Article

Noise suppression EMC solution

What is EMC ?
EMC: Electromagnetic Compatibility
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is the suppression of unwanted noise.
Why is electromagnetic compatibility important?
Electromagnetic waves are sometimes very useful for communication means, but they can also cause
problems if they interfere with other devices. Transversely, many digital devices work off of many different
frequencies, however sometimes these can also interfere with RF communications. Each country has
regulating laws for EMC, and some even prohibit devices with excessive wave emissions from being imported
or sold. Due to this, electronic manufactures face the necessity of suppressing EMI. In our current life style, it
is impossible to avoid electromagnetic energy and therefore, we need to live with them as a norm.
Noise suppression method
There are two main EMC problems:
EMI (Electromagnetic Interference), which is a device emitting noise
EMS (Electromagnetic Susceptibility) aka Immunity, which causes a device to fail due to noise from
outside sources
The ultimate goal of EMC (Electromagnetic compatibility) is to provide an environment where electronic
devices work properly with the execution of EMI and EMS (Immunity) solutions.

Grounding
Grounding on the PCB not only stabilizes the operating voltage, but also functions as a return path for the
current. Improper grounding causes voltage instability, excessive noise radiation, poor susceptibility of
external noise entering into PCB, and electrostatic discharges.
A large area of ground is better for ensuring the reference voltage. For this reason, multi-layer PCBs often
designate a layer for grounding, or a metal frame is installed. Another important point is how to connect a
ground to another: the wider the plane and shorter the distance, the better.
Connecting the PCB ground to a metal frame is called frame ground. This is a common practice. The
effectiveness depends on how short the distance between the contacts are and how many grounding points
are connected.
Filtering
Filtering is the function to separate off noise from signals. There are three main methods for this separation;
one is the separation by frequency and for this method, the impedance of the frequency is utilized for
capacitors, inductors and ferrite cores. An additional method is the separation by the mode of flowing
current, which is separated with common-mode and normal mode. The last method is separation through
voltage, in which a Varistor can be used.
High harmonic noise from a clock signal on a digital circuit and switching noise that occurs on the control
circuit tend to travel via circuits and cables in the form of radiating Common Mode noise. On the other hand,
the signals that should be travelling through the device are transmitted as Differential Mode noise. Ferrite
cores and Common Mode choke coils can be used to block Common Mode noise so that only the Differential
Mode signals can pass through, in effect filtering the signal from unwanted noise.

Shielding
There are two types of noise for EMC: radiating emission noise in open space and transmitted emission noise
through cables and metals. Shielding is an effective solution for radiating noise.
The shielding method involves covering a part of the circuit or the entire device with metal screening
material where noise is radiating. This traps the noise inside and prevents it from emitting outside the shield.
At the same time, shielding blocks the noise entering from outside, which, as a result, protects the circuits
function from being affected by outside noise (immunity). Both emission suppression and immunity are the
properties of shielding, but in order to optimize the effectiveness, it is important to carefully design the
layout to prevent the leakage of magnetic waves in both directions. For example, the joints of metal chassis,
the openings, and the vent holes need to be sealed. Shielding of the cables needs to be grounded to the
chassis. It is common to use conductive gaskets, tapes and metal mesh, as well as conductive cable shielding
jackets and conductive grounding clamps for this purpose.

ARTICLE:
Electromagnetic Interference Sources and Their Most Significant Effects
05/05/2011
As the density of the electromagnetic environment continues to increase, the concern about its effects from
sources producing EMI also increases. Advances in technology and the number of products produced are
having a significant effect on the efforts aimed at maintaining the required operation and interoperability of
products and systems used in our society. These events had added challenges for those who are responsible
for keeping pace with the effort needed to maintain the required level of electromagnetic compatibility
(EMC) in these products and systems.
Sources
EMI sources, both natural and man-made, that compose the EME can be categorized into several primary
categories. Some of these classifications of sources are listed below.
(1) Ambient EME that is composed of numerous sources of which the most significant are:

Television transmissions both analog and digital

Radio AM, FM, and Satellite
Solar Magnetic Storms which peak on a eleven year cycle
Lightning which occurs as a very high voltage and high current event
Utility power grid transmission lines which have high voltage, low current, and low frequency
characteristics. In this category is also the new technology of Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) digital
signals.
Other ambient EME sources include airport port radar, telecom transmissions, electrostatic discharge
(ESD), and white noise. Also in this category is the earths magnetic field flux which has a value of about
500 milligauss.
Some other major product and systems emissions sources include switching mode power supplies, arc
welders, motor bushes, and electrical contacts

(2) High Powered Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) threats which are intended to disable electrical and
electronic equipment. These sources are designed to be utilized by terrorist and military organizations.
Currently existing HEMP devices include the following:

Intentional Electromagnetic Interference (IEMI) source a high powered pulse device utilized by
combat, sabotage and terrorist organizations
High Altitude Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse (HNEMP) produced by the detonation of a nuclear
device high above the earths atmosphere
High Powered Microwave Weapon (HPM) a device utilized by the military as a combat weapon
E-Bomb a HEMP weapon employed by the military to disrupt an enemys intra structure that is
delivered by an aircraft.
EMP Cannon a military tactical weapon

(3) Power Quality degradation factors can effect the operation of equipment that is powered by a mains
power source. These mains degradation factors include:

Voltage surges, sages, dips, spikes, and high and low voltage
Brownouts and blackouts
Power line faults
Electrical Fast Transitions (EFT)
Electrical noise superimposed on the mains power line

These power quality degradation factors can occur simultaneously or independently, during any time
interval.
(4) Railroad and Mass Transit Systems have some unique types of EMI source problems. These include:

Propulsion systems high voltage and high current operational mode emissions
Train signaling systems and their associated computer operating codes
Third rail shoes arcing broadband emissions
High voltage contact switching arcing broadband emissions
Train control systems emissions
Track train control circuits
Right away emission sources

(5) Medical equipment utilized in medical facilities has numerous EMI sources. Some of the more prominent
of these are listed below:

Life support equipment such as ventilators, cardiac defibrillators, infusion pumps, etc.
Patient telemetry and assistance equipment which includes electrocardiographs and motorized
wheelchairs
Electrical surgical units and their associated support equipment
Magnetic Resonance Imagine (MRIs) systems
X-ray units, both therapeutic and diagnostic
Gamma Beam Electron Accelerators and Therapeutic equipment

SOURCES AND THEIR MOST SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS

(1) Ambient (EME) Can affect sensitive electronic equipment in the vicinity of the EMI sources. The closer
the sensitive electronic equipment is to the EMI source, the higher the sources radiated power level, and its
in-band frequency the greater is the probability that the EMI will cause an interference problem.
In the case of the effects of ESD on sensitive electronic systems it can cause upsets, burn outs, and latch-ups
in these units.

(2) High Powered Electromagnetic Pulse effects High powered electromagnetic sources can totally destroy
an electrical and electronic equipments function.
As an example, an HNEMP device detonation above the earths atmosphere of the United States can totally
immobilize the whole of the continental United States infrastructure. IEMI, HPM, E-Bombs, and EMP
Cannons can be utilized to disable electronic systems at specific locations.
(3) Power Quality distortions and transits that are present on the power main systems can affect the normal
operation of the equipment that it supplies power. Transits such as power surges are capable of destroying
interface electronic circuits. EFTs can cause electronic circuit upset conditions.
(4) Railroad and Mass Transit Systems have one primary source of EMI and that is the transit and railroad
engines propulsion systems, which operates with high voltages, currents, and magnetic field levels. They
have been known to affect other facilities that contain sensitive electrical equipment that are located near the
railroad or mass transit systems right away. These propulsion systems have had EMI associated problems
with other elements of their systems. Train control electronics can be affected by EMI sources such as third
rail and other broadband frequency arcing sources if they are not adequate designed for EMC.
(5) Medical equipment and facilities sources include patient monitoring systems
Those are very susceptible to EMI interactions. The human body signals that they monitor are very weak.
They are measured in unites of microvolts and micro-amps. Among other devices that are susceptible to EMI
are hearing aids, wireless patient monitoring systems, magnetic resonance imaging systems, implantable
cardiovascular devices, drug pumps, and portable diagnostic meters. As new technologies are developed and
enter the marketplace at a fast pace the list will grow.
CONCLUSIONS
As new devices and new technologies enter the marketplace, many operating at lower power levels and
higher frequencies that make will make these devices more susceptible to EMI effects. This will also increase
the number of EMI sources in the EME. The Functional Safety of a product (a hazard resulting from an EMI
induced failure in the operation of a product) becomes of increasing concern. EMI factors are important
consideration that must be taken into account when evaluating the reliability and quality assurance status of
electrical and electronic products and systems.
Fortunately the steady pace in the evolution of harmonized globally based EMC regulatory certification
compliance requirements is resulting in the minimizing of the increase in the new generation of safety
hazards and their associated safety risks as the density of the EME increases. EMC Engineers have the
responsibility of insuring that electrical and electronic products placed on the market are safe and their EMC
design requirements have been met.

Questions
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To your point of view which is the most common source of EMI? Why?
In what kind of systems do you expect to encounter bigger EMI issues? System with
low or high frequencies?
What is power quality to you?
What kind of suppression method would you use in industry?
Briefly find out in the web, what is the purpose of choke filters.