Resources

Planning an EMC test chamber? Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test chambers are specialized facilities for evaluating electronic devices against electromagnetic interference. This guide explores essential design considerations—including RF absorber selection, shielding materials, and chamber configuration—to help engineers create accurate, compliant testing environments that meet industry standards.

Wireless devices face a perfect storm of EMC challenges—high frequencies, cramped circuits, multiple antennas battling for space, and noisy urban environments. Discover how industry giants like Apple, Fitbit, and Tesla engineer their way around electromagnetic chaos through ingenious shielding, filtering, and design tricks that keep your gadgets running flawlessly.

Understanding how shields perform in the near field requires accounting for wave impedance differences between electric and magnetic sources. This sixth installment derives shielding effectiveness formulas for near-field conditions and reveals a surprising truth: copper outperforms steel at low frequencies, but steel's superior absorption reverses this advantage above 4kHz.

Secondary discharges during Field-Induced CDM testing aren't just measurement anomalies—they're real stress events caused by mechanical bouncing of the pogo pin. This groundbreaking investigation reveals how contact vibrations trigger unintended zaps with opposite polarity, provides electrical proof of the mechanism, and offers practical solutions to prevent this hidden reliability threat.

By understanding the real-world applications and significance of EMI filters, engineers can design and implement effective solutions to manage electromagnetic interference across various industries, ensuring the smooth operation and compliance of electronic systems.

Aircraft power systems endure dramatic electrical events—voltage surges, frequency shifts, and sudden dropouts during engine transitions. Power line testing ensures avionics can withstand these harsh conditions, from flight-critical computers that must survive 50ms power failures to everyday equipment that keeps passengers comfortable at 30,000 feet.

Wondering how electronics pass EMC compliance? This guide breaks down essential standards from CISPR, IEC, FCC, and more—plus real-world examples from smartphone makers, automakers, and medical device manufacturers. Learn the testing requirements, documentation needs, and practical techniques companies use to ensure their products won't cause or suffer from electromagnetic interference.

Shielding effectiveness changes dramatically in the near field. This month's column introduces wave impedance concepts for electric and magnetic dipoles, revealing why electric sources behave as high-impedance radiators while magnetic sources act as low-impedance radiators—distinctions critical for designing effective shields close to emission sources.

High-speed automotive serial links supporting ADAS features face a critical challenge: meeting stringent system-level ESD requirements while maintaining signal integrity at 10+ Gbps. This column presents an innovative on-chip protection architecture embedding ESD clamps within T-coil circuits, achieving 8kV ISO protection while supporting data rates exceeding 36 Gbps.Retry

Harmonic comb generators are essential EMC lab tools that produce harmonically-related signals for chamber verification and troubleshooting. Learn why every test lab needs one, how to build a simple DIY version for under $50, and discover the best commercial options with unique features. From measuring cable resonances to portable chamber validation, these versatile devices belong in every EMC engineer's toolkit.