The 2019 IEEE International Symposium on EMC and Signal/Power Integrity (EMC+SIPI) was held in New Orleans for the first time in our 50+ year EMC Society history taking place July 22-26. Recognizing more wireless content in the program than previous years, the keynote speaker was Professor Gabriel Rebeiz with the University of California San Diego (UCSD) who provided an overview of 5G and addressed the critical role EMC plays in advancing this technology. He described how communications have been using the omni broadcasting mode for 120 years since Marconi developed the first communication system, but 5G will be different as we start using directive phased array communications systems. While the military has used phased arrays for many years, we now are able to realize low cost phased array systems for commercial applications including 5G and SATCOM that are on the order of $1 per element versus $100+ per element for military systems.
The exhibition included over 150 booths – below is a summary of the companies we visited. In addition, we created a photo gallery and video gallery of demos.
AR RF/Microwave Instrumentation supplies Broadband High Power, Solid State, RF Amplifiers and Microwave Amplifiers, TWT Amplifiers, Log Periodic Antennas and High-Gain Horn Antennas, EMC Test Equipment, Hybrid RF Power Amplifier Modules, Software, Field Probes and Monitors, and Electromagnetic Safety Products. AR RF/Microwave Instrumentation as part of the AR family, which also includes AR Modular RF, SunAR RF Motion, and AR Europe offering the following:
- RF amplifiers and antennas 1 to 50,000 watts, dc to 1 GHz
- Microwave amplifiers 1 to 10,000 watts, .8 to 45 GHz
- RF Conducted Immunity Systems
- Radiated Immunity Test Systems
- EMC Accessories and EMC Test Software
- Hybrid RF Power Amplifier Modules
At the event, they announced a new partnership agreement between AR and Comtest Engineering that makes it possible to design, build, and service an EMC test facility using a single source provider. This relationship combines the expertise of two of the most respected industry leaders with AR providing high-performance EMC instrumentation and system design expertise, and Comtest Engineering supplying best in-class EMC chambers. See their videos demos here.
Altair recently released HyperWorks™ 2019 which is the a comprehensive open-architecture simulation platform, offering best in-class technologies to design and optimize high performance, efficient and innovative products. Version 2019 introduces exciting additions to the suite of physics solvers on the market, new time-saving workflows, and dramatic improvements to the industry’s best modeling and visualization platform. See their video review of EMC capabilities here.
CPI's Beverly Microwave Division designs and manufactures a broad range of RF and microwave products for radar, industrial, and scientific applications. Compact pulsed amplifiers are available in multiple frequencies, automatic fault recycle, user friendly microprocessor-controlled logic with integrated computer interface, digital metering, electronic variable attenuation, soft fail when subjected to extreme load SWR conditions, and quiet operation suitable for laboratory environments. Power levels up to 8 kW are available.
Dassault Systemes Simulia (CST) was showing how EMC is an integral part of the development of any electronic device. A successful product must strike a balance between EMC and competing design requirements such as size, cost and performance, and this can pose major challenges to engineers. The earlier a potential EMC problem is identified, the less disruption it causes to the design process. By including EMC compliant design at an early stage, additional costly development iterations can be avoided. Simulation using CST Studio Suite® allows problems to be identified and corrected from the start of the design process before the first prototype is even built. The software includes a range of solvers, ranging from PCB design rule checkers to fullwave 3D solvers to specialized cable and PCB solvers, which can be linked and hybridized with the CST Studio Suite System Assembly and Modeling (SAM) framework.
