My Blog

The Need for Continuing Education

05/03/2012 09:35:00

During the past few months on consulting assignment, I observed that engineers are struggling to achieve compliance. This not only includes regulatory but functionality. The more senior one is at design engineering, the tendency to do things in a manner that is familiar to them and has been known to work no longer applies. Time, money and extended effort is spent to solve what is probably a simple design or layout problem. If one had knowledge on advances in semiconductor manufacturing and high-speed signal integrity, our jobs become easiler.

Most EMC engineers are comfortable using a spectrum analyzer to isolate problem areas on a PCB and then go into trial and error mode of fixing the problem. Whenever I get called into a company to troubleshoot a problem I use an oscilloscope. A spectrum analyzer on tells us there is an RF field present. Where and how does common-mode energy get created and what is the propagation path is the question. Using several simple troubleshooting techniques detailed in Chapter 9 of my book "Testing for EMC Compliance", I isolate the exact source of EMI generation generally within a few minutes, down to the component or pin number. From here we investigate the schematic and artwork, using the scope to analyze the signal integrity of the offending signal. Once we know the signature characteristics a quick, inexpesive solution can be implemented. No more trial and error

Your thoughs and comments are appreciated on how you quickly identify problem areas and techniques used to help those that are not familiar with solving an EMI problem quickly. What kind of training and education is reqiured?

Emissions versus Immunity

04/26/2011 12:05:00

Topic: Should we be more concerned with emission compliance or immunity protection?

The field of EMC deals with electrical equipment operating within an "intended" environment. When we examine our environment and the products that most of us use, what aspect of EMC should we be more concerned with? Almost everyone has a hand phone, iPAD or other iProduct, wireless Internet, and numerous other electrical products. The RF spectrum is overloaded with EMI. With much RF energy out there already, will another unintentional signal really cause an EMI event especially since products already have to meet FCC/CE requirements?

Should we be more concerned with increasing the immunity level of electrical products against harmful interference or making sure that FCC requirements are met, with a focus only on emissions and not immunity?

Comments, debate and opinions are requested.

Welcome to Montrose Compliance Services

04/12/2011 10:19:00

Welcome to my web site, newly redesigned for enhanced delivery of content. Here one will find tibits of information related to EMC engineering, mostly with a view toward understanding concepts and design techniques using a non-traditional manner.

We at the company believe the EMC education and training should be easy to understand without the need for extensive EM theory or math. Details on services are found on this site.

Feel free to post questions or comments on any aspect of regulatory compliance; product safety engineering or electromagnetic compatibility

Mark Montrose

Principle Consultant