RF and Microwave Design Software Cuts Audio Receiver Development Time by 50 Percent

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — September 25, 2009 — Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced that Germany-based Sennheiser has successfully used Agilent’s Genesys RF and microwave design software and Momentum GX electromagnetic (EM) simulator to develop a series of third-generation, wireless multichannel audio receivers for on-stage professional vocal and musical performance.

Sennheiser developed its high-end receivers of the evolution wireless G3 series, which feature excellent RF sensitivity and interference immunity, in virtually half the time it would have taken using the company’s previous design methodology. Sennheiser is a world-leading manufacturer of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems.

Agilent’s Genesys software is an affordable, high-performance RF and microwave tool specifically created for the RF and microwave circuit board and subsystem designer. Its Momentum GX is a 3D-planar EM simulator that is fully integrated with Genesys.

Using these solutions, Sennheiser developed tunable high-order filters whose pass bands are synchronized over a wide tuning range (as defined by the first mixer), without using an input low noise amplifier. EM circuit co-simulation dramatically reduced the filters’ development time by allowing the EM interaction of the filter layout to be analyzed with the lumped circuit elements using Momentum GX integrated with Genesys’ linear and nonlinear simulators. Genesys’ accurate, scalable component library from Modelithics, enabled circuit optimization during co-simulation to meet exacting performance goals.

The Genesys software also enabled Sennheiser to realize a high-end audio receiver series with excellent uniform sensitivity over a wide tuning range and the superlative adjacent channel interference rejection needed for multichannel systems. Using Genesys, Sennheiser was able to:

• define and synthesize the high-order filter structure with layout implementation;
• import the actual RF filter layout and simulate with 3D planar EM simulation, via Momentum GX, to account for all layout interactions;
• perform EM-circuit co-simulation with circuit optimization for exact performance goals; and
• measure and verify the circuit against simulated design goals.

“The capabilities of Agilent’s Genesys and integrated Momentum GX solutions enabled us to effectively address our toughest design challenges and meet our specs more efficiently – all within half our typical development time,” said Carsten Bischoff, RF design engineer at Sennheiser R&D in Wennebostel, Germany. “Having the ability to develop more advanced and novel products, in less time, provides us a key competitive advantage and is crucial to ensuring we meet the needs of our customers.”

“The highly integrated design flow enabled by Genesys significantly reduces design iterations while minimizing development cost -- key benefits for any RF and microwave designer today,” said Gilbert Berger, sales executive at Agilent’s EEsof EDA division in Germany. “We are pleased to provide these benefits to Sennheiser and to play such a critical role in the launch of its third-generation series multichannel audio receivers.”

For information about the Genesys RF and microwave design software, go to www.agilent.com/find/eesof-genesys. Photos of the Genesys software and Sennheiser audio receivers are available at www.agilent.com/find/Genesys_AudioReceiver_images.

About Agilent EEsof EDA Software

Agilent EEsof EDA is the technology leader and industry’s leading supplier of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software for microwave, RF, high-frequency, high-speed, RF system, electronic system level (ESL), circuit, 3-D electromagnetic, physical design and device-modeling applications. Agilent EEsof EDA offers personal, value-priced products as well as enterprise-level solutions that save money, improve design flows and simplify EDA vendor relationships. Agilent EEsof EDA software is compatible with and is used to design the company’s test and measurement equipment. Additional information about all Agilent EDA software offerings is available at www.agilent.com/find/eesof.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company’s 18,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $5.8 billion in fiscal 2008. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

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