Electromagnetic Compatibility Issues Research Articles

Insulating electromagnetic-shielding silicone compound enables direct potting electronics.

Traditional electromagnetic interference-shielding materials are predominantly electrically conductive, posing short-circuit risks when applied in highly integrated electronics. To overcome this dilemma, we propose a microcapacitor-structure model comprising conductive fillers as polar plates and intermediate polymer as a dielectric layer to develop insulating electromagnetic interference-shielding polymer composites. The electron oscillation in plates and dipole polarization in dielectric layers contribute to the reflection and absorption of electromagnetic waves. Guided by this, the synergistic nonpercolation densification and dielectric enhancement enable our composite to combine high resistivity, shielding performance, and thermal conductivity. Its insulating feature allows for direct potting into the crevices among assembled components to address electromagnetic compatibility and heat-accumulation issues.

Electromagnetic Compatibility Issues in 400-MHz-Band Wireless Medical Telemetry Systems and Their Management Using Simplified Methods for Safe Operation.

Wireless medical telemetry systems (WMTSs) are typical radio communication-based medical devices that monitor various biological parameters, such as electrocardiograms and respiration rates. In Japan, the assigned frequency band for WMTSs is 400 MHz. However, the issues accounting for poor reception in WMTS constitute major concerns. In this study, we analyzed the effects of electromagnetic interferences (EMIs) caused by other radio communication systems, the intermodulation (IM) effect, and noises generated from electrical devices on WMTS and discussed their management. The 400-MHz frequency band is also shared by other radio communication systems. We showed the instantaneous and impulsive voltages generated from the location-detection system for wandering patients and their potential to exhibit EMI effects on WMTS. Further, we presented the IM effect significantly reduces reception in WMTS. Additionally, the electromagnetic noises generated from electrical devices, such as light-emitting diode lamps and security cameras, can exceed the 400 MHz frequency band as these devices employ the switched-mode power supply and/or central processing unit and radiate wideband emissions. Moreover, we proposed and evaluated simple and facile methods using a simplified spectrum analysis function installed in the WMTS receiver and software-defined radio for evaluating the electromagnetic environment.

EMC Research Efforts in the IEEJ Technical Committee and State‐of‐the‐Art Case Studies on ESD Found in its Technical Papers

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) has been known to cause electromagnetic noise against electronic equipment and devices even before the technical concept of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) was established 68 years ago in the United States and 48 years ago in Japan, while the ESD still continues to be studied as one of the most significant issues that should be solved in EMC areas. This is largely because the underlying nature of ESD has yet to be essentially elucidated from an EMC perspective. On the other hand, as an academic research organization on EMC in Japan, a Technical Committee named ‘EMCJ’ on ‘Environmental Electromagnetic Engineering’ was founded in 1976 in both the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan (IEEJ) and the Institute of Electronics and Communication Engineers or the present IEICE (Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers) to address EMC concerns. Since then, the EMCJ has been jointly conducting EMC research activities under the IEICE as the nominating body and the IEEJ as the associative body, whereas the EMCJ of IEEJ was dissolved in 1999 to form a new Technical Committee on EMC (TC‐EMC) in order to deal with EMC issues appropriate to the IEEJ. In this review, to mark the 25th anniversary of the IEEJ Technical Committee on EMC (TC‐EMC) in 2024, the EMC research efforts and activities that the TC‐EMC has conducted over the past 25 years from January 2000 to March 2024 are surveyed from 1272 technical papers presented at the technical meetings. Furthermore, among the ESD issues identified in these technical papers, the latest case studies utilizing ‘spark resistance laws’ that allow the analysis of the initial behavior of sparks, in which a spark is the essence of ESD and is the key to open the door to elucidate the phenomenon, particularly from an EMC perspective, are reviewed. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Influence of the IC power supply and decoupling capacitor arrangement on the electromagnetic emission

