March 2022 Archives - In Compliance Magazine

Evaluation of EMC Emissions and Ground Techniques on 1- and 2-layer PCBs with Power Converters

This is the 10th and the final article in a series of articles devoted to the design, test, and EMC emissions evaluation of 1- and 2-layer PCBs that contain AC/DC and/or DC/DC converters and employ different ground techniques.

Characterization for ESD Design, the TLP Zoo: Part 2

This is the second of a two-part series on transmission line pulse (TLP) testing.

Banana Skins – March 2022 (#365-377)

Is it safe to use cellphones on airplanes? The real question should be: “Is it safe for passengers to use any electronic equipment on airplanes?”

The Calculation of Creepage and Clearance Distances Using a Spacings Calculator

The calculation of creepage and clearance distances (spacings) is one of the most important activities a product safety/compliance engineer or technician performs throughout the product development process.

Application of Thrifty Test Equipment for EMC Testing

EMC testing laboratories often have limitations (limited availability, lead times, etc.) that can make it difficult to obtain timely results from routine troubleshooting. Inexpensive test equipment can support efficient and economical in-house EMC troubleshooting.

Assessing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in Vehicles

As they become more commonplace in today’s motor vehicles, advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) require a unique set of testing procedures that include repeatability of the trigger mechanism in a safe, controlled environment to accurately measure their effectiveness.

Expected Service Life of Medical Electrical Equipment

The definition of “expected service life” included in IEC 60601-1 standard potentially generates confusion and misinterpretation. This article provides an analysis of the “real-life” implications of this definition and proposes some clarifications.

System-Level Grounding

Grounding is often viewed from separate points of view - safety, ESD, or EMI. This article combines all these aspects together so that practitioners can address grounding at the factories and in the laboratories in a comprehensive way.

Caster Contact: The Achilles Heel of ESD Floors

A fully functional ESD floor prevents static generation and provides an effective path to ground for personnel and equipment. Many conductive and dissipative floors meet STM 7.1 resistance parameters in ANSI/ESD S20.20 but fail to provide adequate electrical contact for grounding equipment with conductive casters and drag chains.

Troubleshooting EMC Problems Like an MD

This article describes three troubleshooting methodologies doctors use to diagnose (troubleshoot) medical problems. These same techniques have proven useful in my own EMC consulting practice.