Design

The verification of electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection in a complex integrated circuit (IC) design is extremely challenging. Leading-edge designs have many supply domains and voltage levels for different functional parts like radio frequency (RF), digital and high voltage blocks, making ESD checking a complex and error prone task. Relying on manual verification alone poses a significant risk of missing design flaws, which can be very costly during manufacturing and in the field. Consequently, automated ESD checking is highly desired in today’s design flow. This article outlines the essential requirements of the ESD verification flow as defined by the ESD Association (ESDA) Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Tool Working Group [1].

A method of determining the performance of an open area test site (OATS) or an anechoic chamber is to perform a site attenuation measurement. The process used is to step a signal source at the transmitting antenna and use a receiver or spectrum analyzer at the receiving antenna. The two are stepped together to give a set of data that shows the performance of the test site or chamber. ANSI C63.4 outlines the process for performing normalized site attenuation (NSA) measurements. In these measurements, the spectrum analyzer controls the signal source.

Global parts procurement presents challenges to any product designer. If a component is sourced from multiple suppliers, how do you keep track of these suppliers from initial design to production, especially in a global manufacturing environment where products are made in multiple locations? Do you really have the right manufacturing and process controls to manage such an environment? The unit submitted to a certified test facility had a specific supplier but is there assurance that other suppliers will perform the same during testing? If not watched carefully, these variables could wreak havoc with product certification and regulators worldwide.

Low power, license-exempt FM transmitters are used in vehicles to transmit a weak signal onto a vacant channel in the FM Broadcast Band (88-108 MHz) for the purpose of receiving Sirius-XM broadcasts on the vehicle’s FM Radio. The only method for determining compliance of these transmitters according to the FCC Rules and Regulations is to measure the field strength from the transmitter installed in three typical vehicles. This article describes an alternative method for determining compliance by measuring conducted RF power output and using a transfer function derived by measuring the radiated field strength from transmitters installed in a number of vehicles.

PC Board EMI

If properly done, PC board (PCB) design control techniques can be the most cost effective means of resolving EMI issues.