With the advancing development of integrated circuits (ICs), more and more complex functions and higher performance levels can nowadays directly be integrated into a single IC package. In this context, the issue of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is becoming more critical, as the higher the integration density, the higher the electromagnetic emissions tend to be. In this paper, an EMC test IC is used to investigate the influence of different power supply pinouts (arrangement of VDD and GND pins in center and corner configuration) on the electromagnetic emission of the IC. This is done on the basis of the surface-scanning technique described in the IEC 61967‑3 standard for characterizing the magnetic near field at the surface of the IC package, and on the basis of the 150 Ohm measurement method described in IEC 61967‑4 for determining the conducted interference emissions at the power supply pinout of the IC. Both measurement methods show a significant difference in electromagnetic emissions due to the dependence on the arrangement of the power supply pinouts. These results highlight the importance of careful power supply design in the development of electromagnetically compatible ICs.

Optimization of EMC Filter for a Variable Speed Drive System in Electric Aircraft

In recent years, static converters are in constant evolution, and they have occupied an increasing role within aeronautical on-board networks. This development results in an increase in the power density of the onboard network and a reduction in the volume of the components. This development in electrical technologies creates problems related to electromagnetic pollution. To avoid polluting their environments, the power electronics designer will have to provide effective devices and means to mitigate the levels of emissions from their equipment. This work focuses on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) problems appearing in power converters on board future more electric aircraft. The work deals with the aircraft EMC issue, and then the reduction of electromagnetic pollution from a variable speed drive system. With the standards used in the aeronautical fields, type DO 160D, the optimization approach consists in bringing the level of emissions of the current generated towards the network and the load Induction motor) below the EMC standard in the whole range of frequencies 150 kHz -30 MHz.

A Simple and Economical System for Automatic Near-Field Scanning for Power Electronics Converters

Electromagnetic compatibility issues must be considered from the early steps in the design of electronic devices. A specific topic is the near-field emission generated by the device due to the traces on a printed circuit board and the specific routing. The analysis of near-field emission is essential to detect potential electromagnetic interference with nearby devices. This problem is crucial in high power density applications. Therefore, especially in these applications, it is necessary to optimize the circuit and the layout to minimize the generated noise. The design and construction of systems able to scan volumes to determine the spatial distribution of electrical E and/or magnetic B fields in the near-field region of a device under test is a very complex process. The realization of equipment that explores a given surface at a given distance from the device is easier. The main purpose of this paper is to show how it is possible to build a cheap two-dimensional scanner, starting from simple hardware not explicitly designed for near-field scan operations. The presented firmware and software solution can map, with good accuracy, the spatial distribution of fields B and E on a fixed plan close to the board. Finally, the developed system has been used in a GaN-based bi-directional DC/DC Converter.

Results of Research into Energy Parameters and Characteristics of LED Lamps

Light emitting diode (LED) based solutions for lighting systems, particularly LED lamps, are becoming increasingly more popular due to their high reliability, energy efficiency, long lifetime, and decreasing cost. At the same time, modern semiconductor lighting equipment can be both a source of electromagnetic interference and sensitive to it. Manufacturers of LED lamps provide a few energy parameters and characteristics that make it possible to assess the interaction between the lamp and the electrical network at the design stage, but in some cases, the range of indicators provided does not fully justify the selection of LED-based solutions. The issues of electromagnetic compatibility of LED lamps are considered in the paper. LED lamps, as non-linear elements, are shown to create electromagnetic interference for the electrical network. First, emitting current harmonics, they are consumers of reactive power. The paper considers Russian and foreign documents that regulate energy parameters and characteristics of LED lamps. It is shown that datasheets of LED lamps do not fully represent their energy parameters and characteristics. The paper presents the approaches and methods based on experimental and analytical research for evaluating a wide range of energy parameters and characteristics of LED lamps. Particular attention is paid to the issue of light flicker: the range of luminous flux frequencies that negatively affect human health is shown, approaches to flicker assessment are given. Based on the study of a few LED lamps, a wide spread of their energy parameters and characteristics, the power factor and the flicker in particular, has been registered. The paper gives recommendations on the choice of products in the design of lighting systems based on LED lamps.

