Electromagnetic compatibility

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is the branch of electrical sciences which studies the
unintentional generation, propagation and reception of electromagnetic energy with reference to
the unwanted effects (Electromagnetic interference, or EMI) that such energy may induce. The
goal of EMC is the correct operation, in the same electromagnetic environment, of different
equipment which use electromagnetic phenomena, and the avoidance of any interference effects.
In order to achieve this, EMC pursues two different kinds of issues. Emissionissues are related
to the unwanted generation of electromagnetic energy by some source, and to the
countermeasures which should be taken in order to reduce such generation and to avoid the
escape of any remaining energies into the external environment. Susceptibility or Immunity
issues, in contrast, refer to the correct operation of electrical equipment, referred to as the victim,
in the presence of unplanned electromagnetic disturbances.
Interference mitigation and hence electromagnetic compatibility is achieved by addressing both
emission and susceptibility issues, i.e., quieting the sources of interference and hardening the
potential victims. The coupling path between source and victim may also be separately addressed
to increase its attenuation.

Contents
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1 Introduction
2 Types of interference
o 2.1 Continuous interference
o 2.2 Pulse or transient interference
3 Coupling mechanisms
o 3.1 Conductive coupling
o 3.2 Inductive coupling
3.2.1 Capacitive coupling
3.2.2 Magnetic coupling
o 3.3 Radiative coupling
4 EMC control
o 4.1 Characterising the threat
o 4.2 Laws and regulators
4.2.1 Regulatory and standards bodies
4.2.2 Laws
o 4.3 EMC design
4.3.1 Grounding and shielding
4.3.2 Other general measures
4.3.3 Emissions suppression
4.3.4 Susceptibility hardening
o 4.4 EMC testing
4.4.1 Susceptibility testing
4.4.2 Emissions testing
5 History
6 EMC test equipment manufacturers (alphabetic)
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
o 9.1 Web sites
o 9.2 General introductions
o 9.3 Specific topics
Introduction[edit]
While electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a phenomenon - the radiation emitted and its effects
- electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is an equipment characteristic or property - to not
behave unacceptably in the EMI environment.
EMC ensures the correct operation, in the same electromagnetic environment, of different
equipment items which use or respond to electromagnetic phenomena, and the avoidance of any
interference effects. Another way of saying this is that EMC is the control of EMI so that
unwanted effects are prevented.
Besides understanding the phenomena in themselves, EMC also addresses the countermeasures,
such as control regimes, design and measurement, which should be taken in order to prevent
emissions from causing any adverse effect.
Types of interference[edit]
Main article: Electromagnetic interference
Electromagnetic interference divides into several categories according to the source and signal
characteristics.
The origin of noise can be man made or natural.
Continuous interference[edit]
Continuous, or Continuous Wave (CW), interference arises where the source continuously emits
at a given range of frequencies. This type is naturally divided into sub-categories according to
frequency range, and as a whole is sometimes referred to as "DC to daylight".
Audio Frequency, from very low frequencies up to around 20 kHz. Frequencies up to
100 kHz may sometimes be classified as Audio. Sources include:
Mains hum from: power supply units, nearby power supply wiring, transmission lines
and substations.
Audio processing equipment, such as audio power amplifiers and loudspeakers.
Demodulation of a high-frequency carrier wave such as an FM radio transmission.
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI), from typically 20 kHz to an upper limit which
constantly increases as technology pushes it higher. Sources include:
Wireless and Radio Frequency Transmissions
Television and Radio Receivers
Industrial, scientific and medical equipment (ISM)
Digital processing circuitry such as microcontrollers
Broadband noise may be spread across parts of either or both frequency ranges, with no
particular frequency accentuated. Sources include:
Solar activity
Continuously operating spark gaps such as arc welders
CDMA (spread-spectrum) mobile telephony
Pulse or transient interference[edit]
An electromagnetic pulse (EMP), sometimes called a transient disturbance, arises where the
source emits a short-duration pulse of energy. The energy is usually broadband by nature,
although it often excites a relatively narrow-band damped sine wave response in the victim.
Sources divide broadly into isolated and repetitive events.
Sources of isolated EMP events include:
Switching action of electrical circuitry, including inductive loads such as relays,
solenoids, or electric motors.
Electrostatic discharge (ESD), as a result of two charged objects coming into close
proximity or even contact.
Lightning electromagnetic pulse (LEMP), although typically a short series of pulses.
Nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP), as a result of a nuclear explosion. A variant of
this is the high altitude EMP (HEMP) nuclear device, designed to create the pulse as its
primary destructive effect.
Non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NNEMP) weapons.
Power line surges/pulses
Sources of repetitive EMP events, sometimes as regular pulse trains, include:
Electric motors
Gasoline engine ignition systems
Continual switching actions of digital electronic circuitry.
Coupling mechanisms[edit]
Some of the technical words employed can be used with differing meanings. These terms are
used here in a widely accepted way, which is consistent with other articles in the encyclopedia.
The basic arrangement of noise source, coupling path and victim, receptor or sink is shown in the
figure below. Source and victim are usually electronic hardware devices, though the source may
be a natural phenomenon such as a lightning strike,electrostatic discharge (ESD) or, in one
famous case, the Big Bang at the origin of the Universe.


