EMC testing reveals to engineers whether the gadget is suitable for the electromagnetic environment in which it is located and also determines if the device can cause electromagnetic interference or EMI in actual situations. If there was no EMC tests, the possibility of helicopters flying off into the skies, breathing machines turning silent, or your phone not being able to connect would rise. These machines all depend on technology that can be affected by rogue electromagnetic energy. Therefore, they must need to undergo EMC tests to meet the specifications for IEC, CISPR and MIL-STDs (military standards) and ensure EMI conformance.
What exactly is EMC?
Electromagnetic compatibility, also called EMC is a subfield of electrical engineering focusing on testing for EMI/EMC. Jets, gaming systems , and automobiles, as an example are all required to be designed to guard against damaging electromagnetic interference or electromagnetic interference. Even more alarming, the products themselves could cause electromagnetic interference. Devices that interfere with the signals of cell towers or harms airplanes could lead to companies paying millions of dollars in lawsuits or fines.
The EMI EMC Testing Procedure
Locate the standards. “What standards will apply for my particular product?” is the first question you must be asking yourself. There are many variations between the types of products and location standards aren’t easy to determine or pinpoint and failing to adhere to an EMC standard could be catastrophic for manufacturers. Get in touch with the EMC test lab to find out the standards you must be able to meet prior to sending your product or developing the EMC test plan for yourself in case you are familiar with the standards.
Conduct a pre-compliant testing. You want your devices to have flawless EMI immunity and generate no more energy that standards require prior to being officially tested. Make sure your devices are tested in full-compliance testing sites such as anechoic chambers and enclosures for RF shields. Rent fully-compliant testers, such as EMI receivers. The product you test evaluated, you must test the product’s resistance to EMI as well as it’s EMI emissions it creates as discussed within the following sections. Renting EMC-compliant test equipment from ATEC can save you time and money in the process of ensuring compliance. We are ISO-9001 certified as well as ISO 17025 accredited in calibration by the A2LA.
Select the EMC laboratory for testing. Make sure to select one EMC laboratory that has been A2LA 17025-accredited. EMC accreditation is crucial in proving the legitimacy of your test results when you put items on sale. This is why, even though, EMC labs are busy. Make your appointment months ahead of time, and plan for your pre-compliance tests to avoid costly cancellations.
Test Methods
To determine the EMC of the system or device technicians conduct four fundamental kinds of tests: Radiated Immunity radiation-induced emissions conducted immunity, conducted and emissions from conducted.
Radiated Immunity Test – Radiated Immunity examines how a device will perform when exposed the electromagnetic energy that it will encounter in its surroundings.
Radiated Emissions: Radiated emissions tests test the frequency of electromagnetic interference that a device creates. Technicians must ensure that the emission levels of the device are not above the appropriate limit for its power and size.
Conducted Immunity – Measures the reaction of an item of equipment to electromagnetic energy generated in another source, and later accidentally gets transmitted through the cable or another conductors to the device under examination.
Conducted Emissions: Measures the intensity of electromagnetic energy that can be transmitted through a conductor and cause EMI to other systems.
To complete these tests, you need special equipment based on the test. For instance for example, the EMSCAN EHX+ is an EMC/EMI diagnostic tool with an in-built spectrum analyzer. EMSCAN EHX+ models allow engineers to see radiated emissions and can even detect defects, thus reducing the time to test typical near field probes by 2 levels. An instrument like the EHX+ saves time and cost and can provide precise information to be analyzed.
Testing Equipment for EMI/EMC
Engineers typically send their devices to be tested and certified by labs that have EMC accreditation. In an investigation conducted recently, researchers discovered that half of devices do not pass EMC tests in the first attempt. With the below products that, you can perform EMC/EMI testing in-house, performing several tests to test the compatibility of your devices before sending them off to be tested by the laboratory.
Emissions Testing was conducted
Conductive Emissions testing identifies an internal emission of electromagnetic energy. They increase in intensity as they travel through a signal or power conductor, creating interference. Conductors act as an antenna “accidentally emitting.” In general this test method is used to mimic internal interference in antenna and power lead terminals.
The test was conducted Immunity Testing
Conducted immunity tests test the resistance of a device to interference from outside sources, such as the conductor of EMI such as an electrical or signal cable. Engineers conduct tests of immunity to determine how the device responds to the conductor of EMI and also how it could be improved to improve its immunity.
Testing of Radiated Emissions
Radiated emissions testing tests the amount of electromagnetic energy a device produces, thereby generating the amount of interference a device can generate in its surroundings. Switching voltages and currents within all digital circuits can unintentionally produce electromagnetic radiation. The task for engineers then, is to reduce this interference to the appropriate levels. Testing for emissions radiation is carried out in open-area testing locations or in anechoic chambers.
Radiated Immunity Testing
The test of radiation immunity simulates the interaction of a device with electromagnetic fields that it might encounter. Radios, cell phones motors, and a myriad of other devices can emit EMI which causes damage or disrupts the signal from the device being tested. The RF amplifiers play a vital function in these tests due to the fact that they create an electromagnetic field that simulates standard conditions and tests, the signal requires specific amplifying.
Related Industries
For companies in a variety of fields testing the electromagnetic characteristics of their products is an important element of production.
Medical Equipment
EMC testing is an essential process in the production and testing of medical equipment. If the medical device fails to operate properly when it comes to electrical circuits that surround it, it may be a danger for patients. The FDA requires the use of medical equipment that be EMC evaluated in accordance with IEC standards.
Military Aerospace
Military equipment is subjected to stringent testing standards that call for electromagnetic susceptibility as well as emissions tests, among other specifications. MIL-STD-461 is the standard for aircrafts, automobiles spacecrafts, vehicles, as well as instruments that are susceptible to radiating or being affected with electromagnetic radiation.
Consumer Goods
Every device from the iPhone through your computer Xbox is subject to EMC tests, particularly devices that are connected to Wi-Fi and are able to release a wide-ranging EMI. FCC guidelines require extensive testing of consumer technology prior to they allow products to be introduced to the market.
Automotive
Automobile manufacturers as well as other automotive equipment require the testing of EMI/EMC for both their parts, which includes things like radios and engines and also for cars in general. BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen are only a few of the companies in the automotive industry that meet these requirements.
Semiconductors
Testing components is a broad component of EMC. Semiconductors are a particular component used in the majority of computer-based devices, and because of their capability to emit electromagnetic energy they require testing to ensure that they don’t interfere with other devices.
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