Behavioral Model of G3-Powerline Communication Modems for EMI Analysis

G3-powerline communication (G3-PLC) is a robust communication protocol originally developed for smart metering in low-voltage power distribution networks. Modeling G3-PLC modems is an essential task to investigate electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues related to the coexistence of the PLC signal with the high-frequency noise affecting low-voltage networks, mainly due to the presence of power converters and non-linear loads. Since detailed information on the modem internal architecture is usually not available to the end-user, this work investigates the possibility of developing behavioral (black-box) models of G3-PLC modems, whose parameters can be estimated starting from measurements carried out at the modem output ports. To this end, suitable test benches are set up and used for model-parameter extraction as well as for validation purposes. Experiments have proven that an equivalent representation involving non-ideal voltage sources (i.e., in terms of extended Thevenin/Norton equivalent circuits) is no longer feasible for the transmitting modem, since the presence of a closed-loop control system invalidates the linearity assumption. Hence, while the receiving modem is still modeled through an impedance matrix (since it behaves as a linear device), an alternative representation is proposed for the transmitting modem, which resorts to the use of two ideal voltage sources in accordance with the substitution theorem. Experimental results prove that the proposed modeling strategy leads to satisfactory predictions of the currents propagating on the PLC system in the frequency interval of interest. Hence, it could be used in combination with high-frequency models of the other components in the network to investigate EMC and the coexistence of the PLC signal with the high-frequency noise generated by power converters.

Analysis of EMC Factors on Electronic Devices Using PLS-SEM Method: A Case Study in Vietnam

Electronic equipment is indispensable in the industrial 4.0 era. Electromagnetic Compatibility issues with electronic devices are increasingly concerning. The phenomenon of electromagnetic field compatibility is getting higher and higher. The operating quality of electronic equipment is more and more adversely affected, such as by the phenomenon of hesitation in operation for the operating structures, the generation of fire and explosion of electrical equipment, the loss of information, and many other negative effects. This paper discusses the relationship between Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) scoring, Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) scoring, and Electromagnetic Susceptibility (EMS) scoring with the performance quality of electronic devices (QUA). We perform reviews on regulatory institutions governing Electromagnetic Compatibility on electronic devices. To evaluate the proposed Electromagnetic Compatibility structure and its relationship to electronic devices, we proposed to use the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The research results of the model show that the electronic device layout conditions and the lack of systematic conditions have a negative impact on the operating quality of the electronic equipment, while the conditions on equipment techniques, scientific and technological resources have positive and significant impacts.

Radiated Susceptibility Assessment of Interconnected Systems Within Dual Reverberation Chamber

The interconnected systems (ISs) are commonly exposed to electromagnetic environments with different maximum field levels, and the measurement technique on how to perform radiated susceptibility (RS) test is one of the most attractive research topics of the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) community. In this work, the dual reverberation chamber (DRC) is used to reveal the potential EMC issues of the IS, which also provides a comparison with the RS tests performed in a conventional RC. By using a typical IS on the ship, we highlight the evidence supporting IS to conduct the RS tests in the DRC. Taken together, the results show that the IS will be more sensitive within the DRC and expose more acute EMC problems on one hand; on the other hand, the IS also presents a larger probability of sensitivity.

Supercapacitor-Assisted Low-Dropout Regulator Technique for Low Output Ripple DC–DC Conversion

Supercapacitor-assisted low dropout (SCALDO) regulator is an emerging technique to design high-efficiency dc–dc converters based on supercapacitor energy recovery method alongside a low dropout regulator. This very low frequency technique, having low electromagnetic compatibility issues, provides high-efficiency operation applicable to a wide range of output currents varying from a few 100 mA cases with integrated circuit type LDOs to over 100 A cases in the high current discrete form of LDOs. The SCALDO regulator is not a variation of switched capacitor converters due to several definitive reasons. Based on a 12-5 V implementation, this article demonstrates how a SCALDO regulator keeps a very low voltage ripple at the connected dc load while achieving high end-to-end efficiency.

