Equipment

EMISSIONS AND
SUSCEPTIBILITIES
TYPES OF COUPLING

 COMMON-MODE COUPLING

 DIFFERENTIAL-MODE COUPLING
COMMON-MODE COUPLING

 Common-mode signal is the component of an analog signal

 which is present with one sign on all considered conductors. In 
telecommunication, common-mode signal on a transmission line
 is known as longitudinal voltage.
 In electronics where the signal is transferred by differential
voltage, the common-mode signal is a half-sum of voltages
Common-mode coupling
impedence and reduction
 When referenced to the local common or ground, a common-mode signal appears on
both lines of a two-wire cable, in-phase and with equal amplitudes. Technically, a
common-mode voltage is one-half the vector sum of the voltages from each
conductor of a balanced circuit to local ground or common. Such signals can arise
from one or more of the following sources:
 Radiated signals coupled equally to both lines,
 An offset from signal common created in the driver circuit, or
 A ground differential between the transmitting and receiving locations.
 Noise induced into a cable, or transmitted from a cable usually occurs in the
common mode; i.e. the same signal tends to be picked up by both conductors in a
two wire cable. Likewise, RF noise transmitted from a cable tends to emanate from
both conductors. Elimination of common mode signals on cables entering or leaving
electronic equipment is important to ensure electromagnetic compatibility. Unless
the intention is to transmit or receive radio signals, an electronic designer will
generally design electronic circuits to minimise or eliminate common mode effects.
 Methods of eliminating common mode signals[edit]
 Differential amplifiers or receivers that respond only to voltage
differences, e.g., those between the wires that constitute a pair. This
method is particularly suited for instrumentation where signals are
transmitted through DC bias.
 An inductor where a pair of signalling wires follow the same path through
the inductor. E.g. in a bifilar winding configuration such as used in
Ethernet magnetics.[1] Useful for AC and DC signals, but will filter only
higher frequency common mode signals.
 A transformer, which is useful for AC signals only, and will filter any form
of common mode noise, but may be used in combination with a bifilar
wound coil to eliminate capacitive coupling of higher frequency common
mode signals across the transformer. Used in twisted pair Ethernet. [2]
Common-mode coupling
impedence and reduction
 The goal of any grounding system is to provide a low impedance path for
fault or transient currents to the earth. “Grounding” may be described as
the process of making this electrical connection to the general mass of
the earth. The characteristic primarily determining the effectiveness of a
grounding system is the impedance this connection provides to the
earth. The importance of ensuring that the system provides a low earth
impedance, and not simply a low earth resistance, must be understood.
A spectral study of the typical waveform associated with transient
impulses such as those characteristic of lightning and switching surges,
reveals both high frequency and low frequency components. The high
frequency is associated with the extremely fast rising "front" of the
transient while the lower frequency component resides in the long “tail”
of the decaying impulse. A grounding system appears to such transient
events as an impedance rather than simply a resistance.
 . A low impedance grounding system is only achieved by
considering the roles played by each of resistance, capacitance
and inductance within the system.
The inductance of the ground system dominates during the rapid
change of current with time as the current is injected into the
earth. The voltage developed due to the inductive term is given
by L di/dt. This may become dangerously large, creating the risk
of a flash over, if attention is not paid to ensuring that inductance
is minimized in the system.
DIFFERENTIAL-MODE COUPLING

 When identifying and controlling electromagnetic interference (EMI),

discussion of common-mode and differentialmode interference will likely
dominate.
 Differential-mode interference is a signal that appears on two lines of a
closed loop, but current flow is in opposite directions. This kind of
interference essentially appears in series with the desired signal. The
solution is an inductor in series with the high side (and/or low side) of the
line and a shunt capacitor across the lines.
 A common-mode EMI signal appears on the two signal lines
simultaneously in the same direction and phase. The signal on each line
returns through a common ground. The solution, a common-mode choke,
produces equal and opposite magnetic fields that cancel one another. A
capacitor from each line to ground is also used.
