TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Introduces Industry's First +125 C Plug-and-Play Multiturn Absolute Encoder Module.

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Combo Module Offers -40 to +125 C Operating Temperature for Harsh Industrial Environments; Lowers Manufacturing Costs Up to 40 Percent

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today introduced a module that adds motor shaft revolution-count, and higher operating temperature (-40 to +125 C) capabilities to the Agilent AEAS-7000, the industry's smallest high-speed, plug-and-play absolute encoder. Absolute encoders are used in machines that need information about the position of components before any motion occurs, including servo motors, robotics, machine tools and wafer handlers operating in harsh environments. Agilent provides the industry's only combination module approach for producing a complete housed encoder.

The combination of the AEAS-7000 absolute encoder and AEAT-84AD shaft revolution-count module is used to assemble a complete housed absolute encoder solution. This modular approach reduces the number of assembly steps to four, versus other approaches that require as many as eight. The encoder combination also dramatically reduces the number of components needed to produce a housed encoder from approximately 120 to as few as four, decreasing inventory, manufacturing and purchasing costs by as much as 40 percent. In addition, it reduces manufacturer design cycles by 50 percent by eliminating the need for multiple alignment adjustments with its industry-first, plug-and-play feature.

"Agilent is the only supplier of modular absolute encoders with revolution-counting, and can now offer the product with higher temperature capabilities for use in industrial robots and other machine tools for heavy industry," said Chong Khin Mien, vice president for the Motion Control Products Division in Agilent's Semiconductor Products Group. "This new product offers a clear value proposition by enabling a low-cost, user-friendly solution that is easily integrated into our customers applications."

The overall dimensions of the combination of an AEAS-7000 encoder with an AEAT-84AD series module are 55 mm maximum diameter and 53 mm typical body height. This combination is ideal for creating a compact house absolute encoder. The AEAS-7000/AEAT-84AD combination is capable of combined resolution from 25 to 30 bits. The AEAS-7000 single-turn position resolutions range from 13 bits to 16 bits, and the AEAT-84AD is capable of 12- or 14-bit revolution-count resolution. Two versions of the revolution-count module are available:

--The AEAT-84AD-LBSF0 with 14-bit resolution is capable of counting up to 16,384 motor shaft revolutions.

--The AEAT-84AD-LBSC0 with 12-bit resolution is capable of counting up to 4,096 revolutions.

AEAS-7000/AEAT-84AD Features

In addition to higher operating temperature, reduced part count and assembly time, the AEAS-7000/AEAT-84AD offers other important features:

--16 MHz serial data output for high-speed applications such as servo motors operating at up to 12,000 rpm

--Ease of synchronization with AEAS-7000 using the Agilent MUIC integrator chip

--Elimination of manual hunting for most- and least-significant bits (MSB and LSB)

--Reduction of codewheel misalignment errors due to gray code correction to +/- 1 LSB

--Serial synchronous five-wire interface

U.S. Pricing and Availability

Both the AEAS-7000 encoders and AEAT-84AD modules are available now through Agilent's direct sales channel and worldwide distribution partners. Pricing of the 30-bit resolution combination is $150 in 100-unit quantities.

Further information about Agilent's motion control products is available at www.agilent.com/view/motioncontrol.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 28,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $7.2 billion in fiscal year 2004. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

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