DO-160F: Environmental Conditions & Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment was issued on December 6. 2007 and was prepared by RTCA Special Committee 135. This document provides standard procedures and environmental test criteria for testing airborne equipment for the entire spectrum of aircraft from light general aviation aircraft and helicopters through the "Jumbo Jets" … [Read more...]
Standards
An Overview of C95.1-2005 – IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz
The recommendations of C95.1-2005 protect against established adverse health effects in human beings. Daniel D. Hoolihan Hoolihan EMC Consulting Lindstrom, MN INTRODUCTION A new edition of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard C95.1 was released in early 2006 and has been available for about a year. The new standard is a revision of the 1999 … [Read more...]
Product Environmental Regulatory Compliance: The Current Status Worldwide
The drive to protect the environment and to conserve natural resources has brought about a proliferation of regulations. Tony Dibiase Spec-Hardened Systems, Rochester, NY, USA INTRODUCTION As the clamor for better and newer electronic products continues worldwide, there is increased concern over landfills accepting growing “mountains” of discarded electronic products. … [Read more...]
Ensuring Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
The IEC coordinates a worldwide system for testing electrical equipment. International Electrotechnical Commission Geneva, Switzerland How does a hospital manager know that equipment such as a CAT scanner, when operating, will not affect nearby electromagnetic systems in the building, such as an X-ray machine, thereby potentially putting patients at risk? Since the early … [Read more...]
Test Beyond the Specs: Why Test Higher in Frequency and Field Strength?
IEC 61000-4-3: 2006's frequency escalation Jason Smith and Pat Malloy AR RF/Microwave Instrumentation, Souderton, PA, USA An increasing number of new and proposed EMC standards are pushing the upper frequency test limits higher into the microwave spectrum. The latest EMC standard released, IEC 61000-4-3: 2006, is no exception. The upper frequency test limit has been increased … [Read more...]
New EMC Directive: 2004/1081 EC
Manufacturers should familiarize themselves with the additional requirements and the alterations found in the new EMC directive Manjula Bhati Electronics Regional Test Laboratory (West), Indian Ministry of Information Technology, Mumbai, India The current EMC directive 89/336/EEC, which was first published in 1989 and then succeeded by four amendments has been rewritten as … [Read more...]
CISPR Basic Standard on Measuring Radio Disturbance and Immunity (11/15/2007)
CISPR 16-1-1 Ed. 2.2 is a part of CISPR designated as a basic standard. It specifies the characteristics and performances equipment for the measurement of radio disturbance voltages, currents, and fields in the frequency range of 9 kHz to 18 GHz. Also, requirements are specified for specialized equipment for discontinuous disturbance measurements. The requirements include the … [Read more...]
CISPR Amendment Deals with Radio Disturbance and Immunity Measuring Apparatus
CISPR 16-1-4-am1 is an amended specification for radio disturbance and immunity measuring apparatus and methods. This amendment includes ancillary apparatus and radiated disturbances. For more information, or to purchase this amendment, go to the International Electrotechnical Commission's website.Wondering what the correct application of a standard involves? Let your peers … [Read more...]
Reverberation Chamber for EMC Testing
The reverberation chamber provides the most realistic simulation/equivalency for electronics functioning within a cavity. Er-Ping Li and Xing-Chang Wei Electromagnetic Labs, Institute of High Performance Computing, Singapore INTRODUCTION The problem is familiar, but growing. The widespread and ever-growing use of electronic devices with high-speed components increases the … [Read more...]
Certification Programs: What’s Behind the Terminology?
The Merriam-Webster® Dictionary defines “certify” as “to attest authoritatively, to confirm, to present in a formal communication, or to attest as being true.” Consider the implications of these words and phrases—confirm, attest, true, or meeting a standard. These are serious statements. These terms are typically used by laboratories when they refer to data they are providing … [Read more...]