ETS-Lindgren recently worked with Northeastern University Innovation Campus (Burlington, MA) to help build their new Expeditionary Cyber and Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Flight Facility. The institute is the home for co-located industry and academic research labs working together to accelerate innovation related to resilience and security. To ensure the facility would produce cutting edge research and development, management at Northeastern University used ETS-Lindgren’s in-house and certified Building Information Modeling (BIM) team for the chamber design, ETS-Lindgren manufactured, installed and integrated a UAS Flight Facility. The RF shielded anechoic chamber with nominal interior dimensions of 15 x 14 x 6 m, is part of an indoor drone (in-flight) test facility at the Kostas Research Institute UAS Lab. The chamber is fully lined with microwave absorber material and features two large access doors that allow Northeastern University to fly drones between the shielded chamber and a protected outdoor flight test area. A large support frame located on the chamber ceiling supports the mounting of antennas as required.
Langer was showing the ESA1 system of EMC tools for measuring the interference of assemblies and devices. The CS-ESA software allows the developer to quickly and comprehensively suppress interference affecting the DUT. Interference measurements taken during the development stage with ESA1 are proportional to the results from far-field measurements or from measurements with artificial networks. With the ESA1 tools disturbance sources can be localized, effects can be detected, and EMC measures individually determined. The effects of improvements implemented by ESA1 are proportional to the results from far-field measurements. ESA1 is designed for use at the developer's working place. See their demo video here.
MVG-EMC offers a full array of high-performance/low-cost absorber materials specifically designed to meet the increased performance demands of today’s EMC testing requirements in addition to many other products such as chambers and antennas. The HyPyr-LossTM product line includes absorbers that satisfy all of today’s EMC applications. The new ULTRA UH series polypropylene based hybrid electromagnetic absorbers are the latest technology for EMC/RF test applications. The polypropylene material has a highly uniform carbon density, throughout the material, which provides for more predictable results with no discontinuities. It is the unique production technology which is the critical factor in achieving the highest electromagnetic reflectivity performance in an MVG test chamber. Whether your testing regiment requires radiated immunity, emissions or a combination, MVG can help you select the right absorber for your application.
NSI-MI announced that they will be partnering with Frankonia Group to offer complete test solutions. Vince Rodriguez authored a new book being released soon by Artech House titled “Anechoic Range Design for Electromagnetic Measurements.” The book provides guidance on proper design of indoor ranges for antenna measurements and selection of chambers/ranges including various tradeoffs. A 30% off promo code, ROD30, is being offered (expires 8/31/2019).
Rohde & Schwarz created a unique 3D virtual EMC Test Lab that users can explore. The 3D experience allows users to explore a chamber and control room installation without ever leaving their desk. The new Interactive EMC Solutions application allows engineers to discover the wide range of Rohde & Schwarz EMC and field test equipment, as well as a custom chamber. You can explore it here: http://exploreemc.com/solutions.html.
They were also featuring several of their software solutions including R&S®AdVISE Visual Inspection Software that automates the process of visually monitoring an equipment under test (EUT) during a test sequence; R&S®ELEKTRA EMC test software and EMI test software for easy measurements; and R&S®EMC32 Measurement Software for use in development, for compliance and batch testing.
This was the first time that I have seen a major T&M equipment manufacturer offering TEMPEST test equipment that is able to measure the information content of even the smallest signals. The R&S®FSWT Test Receiver Tempest measuring receiver with digital signal evaluation is now available to the market.
It is not widely known but R&S offers a broad line of broadband amplifiers with powers up to 10 kW and frequencies up to 6 GHz in both air and liquid cooled offerings. The model BBA150 can do both Class A and A/B changing over on the fly during testing.
There are several demo videos of their products available here.
TDK Lambda was showing off their Genesys 1U Full-Rack series of 5000 W DC Programmable Power Supplies provides advanced features and functions in high power density (up to 5200 W) and light weight (< 16.5 lbs) with a comprehensive set of user-friendly interfaces. This series offers low-noise performance with Output voltages from 10 V (0-500 A) to 600 V (0-8.5 A) in both a three-phase 208 VAC Input (170-265 VAC, 47-63 Hz) and a wide-range three-phase 400/480 VAC Input (342-528 VAC, 47-63 Hz), both with Active Power Factor Correction (0.94 typical @ rated load).