As part of a larger strategy to expand its overall high-frequency EDA offering, this week at European Microwave Conference, Agilent Technologies announced that it has inked a source code licensing agreement with State College, Penn.-based Remcom, a provider of time-domain 3D electromagnetic (EM) simulation technology. While Remcom’s technology has many applications, it is used extensively for antenna design of wireless appliances.

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This multiyear agreement is an expansion of Agilent EEsof EDA division's strategy to develop an extensive 3D EM product line, which began earlier this year with the announcement and release of the Electromagnetic Design System (EMDS) 3D EM simulator.

"Since we announced our 3D EM plans earlier this year, customer response has been extremely positive," said Jim McGillivary, vice president and general manager of Agilent's EEsof EDA division. "Customers want choices that are not offered by today's 3D EM products. And they consistently ask for and expect Agilent to offer integrated and leading simulation technology in all areas, including 3D EM."

"We learned of Remcom's technology through its extensive use by a few of our industry-leading customers," said Charles Plott, product planning manager for Agilent EEsof. "Their technology complements the 3D finite element technology in EMDS as well as the 3D-planar method-of-moments technology in Momentum available from Agilent EEsof."

As a result of this agreement, Agilent will expand EM research and development activities in Ghent, Belgium, and expects to begin offering new finite difference time-domain (FDTD) products for antenna designers later this year through its worldwide sales and marketing organizations. Agilent also expects to offer investment protection options to customers who purchase EMDS between now and when a new FDTD product becomes available.