Plextek designed ICs used in Aeroflex production test equipment

Plextek's electronics design services include:FPGA design, ESCAN Radar, MMIC design, GPRS design, Communications product design, Microwave design Defence electronics, Electronic product design, RF design, DSP design, Telemetry system, System Integration,Communications system design, Due diligence

Press Release

Plextek designed ICs used in Aeroflex production test equipment

Custom ICs improve VSWR, manufacturability and reduce component count

Cambridge, 11th May 2005: Plextek has designed a number of custom ICs for test and measurement equipment vendor Aeroflex. The ICs were developed to enable the company to extend its signal generator product range to 6 GHz, which has now been realised in the 3416 Digital RF Signal Generator. The custom ICs enable highly reliable and fast switching operation and have helped to improve VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) and manufacturability while reducing the component count in Aeroflex's products.

Both Plextek and Aeroflex will be exhibiting at the IEEE MTT-S 2005 International Microwave Symposium in Long Beach, California, from 12-17 June, stand number 759. The 3416 generator will be available for demonstration on the Aeroflex stand.

Aeroflex commissioned Plextek to undertake the design of a set of high linearity, precision step attenuator ICs. This allowed the company to specify components that precisely met its requirements rather than relying on commercially available, standard product ranges. In addition to the 3416 Digital RF Signal Generator, the custom ICs, which are now proprietary Aeroflex devices, are being evaluated by various design groups within the company to determine their suitability for other product requirements.

The 3416 generator covers a frequency range of 250 kHz to 6 GHz and offers full digital, vector and analogue modulation. It is able to meet the demanding requirements of the latest 3-3.5G and 802.11a, b, and g communications standards.

"This project clearly demonstrates the potential advantages to OEMs of using sub-contract design services," commented Colin Smithers, managing director of Plextek. "The custom chips have not only enabled Aeroflex to extend its product range but have allowed the overall design of its generators to be improved."

About Aeroflex

Aeroflex Incorporated is a global provider of high technology solutions to the aerospace, defense and broadband communications markets. The company's diverse technologies allow it to design, develop, manufacture and market a broad range of test, measurement and microelectronic products. The company's common stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol ARXX and is included in the S&P SmallCap 600 index. Additional information concerning Aeroflex Incorporated can be found on the company's website: www.aeroflex.com.

For further information please contact:

Johanna Hughes, Plextek Ltd, London Road, Great Chesterford, Essex CB10 1NY.
Tel: +44 (0)1799 533200. Fax: +44 (0)1799 533201. Email: jlh@plextek.co.uk
Website: www.plextek.com

Press information:
Gerald Cross, EML, The Albany Boathouse, Lower Ham Road, Kingston, KT2 5BB.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8408 8000. Email: plextek@eml.com

Aeroflex contact information:
Tel: +44 (0)1438 742200 Fax: +44 (0)1438 727601. Email: info-test@aeroflex.com
Website: www.aeroflex.com

Issued 11/05/2005