A Fast Evaluation Method for Electrical Performance of Frequency and Pattern Reconfigurable Microstrip Antenna Based on Electromechanical Coupling.

With the constant increase in communication requirements in modern society, the number and type of antennas on communication platforms have been increasing at an accelerating rate. This has led to a continuous increase in platform volume and weight, and the electromagnetic environment of antenna operating has increasingly worsened, seriously restricting the further development of communication systems. As a new communication system antenna type, a reconfigurable microstrip antenna can reconstruct operating frequencies, beam directions, etc., by changing the antenna structure to provide the good multifunction characteristics of a single antenna, avoiding the electromagnetic compatibility issues caused by numerous system antennas. At present, most of the research on reconfigurable antennas judges the influence of structural characteristics on electromagnetic characteristics by simulation, which has imposed restrictions on their development and application. Therefore, a reconfigurable antenna with a resonant frequency of 8.66 GHz and 15.26 GHz and a reconfigurable antenna with maximum radiation directions of 36.2° and −36.5° are designed in this paper, and the electromechanical coupling theory of the reconfigurable antennas is studied. The resonance frequency coupling model and the pattern function coupling model considering the structural deformation of a reconfigurable microstrip antenna are established. Within the applicable range of antenna structural parameters, the relative error between the resonance frequency coupling model and the pattern function coupling model is less than 5%, which meets practical engineering application requirements. Finally, the method is shown by experimentation to verify the accuracy and validity of the proposed electromechanical coupling model.

Electromagnetic Simulation Flow for Integrated Power Electronics Modules

The growing use of electric vehicles is requiring the implementation of power electronics applications with ever faster devices, such as silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET, to reduce switching power losses and reach higher power density, with the final objective of improving performance and lowering the system cost. A side effect of such faster switching devices is the generation of high-frequency harmonics with significant energy, so their impact must be evaluated in terms of conducted and radiated electromagnetic interference (EMI). The optimal design of PCBs and filters for facing electromagnetic compatibility issues requires properly estimating the EMI level of different design solutions. Analysis of the current state of the art reveals that previous approaches can not effectively support a design focusing on a reduction in radiated EMI. To surpass these limits, the paper defines an electromagnetic simulation flow aimed at evaluating the radiative fields in the case of an integrated power electronics module operating in automotive applications and featuring fast SiC power devices. Then, the proposed simulation was applied to an LLC resonant converter featuring an STMicroelectronics SiC-based ACEPACK module. The work also highlights that future research efforts must concentrate on finding the best compromise between computational effort and estimation accuracy.

On Modelling of Maximum Electromagnetic Field in Electrically Large Enclosures

Abstract The maximum electromagnetic field formed in the electrically large enclosures for a given input power has always been the focus of electromagnetic compatibility issues such as radiation sensitivity and shielding effectiveness. To model the maximums in a simple manner, the electrically large enclosure can be regarded as a reverberation chamber (RC), thus the generalized extreme value (GEV) theory based framework is used for both undermoded and overmoded frequencies. Since the mechanical stirrer is not easy to be installed like that for RC, frequency stirring and mechanical stirring related configurations are discussed, and the corresponding results have confirmed the validity of frequency stirring with the estimate of the parameters in GEV distribution. As for the maximum field, a comparison has been made between GEV distribution and IEC 61000-4-21, and the corresponding results have also highlighted that the maximum field can be assessed by frequency stirring configuration, and by GEV distribution with a desired confidence.

Radio-Absorbing Materials Based on Polymer Composites and Their Application to Solving the Problems of Electromagnetic Compatibility.

