EMC in the Motor City

At the 2008 EMC Symposium, EMC (electromagnetic compliance) consultant Doug Smith demonstrated how to use two current probes with a spectrum analyzer to find resonance in a cable, and he explained how using ferrite cores around the cable reduces the amplitude of the resonant current. Professor Keith Hoover from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology showed experiments used to teach EMC to college juniors majoring in computer engineering. Randal Vaughn of Silent Solutions used a spectrum analyzer to show how poor shielding due to “pigtails” decreases a cable’s shielding effectiveness.

In a technical session, Professor Nathan Ida from the University of Akron covered his course for juniors majoring in computer engineering. “CE majors need an understanding of EMC as it relates to high-speed digital communications,” he said. The course covers measurements, regulatory compliance, ESD, and designing for EMC. Professor Arnold de Beer from the University of Johannesburg presented “Problematic Concepts in the Introduction of EMC.” He explained that “common-mode is a difficult concept to grasp, and it’s crucial to EMC.”

Agilent Technologies unveiled an EMC option for its MXA and EXA signal analyzers, which adds CISPR emissions limits, an RMS detector, a quasi-peak detector, EMI averaging, noise-figure measurements, and phase-noise measurements. Teseq exhibited several new products including the AES 5500, an automotive transient emissions test system. LeCroy demonstrated an EMC option for its WaveRunner Xi 2-GHz oscilloscopes.

AR Worldwide introduced the CER 2018A EMI receiver and PL7004 laser-powered probe for characterizing chambers. ETS-Lindgren has added several EMI antennas to its portfolio. The Model 3142D BiConiLog covers 26 MHz to 6 GHz, and the Model 3180 mini-biconical antenna covers frequencies from 30 MHz to 1 GHz. Amber Precision Instruments exhibited an EMI immunity scanner system consisting of a mechanical arm that scans a radiating probe over a PCB assembly. Rohde & Schwarz introduced the ESL precompliance EMI test receiver. Two models range from 9 kHz to 3 GHz or 9 kHz to 6 GHz.