Overview of EMI / EMC

What is EMI and EMC ?

™ An electromagnetic disturbance which may

degrade the performance of an equipment (device,
system or sub-system) or causes malfunction of
the equipment, is called electromagnetic
interference (EMI).

™ Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is a near

perfect state in which a receptor ( device , system
or subsystem) functions satisfactorily in common
electromagnetic environment, without introducing
intolerable electromagnetic disturbance to any
other devices / equipments / system in that
environment.
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EMI-EMC Division
 Basic elements of EMI situations

Source / Coupling Receiver /

Emitter / Path / Receptor /
Culprit Medium Victim

™ Interference occurs if the received energy causes the

receptor to function in unwanted manner.
™ Whether the receiver is functioning in wanted or unwanted
manner, depends on the coupling path as well as the
source and victim.
™ The coupling path is to be made as inefficient as possible.

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EMI-EMC Division
 Causes of EMI
™ Sources
™ Refrigerator, washing machine, electric motors.
™ Arc welding machine.
™ Electric shavers, AC, computers.
™ Fast switching digital devices, ICs.
™ Power cords of computers, UPS etc.
™ Air craft navigation and military equipments
™ Victims
™ Communication receivers.
™ Microprocessors, computers.
™ Industrial controls.
™ Medical devices.
™ House hold appliances.
™ Living beings.
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EMI-EMC Division
 Effects of EMI
¾ Momentary disturbance in TV and radio reception
due to operation of mixer-grinder / electric shavers
/ a passing vehicle etc.
¾ Reset of computers and loss of data.
¾ Burn out of sensitive cells / components.
¾ Change of setting of status of control equipments.
¾ Failure of pace maker implanted in a patient due to
a ‘walkie talkie’.
¾ False initiation of electro explosive detonator.
¾ Malfunctioning of flight controlling system due to
use of laptop by passenger.
¾ Biological hazards.

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EMI-EMC Division
 Radiated Emission and Susceptibility

Noisy
Component

Radiated Emission

Noisy
Component

Radiated Susceptibility

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EMI-EMC Division
 Conducted Emission and Susceptibility

Noisy
Component

Conducted Emission

Noisy
Component

Conducted Susceptibility

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EMI-EMC Division
 Purpose and Methodology for EMC System

A system is said to be electro magnetically compatible if :-

™ It doesn't cause interference with other system .
™ It is not susceptible to emissions from other systems.
™ It doesn’t cause interference with itself.

The methodologies to prevent EMI are

™ Suppress the emissions at source point, best method to
control EMI .
™ Make the coupling path as inefficient as possible.
™ Make the receiver less susceptible to emission.

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EMI-EMC Division
 Common and Differential Mode Noise

L1 Idm Icm/2
(P)
(VCC)
Vdm Electronic
L2
(N)
Idm Icm/2 Circuits
(VEE)

Icm
(Gnd)

™ CM : Interference signal in two lines are

unidirectional and return through ground.
™ DM : Interference signal in two lines are
oppositely directed and thus no ground current
path is required.
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EMI-EMC Division
 EMI control techniques at source
Important techniques to control EMI at source point are

‰ Proper Grounding – single point, multi point or hybrid

grounding depending upon the frequency of operation.
‰ Shielding – Metal barrier is used to suppress coupling of
radiated EM energy into the equipment.
‰ EMI Filtering - used to suppress conducted interference
on power, signal and control lines.
‰ PCB layout – Proper PCB design from the early design
stage is required.

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EMI-EMC Division
 Method of noise coupling
Typical modes of noise coupling are
¾ Conductive coupling through cables.
¾ Coupling through common impedance.
¾ Coupling by radiated E and H field.
¾ Ground loop coupling.

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EMI-EMC Division
 Objectives of EMC Standards

™ EM spectrum protection.
™ Adequate power quality.
™ Compatibility between collocated electrical and
electronic systems for trouble free operation .

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EMI-EMC Division
 Standards setting Institutions

™ DOD - Department of Defence (USA) -- Immunity and

Emission MIL standards
™ IEC - International Electrotechnical Commission (EU)
Immunity standards
™ CISPR - International Special Committee on Radio
Interference Operating under IEC. -- Emission
Standards.
™ FCC - Federal Communication Commission ( EU ) ---
Emission standards.
™ BSI - British Standard Institution ( UK ) -- Emission
standards.
™ VDE - Verband Deutscher Electrotechniker (Germany) -
Emission standards.

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EMI-EMC Division
 Important Immunity Standards

™ IEC 61000-4-2 : Electrostatic Discharge immunity test

™ IEC 61000-4-3 : Radiated radio frequency EM field
immunity test
™ IEC 61000-4-4 : Electrical fast transient / Burst immunity
test
™ IEC 61000-4-5 : Surge immunity test
™ IEC 61000-4-6 : Conducted radio frequency EM field
immunity test
™ IEC 61000-4-8 : Power frequency magnetic field immunity
test
™ IEC 61000-4-11 : Voltage Dips, short interruptions and
voltage variations immunity test

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EMI-EMC Division
 Important Emission Standards

™ CISPR 11 : Industrial, Scientific and Medical equipments

™ CISPR 12 : Automobiles
™ CISPR 13 : Audio visual and similar apparatus
™ CISPR 14 : Household and similar electrical appliances
™ CISPR 15 : Electrical Lighting and similar equipments
™ CISPR 22 : Information Technology equipments
™ FCC Part 15 : Radio Frequency Devices
™ FCC Part 18 : Industrial, Scientific and Medical equipments
™ IEC 61000-3-2 : Limits of harmonic current emission (< 16A
per phase)

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