Bob DeLisi Principle Engineer – EMC Underwriters laboratories Inc. Michael Windler Operations Manager NA EMC Underwriters laboratories Inc. Introduction Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing and certification has become an integral part of product regulatory compliance. With the growing number of wireless communications devices being introduced into the RF … [Read more...]
Using A Transmission Line Model To Analyze Shield Current Distribution Resulting From Bulk Current Injection (BCI)
Arthur J. Glazar, Life Senior Member IEEE Background Radio frequency (RF) signal energy is normally confined to the interior of a coaxial cable. RF currents on the surface of a cable shield are undesirable and generally indicate a problem. Shield surface currents can occur as the result of conducted susceptibility (CS) or radiated susceptibility (RS). Whatever their … [Read more...]
Accuracy of Flickermeters – Round Robin Results
Have the new standards improved measurement accuracy? Ken Hall Hewlett Packard, Roseville, CA, USA This article presents the results of an inter-laboratory comparison of a flicker measurement system. In the process of evaluating replacement equipment that met the new international requirements of IEC 61000-3-2,1 harmonics, and IEC 61000-3-3,2 voltage fluctuations commonly … [Read more...]
Options for North American Product Compliance
Jack Black D.L.S. Electronic Systems, Inc. Wheeling, IL Manufacturers and distributors of electronic and electrical devices are required to meet various product safety and EMC standards established by the United States and Canada. They may be asked to show proof of compliance for these products by residential and workplace end-users. Today, there are multiple options for … [Read more...]
Practical Considerations in Upgrading RF Immunity Test Systems to 6 GHz
Pat Moore, MILMEGA Ltd., UK Introduction With the recent release of IEC61000-4-3 Edition 3, many EMC test houses are actively researching the availability of equipment capable of meeting the testing demands presented by the new 6 GHz upper frequency limit. The conventional solution offered by EMC equipment suppliers has several major disadvantages, particularly as regards … [Read more...]
Fibrous Dust Testing – Genesis and Successful Reproduction of a Menace
Testing services and equipment are now available to analyze designs for fibrous dust susceptibility. Dan Willemin Professional Testing Incorporated, Round Rock, TX, USA Accumulations of dusts have always hampered cooling, to some extent, but dusts and electronics cooling problems of the past usually involved industrial or military applications. To understand why dust has … [Read more...]
Initial Evaluation of Proposed >1-GHz Site Validation Standards
All methods for validating a test site must provide the same unambiguous result indicating that the site meets or does not meet requirements. Ken Hall Hewlett Packard, Roseville, Calif., USA Site validation above 1 GHz has traditionally been done by extending the ANSI C63.4 Normalized Site Attenuation (NSA) requirements to the upper frequency a customer might request for … [Read more...]
Solving Emission Problems with EMI/RFI-Suppressing Connectors
“Swap-in” connectors can be key in meeting tough emission specifications such as EN 55024 and CISPR 24 Dr. William E. Kunz Regal Electronics, Inc. Sunnyvale, California INTRODUCTION With clock frequencies of a few hundred megahertz, today’s electronic systems are using pulse edges in the sub-nanosecond range. Networking interfaces deliver data rates approaching 1000 Mbits/s … [Read more...]
Normalized Site Attenuation (NSA) for Semi-Anechoic Chambers
A new modeling technique takes into account the near-field effect. Gwenaël Dun and Jean-François Rosnarho SIEPEL, La Trinité sur Mer, France The quality of a semi-anechoic chamber for radio-noise emission measurements can be deduced from the difference between the attenuation in an Open Area Test Site (OATS), called Normalized Site Attenuation (NSA), and this same … [Read more...]
Developments in Lightning Testing Standards for Aircraft Avionics
Test standards are running behind the fast pace of technological change. Nicholas Wright EMC-Partner, Laufen, Switzerland INTRODUCTION Escalating costs and increasing complexity in modern aircraft has ensured that aircraft design and assembly is now a global phenomena. Today, subsystems can be designed, manufactured, and tested at any location around the world, then … [Read more...]
