When we think about weather, we know what it is. We feel it, worry about it, and talk about the heat, the moisture, the wind. Weather is dynamic, though mostly predictable because we can measure its conditions. We also know that the atmosphere involves large scale electrical activity. Cloud masses move above and below each other, generating enormous static-electricity … [Read more...]
Demystifying the Math of EMC
As we progress through the fold of technological developments, be it in commercial products, military advancements, automotive electronics, or any of the other industries where electromagnetic devices are developed, EMI will be present and EMC testing will be required. For those technical personnel who are walking into a laboratory for the first time, learning EMC because … [Read more...]
Troubleshooting Radiated Emissions at the EMC Test Lab
Note: This is an excerpt from the book, EMI Troubleshooting Cookbook for Product Designers, by Patrick André and Kenneth Wyatt. See Reference 1. Introduction Radiated emissions are by far your highest risk when performing compliance testing at the test facility. With all the high-speed digital circuitry inside electronic products today, it becomes all too easy for harmonics … [Read more...]
Does Your Automotive Printed Circuit Board Have Too Many Grounds?
Abstract One of the most widespread design defects in automotive printed circuit boards is the lack of an established high-frequency reference ground. This problem is exacerbated by a tendency among automotive design engineers to cut up solid current return planes in an attempt to establish “noisy” and “quiet” grounds. Introduction Too often, the designers of automotive … [Read more...]
Design for EMC Compliance Essentials
Introduction While unrealistic to discuss all aspects of product design in a single article, I’ll try to describe the most common design issues I find in the hundreds of client products I’ve had a chance to work on. These issues generally include PC board design, cables, shielding, and filtering. More detailed information may be found in the Reference section below. As … [Read more...]
SCHURTER Classic Power Entry Module with Circuit Breaker Gets Even Better
Santa Rosa, California, November 30th, 2023 – SCHURTER series DG11 and DG12 with and without main filters feature a first-of-its-kind ingress protection solution for IEC inlets, consisting of a seal gasket between the connector and mating V-Lock power cord. The blue colored latch of the V-Lock power cord and blue inlay of the appliance inlet indicate that the two have been … [Read more...]
Connectivity for Off-Road Vehicles – Part 3
Zonal Architecture for Vehicles Zonal architecture is the name given for the new structure of vehicle electronics. In contrast to a traditional vehicle in which systems are grouped by function, zonal architecture offers a more efficient solution. The functions within a vehicle are grouped by location into several zones. Each zone is responsible for the devices that are … [Read more...]
Connectivity for Off-Road Vehicles – Part 2
The Future of Vehicle Design The next generation of vehicle design will be influenced by four key trends. The first is electrification – the adoption of hybrid and all-electric power as alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. The use of electric power by commercial vehicles has become commonplace in the urban environment, where operators have easy access to charging … [Read more...]
Connectivity for Off-Road Vehicles – Part 1
Introduction With over 1.4 billion cars worldwide, it is easy to assume that the only product of the automotive industry is the family car. However, the market for industrial, commercial, and agricultural vehicles is not only growing, but it is also embracing the latest technology. Even as these vehicles are becoming increasingly sophisticated, a significant number will … [Read more...]
The Voltage Rises
Santa Rosa, California, July 24th, 2023 – In the past, automobiles had minimal electrical systems and relied mainly on mechanical systems. Today, there are many electrical functions such as seat heating and cooling, comfort systems, and assistance systems that draw a lot of electricity from the battery. In a 12V vehicle electrical system, higher and higher currents must flow. … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 11
- Next Page »
