LitePoint targets MIMO, WiMedia, and GPS
-- Test & Measurement World, 7/10/2008 9:31:00 AM
LitePoint has launched three new systems for testing to four wireless standards. The new IQnxnplus system offers multi-steam signal capabilities for WiFi and WiMAX MIMO development. IQultra, an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) EVM test system, covers both development and manufacturing testing of UWB devices. And the IQnav test system is aimed at high-volume manufacturing testing of the proliferating, embedded, GPS-equipped devices. “From our position of strength in WiFi and WiFi MIMO testing, we are expanding into UWB and GPS markets with uniquely competitive offerings,” stated Benny Madsen, LitePoint’s CEO.
LitePoint IQnxnplus test systems provide a modular approach for MIMO R&D testing. Each module contains its own vector signal analyzer (VSA) and vector signal generator (VSG). A synchronizer subsystem ensures that the modules work in lockstep. One can develop test programs on this system and then port them to a single IQmax tester for production testing.
The systems can be configured from a 1x1 (for example, one module and a synchronizer subsystem) to a 4x4 (for example, four modules and a synchronizer subsystem). The modules support WiFi and WiMAX frequency ranges of 2.15 to 2.7 GHz, 3.3 to 3.8 GHz, and 4.9 to 6.0 GHz. The included graphical user interfaces (GUIs)—called IQsignal for WiFi and IQsignal for WiMAX—provide analysis and display capabilities for single, multi-stream, and beam-forming adaptive-antenna functionality testing.
Because the IQnxnplus system shares the same architecture as LitePoint’s IQmax manufacturing test system, there is consistency across development and manufacturing test processes.
The IQultra WiMedia test system features a special-purpose vector signal analyzer (VSA) combined with an attenuator for UWB receive testing. The system can capture and analyze all WiMedia band groups (1 to 6) and time frequency codes (TFCs 1-10).
“There’s no other wireless standard besides UWB that spans over 7 GHz of spectrum with signal bandwidths of 528 MHz and maximum power of -41 dBm per MHz,” said John Lukez, head of product management at LitePoint. “Testing UWB poses a choice between very expensive instruments, or very long test times, or both. But IQultra… enables single-signal capture and analysis without posing frequency or signal-bandwidth constraints. This allows you to do quality measurements, like EVM, which is critical to verifying the high data-rate capabilities of UWB.”
The new systems come with LitePoint’s IQsignal for WiMedia graphical user interface (GUI), which controls the unit and supports signal analysis. Using IQultra’s C++ software application program interface (API), users can quickly and easily create automated test programs.
LitePoint’s IQultra WiMedia test system comes in two versions: IQultra-300 for triple-band capture and IQultra-100 for single-band capture. Both support from 3.1 to 10.6 GHz and support MB-OFDM PHY layer specification version 1.2.
The multichannel IQnav for manufacturing test of GPS-equipped devices enables both C/No measurements and location-fix test to be performed in a single connection to the device under test (DUT). In addition, the IQnav offers synthetic power sweep (SPS) capabilities where up to six C/No measurements are made simultaneously. Finally, the price of a 6-channel IQnav compares with that of competitive single-channel testers, thus adding capabilities without affecting acquisition costs.
IQnav is available in 1- and 6-channel models, both supporting L1 GPS frequencies (1575.42 MHz) over a power range of -60 to -145 dBm. The IQnav features specialized trigger capabilities that support testing of assisted GPS (A-GPS).
IQnxnplus systems can be ordered with a choice of configuration from a single module (IQmax-750) to a 2-module tester plus synchronizer. All configurations are equipped to test both WiFi and WiMAX devices. Prices for IQnxnplus systems will range from $55,000 for a single IQmax-750 to $129,000 for two IQmax-750s and a Multi-Stream MIMO subsystem. Systems can be configured up to a 4x4 test configuration.
The price for a triple-band capture IQultra WiMedia test system, IQultra-300, will be $55,000. The single-band model, IQultra-100, is price-tagged at $42,300.
The IQnav 6-channel GPS manufacturing test solution has a single-unit price of $12,500; the single-channel version will sell for $9500.
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