Agilent Technologies to Demonstrate Industry-First USB 3.0 Tests with NEC Electronics’ USB 3.0 Host Controller

TOKYO -- May 20, 2009 -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today will demonstrate its SuperSpeed USB test solution portfolio here at the Developers Conference. This is the industry’s first high-performance SuperSpeed USB test fixture coupled with NEC Electronics’ USB 3.0 host controller. Agilent will also demonstrate its complete USB 3.0 portfolio, which consists of fully automated transmitter and receiver tests that are key to efficient compliance tests and systematic product characterization of SuperSpeed USB.

USB 3.0 is an update of the well-established, widespread standard driven by USB Implementers Forum Inc., a non-profit corporation founded by the group of companies that developed the Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification. USB receiver jitter tolerance testing became mandatory with the recent release of the USB 3.0 specification version 1.0. USB 3.0 is also known as SuperSpeed USB.

NEC Electronics’ USB 3.0 host controller is the industry’s first USB 3.0 product. NEC Electronics offers both USB 3.0 host controller and device silicon for end-to-end product coverage of the USB 3.0 market. The company has completed full receiver jitter tolerance test verification as required by the USB 3.0 specification and transmitter test requirements.

Agilent offers a complete USB 3.0 test solution for transmitter and receiver test, comprised of a DSA91304A Infiniium oscilloscope, a USB 3.0 test fixture, a pattern checker and pattern generator based on the J-BERT N4903A/B high-performance serial BERT, an N5181A MXG RF analog signal generator, 81150A pulse function arbitrary noise generator and the N5990A test automation software platform from Agilent’s partner BitifEye Digital Test Solutions.

"With this live demo of the USB 3.0 transmitter and receiver test products using a customer device, Agilent proves its leading position,” said Jim Choate, USB program manager with Agilent’s Digital Test Division. "We are working closely with developers of SuperSpeed USB technology to ensure our solutions completely meet the needs of engineers testing for USB 3.0 compliance.”

"NEC Electronics has been a proven leader in USB product and IP development and we appreciate the cooperation with Agilent very much,” said Katsuhiko Itagaki, general manager, SoC Systems Division, NEC Electronics Corp. "We are looking forward to introducing our industry’s leading accomplishment though this joint demonstration.”

Benefits of Agilent’s USB 3.0 transmitter and receiver test solutions include:

• comprehensive transmitter and receiver design and characterization test capability;
• investment protection due to signal generation and analysis capability for the bus standards USB, PCI Express®, SATA and DisplayPort testing; and
• easy, accurate and fast compliance testing.
  

U.S. Pricing and Availability

Pricing for Agilent’s DSO91304A Infiniium oscilloscope USB 3.0 transmitter test solution starts at $102,819. The USB SuperSpeed pattern generator is based on the Agilent J-BERT N4903A/B and N5990A test automation software platform. Pricing starts at $137,000. The products are available now.

Additional information on Agilent’s USB 3.0 compliance test solution is available at www.agilent.com/find/usb.

About USB

USB Implementers Forum, Inc. (USB-IF) is a non-profit corporation founded by the group of companies that developed the Universal Serial Bus specification. The USB-IF was formed to provide a support organization and forum for the advancement and adoption of Universal Serial Bus technology. The Forum facilitates the development of high-quality compatible USB peripherals (devices), and promotes the benefits of USB and the quality of products that have passed compliance testing. More information can be found at www.usb.org.

Agilent’s Digital Test Standards Program

Agilent’s solutions for digital applications are driven and supported by Agilent experts that are involved in the various international standard committees. Agilent’s experts are active in the Joint Electronic Devices Engineering Council (JEDEC), PCI Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG®), Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO), USB-Implementers Forum (USB-IF), Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) Alliance and many others. The company’s involvement in these standards groups and their related workshops, plugfests and seminars enables Agilent to bring the right solutions to the market when customers need them.

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 19,000 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.