerate test system integration for design verification, resulting in faster time to market, while for manufacturing and service the cost of test is reduced by lowering capital investment with the use of reconfigurable, scalable solutions. Availability The new Generic Measurement Suite for the PXI 3000 Series (3030 Option 111) is now available for order. For more information, contact your local Aeroflex sales office by visiting or calling Aeroflex Sales at (800) 835-2352 [US], +44 (0)1438 742200 [UK] or [email protected]. About Aeroflex Aeroflex Incorporated is a leading global provider of microelectronic components and test and measurement equipment used by companies in the space, avionics, defense, commercial wireless communications, medical and other markets. Forward Looking Statements All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release regarding Aeroflexs business strategy and plans and objectives of its management for future operations are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend and similar expressions, as they relate to Aeroflex or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of Aeroflexs management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to its management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including but not limited to, adverse developments in the global economy; the inability to make payments on our significant indebtedness, dependence on growth in customers businesses; the inability to remain competitive in the markets Aeroflex serves; the inability to continue to develop, manufacture and market innovative, customized products and services that meet customer requirements for performance and reliability; any failure of suppliers to provide raw materials and/or properly functioning component parts; the termination of key contracts, including technology license agreements, or loss of key customers; the inability to protect intellectual property; the failure to comply with regulations such as International Traffic in Arms Regulations and any changes in regulations; the failure to realize anticipated benefits from completed acquisitions, divestitures or restructurings, or the possibility that such acquisitions, divestitures or restructurings could adversely affect Aeroflex; the loss of key employees; exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risks; and terrorist acts or acts of war. Such statements reflect the current views of management with respect to the future and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Aeroflex does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking statements. ((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [email protected])). (c) 2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |