June 20, 2012 -- Agilent Technologies, Inc. today announced that its ongoing collaboration with Thales, a technology leader in the defense, security, aerospace and transport markets, has expanded the reach of X-parameters technology to wideband super-heterodyne receiver applications.

X-parameters represent an entirely new category of non-linear network parameters for high-frequency design. They let engineers accurately characterize linear and non-linear components, circuits or systems, and provide fast and reliable behavioral modeling; capabilities vital to designing high-performance RF modules and system-in-package (SiP) components. X-parameters can be generated either from simulation with Agilent's Advanced Design System (ADS) EDA software or from Agilent's test and measurement instruments, for faster development of communications products.

Agilent's collaboration with Thales on non-linear behavioral models began in 2005. The primary goal of the effort was for Thales to validate the use of the technology for RF system design. As a result of this collaboration, Thales successfully developed a high-accuracy spurious-analysis methodology based on X-parameter models.

The Thales technique supports arbitrary topology and has been tested for RF systems with single-frequency conversion. Subsequent spurious analysis of such systems has yielded excellent results. In addition, the accuracy and dynamic range of the spectral content far surpassed results obtained using other currently available industry methods and models.

"We have been able to extend the application of X-parameters to single-frequency conversion modeling, something that traditionally would have been done using conventional non-linear behavioral models," said Jean Paul Martinaud, Hardware Modeling Manager with Thales Defence Mission Systems Division. "We look forward to continuing this collaborative effort and working toward further extending the use of X-parameters to more complex systems."