Faster pulse

Agilent Technologies

today announced what it claims is the industry's fastest serial pulse data generator, with stimulus capability up to 13.5GHz. The Agilent 81142A reportedly enables reliable physical layer measurements for new, high-speed serial bus designs and for scientists conducting fundamental lab research.

Next-generation computing and communications applications, such as video-on-demand, are driving the need for transferring large amounts of data at ever-increasing transmission rates. Obtaining a high-quality characterisation of electronic component performance is a key step in designing reliable, high-performance systems. In addition, researchers are now designing next-generation electrical components to operate at speeds of 10GHz or more, a speed at which optical components are commonly used today.

Agilent says an accurate high-speed signal stimulus is crucial to ensuring signal integrity at these speeds. The Agilent 81142A allows engineers for the first time to conduct reliable, accurate physical layer tests by providing high-precision, low-jitter signals along with full control of data streams for performance and characterisation testing.