Recently, designers of electronic equipment have paid special attention to the issue of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of devices with their own components and assemblies. This is due to the high sensitivity of semiconductor microcircuits to electromagnetic interference. This interference can be caused either by natural phenomena, such as lightning strikes, or by technical processes, such as transients in circuits during fast periodic or random switching. Either way, interference implies a sudden change in voltage or current in a circuit, which is undesirable, whether it propagates along a cable or is transmitted as an electromagnetic wave. The purpose of this article is to review the works devoted to the development, creation, and investigation of modern polymeric nanocomposite materials used for shielding electromagnetic radiation and their effective application for solving problems of electromagnetic compatibility. Additionally, the approach to design EMI shielding complex media with predetermined parameters based on investigation of various properties of possible components is shown. In the review, all polymer composites are classified according to the type of filler. The issues of the interaction of a polymer with conductive fillers, the influence of the concentration of fillers and their location inside the matrix, and the structure of the nanocomposite on the mechanisms of electromagnetic interaction are considered. Particular attention is paid to a new generation of nanocomposite materials with widely adjustable electrical and magnetic properties. A wide class of modern filled polymeric materials with dielectric and magneto-dielectric losses is considered. These materials make it possible to create effective absorbers of electromagnetic waves that provide a low level of reflection coefficient in the microwave range. The model mechanisms for shielding electromagnetic radiation are considered in the paper. A detailed review of the electro-physical properties of polymer nanocomposites is provided. Multilayer electrodynamic media containing combinations of layers of filled polymer composite materials with nanoparticles of different compositions and manufactured using a single technology will make it possible to create electrodynamic media and coatings with the required electro-physical characteristics of absorption, transmission, and reflection. Within the framework of the two-layer coating model, the difference in the effects of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with conductive layers located on a dielectric and metal substrate is demonstrated. It is shown that in order to achieve optimal (maximum) values of reflection and absorption of electromagnetic radiation in the appropriate frequency range, it is necessary to fit the appropriate layer thicknesses, specific conductivity, and permittivity. Such approach allows designers to create new shielding materials that can effectively vary the shielding, absorbing, and matching characteristics of coatings over a wide frequency band. In general, it can be said that the development of innovative polymer composite materials for shielding electronic devices from electromagnetic interference and excessive electromagnetic background is still an important task. Its solution will ensure the safe and uninterrupted operation of modern digital electronics and can be used for other applications.

3D modeling of inductive and capacitive coupling between surface‐mounted multilayer‐capacitors

AbstractElectronic based systems (EBS) tend to become smaller in size while at the same time their functionality, complexity, and operating frequencies increase. Therefore, accurate and broadband characterization of the electric behavior of the components of such EBS is becoming more and more important for first‐time right designs, especially for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and interference (EMI) issues. Although many of the manufacturers provide the electric characterization of their components up to, for example, 8.5 GHz, there is still a lack of information about the parasitic electromagnetic coupling of their components to others. To characterize this behavior in terms of measurement is demanding due to the small size and the high frequencies, hence the characterization by means of numerical simulations has become popular in the last years. Due to the fact that the components can be quite complex and their structure hard to model and simulate, like it is the case for the here investigated multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC), simplified models of the geometry have been typically used. In general, the electromagnetic behavior of multiple components close to each other is of interest, hence numerical efficient models must be deployed to analyze interfering effects toward each other. In the present paper we evaluate different 3D modeling strategies for MLCCs in terms of their capabilities to characterize the mutual coupling between such components.

Physico-chemical Characterization of Paint Films with Electromagnetic Properties

Electromagnetic compatibility issues and those generated by these radiations are a major concern for electrical and electronic products, mainly in the fields of communications, information technology, transportation, security and medical services. The paper presents the way to obtain nanostructured paint/plastic/nanopowder paint systems with electromagnetic shielding properties, as well as their characterization by FTIR analysis, DSC and dielectric tests. These systems have Electro-magnetic Interference (EMI)/Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) applications in the manufacture of enclosures for various electronic devices and for the automotive industry. At the laboratory level, 4 non-additive experimental models (EM) coded M1-M4 and 16 additive experimental models coded M5-M20 were obtained. Revolutionary to these materials is the fact that inside they are insulating and, on the outside, they behave like a shield. The results obtained from the dielectric tests performed on the 16 additive systems showed that the samples with a maximum percentage (20 %) of metal nanopowders show the highest values of electrical conductivity. Of the two nanopowders used, that of Fe from samples M11, M12, M19 and M20 which induces the composite higher conductivities than Al nanopowders. The ATR/FTIR spectra of the two paint samples analyzed showed that they were almost identical, suggesting that the paints tested had the same basic chemical structure. DSC analysis showed that pigment paint (V2) has low thermal oxidation stability and lower decomposition temperatures than pigment-free paint (V1), therefore, V2 is less stable under usage conditions, under the influence of normal environmental factors (temperature, humidity, natural or artificial light, etc.) compared to V1.

