News | January 21, 2009

Anritsu Embeds AWR's Microwave Office High-Frequency Design Software Into Its Flagship VNA

AWR, the innovation leader in high-frequency electronic design automation (EDA), and Anritsu Company, a global provider of test and measurement solutions, recently announced AWR Connected™ for Anritsu, which makes Microwave Office high-frequency design software a standard component of Anritsu's new VectorStar MS4640A vector network analyzer (VNA). AWR Connected for Anritsu makes the MS4640A the first microwave instrument in the world to physically integrate a full suite of design tools within its firmware. Microwave Office software provides all the tools necessary for high-frequency IC, printed circuit board, and module design, including linear circuit simulators, electromagnetic (EM) analysis tools, and integrated schematic and layout – without leaving the measurement environment.

The VectorStar MS4640A delivers best-in-class frequency coverage of 70 kHz to 70 GHz, dynamic range of 100 dB at 70 GHz, and measurement speed of 20 ms/point, establishing a new performance benchmark for S-parameter measurements on RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave devices. VectorStar brings superior performance to traditional VNA markets, including aerospace/defense, satellite, commercial microwave communications, materials measurement, and advanced research.

Microwave Office is the industry's fastest growing RF and microwave design platform, and integrates the most powerful, innovative tools available to allow users to create designs in the shortest time with the greatest flexibility. From design capture and synthesis to simulation, optimization, layout, extraction, and verification, the Microwave Office design environment delivers the highest levels of accuracy and speed, along with the unique ability to seamlessly integrate third-party tools.

Blending Simulation and Measurement
Until now, simulation and measurement were discrete environments, although they are complementary functions that can reduce design time when used together. Adding high-frequency design software directly within the VectorStar MS4640A allows measured data to be easily embedded into the simulated design to accurately guide changes required in measurements and test fixtures or vice versa. The measurement effectively becomes a model within the circuit simulation, and the designer can quickly validate the measured results and either accept them and move on to another measurement or make changes to the design.

"VectorStar is raising the bar for all VNAs, just as Microwave Office software has raised the bar for EDA software," said Sherry Hess, vice president of marketing at AWR. "Integration of Microwave Office software as a standard feature in the VectorStar MS4640A complements this unique instrument's performance and brings an innovative paradigm to the world of microwave simulation and measurement."

"The collaboration between Anritsu and AWR brings together a groundbreaking test instrument with one of the most widely used simulation tools in the industry. We believe the integration of Microwave Office software into VectorStar will help engineers improve the time to market of their designs," said Harry Momjian, product manager at Anritsu.

Availability
Microwave Office software is a standard feature in the base model of the VectorStar MS4640A, which is available now. VectorStar customers are encouraged to register the AWR Connected for Anritsu software at www.awrcorp.com/Anritsu/VectorStar to receive upgrades, support, and an additional 1 year desktop seat of the software.

About AWR
AWR is the innovation leader in high-frequency EDA software that dramatically reduces development time and cost for products employed in wireless, high-speed wired broadband, aerospace and defense, and electro-optical applications. The company's core technology is unique among high-frequency EDA platforms in that it is inherently open and flexible. AWR continually strengthens its product portfolio with innovative new technologies that enable faster, more streamlined product development, the most recent of which are the ACE™, RFA™, and AXIEM™ tools. The privately-held company has thousands of active users and is headquartered at 1960 East Grand Avenue, Suite 430, El Segundo, Calif. 90245. For more information about AWR and its products, please visit www.awrcorp.com.

About Anritsu
Anritsu Company (www.us.anritsu.com) is the American subsidiary of Anritsu Corporation, a global provider of innovative communications test and measurement solutions for more than 110 years. Anritsu provides solutions for existing and next-generation wired and wireless communication systems and operators. Anritsu products include wireless, optical, microwave/RF, and digital instruments as well as operations support systems for R&D, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. Anritsu also provides precision microwave/RF components, optical devices, and high-speed electrical devices for communication products and systems. With offices throughout the world, Anritsu sells in over 90 countries with approximately 4,000 employees.

SOURCE: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.