EMC Testing
All electrical or electronic products have the potential to emit unintentional interference, which can cause problems with the operation of other nearby devices. Likewise, each device has a degree of susceptibility or immunity to interference. International and European EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) standards and directives are in place to help minimise the risk of such problems. The aim is to ensure that unintended emissions are kept within acceptable limits, and that products have a reasonable degree of immunity so as to operate safely and correctly in the presence of other devices.
For example, often the pulsing transmission of a mobile ‘phone can be heard in PC or Hi Fi speakers. In this case the problem is not with the mobile ‘phone because it is an intentional radiator, but the audio system, which is not supposed to pick up radio signals, has insufficient immunity. Alternatively, a vacuum cleaner motor that is not adequately suppressed, and is not supposed to radiate, can cause interference to a television receiver. Car engine management and braking systems have to be able to operate safely and reliably in the presence of strong RF fields, as would occur when driving past a broadcast transmitter.
We operate a pre-compliance EMC test facility for measuring conducted and radiated emissions in the range 9KHz to 4GHz, using a variety of transducers, including E field and H field measurement antennas. We have a 3m Open Area Test Site (OATS) on campus. This facility has been used as part of the CE and FCC approval process for OU Home experiment Kits (HEK) and for equipment developed in conjunction with external organisations.
A lot of work is carried out with the OU Power Systems Communications Research Group (PSCRG), for whom we provide equipment and expertise used for evaluating EMC issues with PLT/PLC (BPL) trials both in the UK and abroad.
Please contact us for more information. |