Broadband (kHz–GHz) characterization of instabilities in Hall thruster inside a metallic vacuum chamber

Hall thrusters are known to exhibit a large variety of instabilities. Their physical mechanisms have been identified at low (kHz) and intermediate (MHz) frequencies, even though they are still not fully understood. Furthermore, electromagnetic radiations generated by Hall thrusters, named “self-emission” of the thruster, have been measured from kHz to MHz as expected from the identified instabilities, but also at higher frequencies. The origin of the high frequency (GHz) self-emission remains for now unknown. Assessing this self-emission, that is important for understanding the physics of Hall thrusters as well as for electromagnetic compatibility issues with the spacecraft, is challenging. Another aspect that makes the understanding of the physics of Hall thrusters complex comes from the eventual coupling between instabilities, which has been recently suggested and observed. The aim of this paper is to explore the possibility of characterizing simultaneously instabilities in Hall thrusters on a broadband frequency range (from kHz to GHz) in situ, meaning in a conventionally used vacuum chamber where Hall thrusters are usually operated. We show in this paper that, despite the reverberant nature of the vacuum metallic chamber, useful information is extracted at low and intermediate frequencies and even at high frequency from the measurements done with an antenna in this environment.

Effects of independent magnetic fields in the very low frequency range elf generated by selected elements of an electric traction unit on the ambient environment and electronic systems

The article presents research results and issues related to of magnetic component of electromagnetic field on the environment and electronic systems used in the electric traction unit. The electronic systems used and built into an electric power unit are operated in a wide variety of environmental conditions. Electrical and electronic systems with different purposes coexist on the vast railroad area, and an important operational problem, apart from environmental changes in which these technical objects are operated, is also the issue of external and internal electromagnetic compatibility. Depending on the extent of the railroad area, the intentional or unintentional emission of electromagnetic fields over a range of frequencies, the construction, technical configuration and method of ensuring electromagnetic compatibility for the electrical and electronic systems in use and electronic systems in use are different. It is necessary to skillfully and appropriately use all measures included in the electromagnetic compatibility pyramid to ensure the appropriate level of robustness, immunity and susceptibility of the above mentioned systems. Due to the impact and propagation of electromagnetic waves in the railroad environment, individual frequency bands of interfering signals should be considered separately for the whole spectrum of interfering signals. The article presents the results of research on the generated magnetic fields from the very low frequency (ELF) range by electric power units. Diagnosing the electromagnetic environment over the entire frequency range enables the realization and proper protection of the electrical and electronic systems used in an electric power train from the effects of unintended interference. Knowledge of the parameters of interfering signals - e.g. amplitude, frequency range, spectrum, etc. - will enable designers of electrical and electronic train systems systems to properly protect these facilities from adverse environmental conditions.

47‐3: Electromagnetic Compatibility Problem Analysis of Flexible Vehicle Organic‐light Emitting Display

As a new vehicle display technology, flexible active‐matrix organic‐light emitting display with more complex circuit system and algorithm architecture than LCD, which is facing more challenges from electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues. Aiming at the actual EMC‐related problems in vehicle flexible display, here we analyzed the test method, abnormal phenomenon and principle of optical, ESD and EMC test from three aspects of interference source, interference path and terminal protection, and summarized the analysis methods and raised the improvement measures as well as the design rule for avoiding similar EMC problems.