Keithley Instruments Inc., a leader in solutions for emerging measurement needs, announced that it is developing a WiMAX device production test solution for two 802.16e WiMAX devices from Fujitsu Microelectronics Ltd. This WiMAX RF SISO/MIMO manufacturing test configuration features Keithley's award-winning RF test solutions, the model 2820 RF Vector Signal Analyzer and Model 2920 RF Vector Signal Generator. The configuration will enable Fujitsu Microelectronics to perform a set of Tx and Rx test sequences quickly and efficiently. The system's easy expandability also will offer Fujitsu the unique ability to test its WiMAX devices in both SISO and MIMO mode.

Keithley's WiMAX solution is built on a next-generation hardware platform that enables the simple and inexpensive addition of support for new signal standards and methodologies (such as 802.16e mobile WiMAX Wave 2 testing of up to 8x8 MIMO channels) without requiring users to purchase expensive hardware upgrades or new instrumentation. Keithley MIMO systems based on the Keithley Model 2820 RF Vector Signal Analyzer and model 2920 RF Vector Signal Generator offer unprecedented time and phase synchronization of MIMO signals. For example, such a system can accommodate the generation of MIMO signals with under 1 ns of timing alignment and less than 0.1° of phase jitter. Similarly, the system's multiple model 2820 analyzers can acquire signals synchronized to fewer than 250 ps of time record jitter. Keithley leads the market in offering innovative MIMO test solutions that provide a tightly integrated hardware and software solution for 802.11n WLAN and 802.16 Wave 2 devices.

"WiMAX is quite possibly the most complex modulation scheme in the world, encompassing multiple technologies, and this complexity has made testing a challenge for manufacturers," said Mark Hoersten, vice president of business development for Keithley. "Keithley's WiMAX test solution will enable Fujitsu Microelectronics to test in any frequency band between 400 MHz and 6 GHz faster and more easily than any competing offering."

"Keithley has demonstrated a solid understanding of our WiMAX testing application and requirements," said Makoto Awaga, general manager of the Mobile Solution Division at Fujitsu Microelectronics Ltd. "They have provided us with a powerful and integrated WiMAX solution that makes very high-speed measurements at the high accuracy levels that are beneficial to production testing."