TABLE OF CONTENTS This chapter discusses the types of electronic test equipment commonly used in EMC emission and immunity testing over the frequency range from a few hertz to tens of gigahertz.
EMC emission testing is carried out using a sensor or pickup device connected to a receiver, spectrum analyser or other item of measurement equipment which gives a voltage reading that can then be converted to the quantity being measured via the sensor calibration or transfer function. The receivers, or EMI meters as they are sometimes called, are complex items of RF technology which in some cases have been especially designed for EMC test work.
Susceptibility testing requires the use of a range of CW, modulated CW and pulsed signal sources. High output powers are often needed and are produced using broadband high-power RF amplifiers. Other equipment which is commonly used directly in RF susceptibility testing includes directional couplers, power circulators, high-power RF broadband loads, diode detectors, RF power meters and frequency meters.
The practising EMC test engineer must be familiar with the performance capabilities and limitations of all this laboratory electronic instrumentation, and be able to use it correctly to carry out testing to a wide variety of EMC standards.
The managers of companies engaged in test work should appreciate the sophisticated nature of EMC test equipment and be able to evaluate its technical merits, the capital outlay required, probable life, calibration and maintenance costs and reliability to make cost-effective investment decisions. The customers of...