The four electromagnetic interference (EMI) coupling modes.
There are four basic coupling mechanisms: conductive, capacitive, magnetic or inductive,
and radiative. Any coupling path can be broken down into one or more of these coupling
mechanisms working together. For example the lower path in the diagram involves inductive,
conductive and capacitive modes.
Conductive coupling[edit]
Conductive coupling occurs when the coupling path between the source and the receptor is
formed by direct contact with a conducting body, for example a transmission line, wire,
cable, PCB trace or metal enclosure.
Conducted noise is also characterised by the way it appears on different conductors:
Common-mode or common-impedance
[1]
coupling: noise appears in phase (in the same
direction) on two conductors.
Differential-mode coupling: noise appears out of phase (in opposite directions) on two
conductors.
Inductive coupling[edit]
Inductive coupling occurs where the source and receiver are separated by a short distance
(typically less than a wavelength). Strictly, "Inductive coupling" can be of two kinds, electrical
induction and magnetic induction. It is common to refer to electrical induction as capacitive
coupling, and to magnetic induction as inductive coupling.
Capacitive coupling[edit]
Capacitive coupling occurs when a varying electrical field exists between two adjacent
conductors typically less than awavelength apart, inducing a change in voltage across the gap.
Magnetic coupling[edit]
Inductive coupling or magnetic coupling (MC) occurs when a varying magnetic field exists
between two parallel conductors typically less than a wavelength apart, inducing a change
in voltage along the receiving conductor.
Radiative coupling[edit]
Radiative coupling or electromagnetic coupling occurs when source and victim are separated
by a large distance, typically more than a wavelength. Source and victim act as radio antennas:
the source emits or radiates an electromagnetic wave which propagates across the open space in
between and is picked up or received by the victim.
EMC control[edit]
The damaging effects of electromagnetic interference pose unacceptable risks in many areas of
technology, and it is necessary to control such interference and reduce the risks to acceptable
levels.
The control of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and assurance of EMC comprises a series of
related disciplines:
Characterising the threat.
Setting standards for emission and susceptibility levels.
Design for standards compliance.
Testing for standards compliance.
For a complex or novel piece of equipment, this may require the production of a dedicated EMC
control plan summarizing the application of the above and specifying additional documents
required.
Characterising the threat[edit]
Characterisation of the problem requires understanding of:
The interference source and signal.
The coupling path to the victim.
The nature of the victim both electrically and in terms of the significance of malfunction.
The risk posed by the threat is usually statistical in nature, so much of the work in threat
characterisation and standards setting is based on reducing the probability of disruptive EMI to
an acceptable level, rather than its assured elimination.