Overview:

Elephant Discussion #1: Addressing Poor EMC Measurement Consistency

There is a certain amount of irony in the fact that an EMC test facility is denied accreditation if the facility does not offer OATS testing. Yet it was confirmed during the last EMC-Live event that there is an enormous disparity in inter-site OATS measurements.  This begs the question as to why such reverence is given to the OATS test site, and why they are used as the basis of any type of reference at all.

Can the ISO17025 department charged with covering EMC laboratories not work with the EMC industry to improve OATS measurement consistency?

Elephant Discussion #2: The Search for a Golden ‘Emissions Test Set-Up Proving’ Emitter for use in 3-meter Chamber Tests

The use of a comb generator’s output signature is a good method for checking all is well with an emissions test set-up, but in reality, simply proves the test system is consistent in providing the same wrong readings as before. Spot test-frequencies from signal generators overcome the arbitrary power levels and frequencies produced by comb generators.

Is there is a way to utilize existing calibrated test equipment and signal generator spot frequencies to calibrate the 3-meter chamber emissions test set-up?

Check out Part 1 of the discussion.

Panelists:

Bruce Fagley 
Bruce Fagley is the EMC technical manager for TUV Rheinland, with technical responsibility for all 5 of TUV’s North American EMC facilities. He has more than 20 years’ experience in EMC. At TUV Rheinland Bruce has held several positions at TUV Rheinland’s Newtown CT EMC lab, including the past 7 years as lab manager. Bruce specializes in EMC project management for large complex industrial systems and fixed installations. Bruce is also the EMC notified body representative for TUV Rheinland of North America and is the author of several articles on EMC issues, and has spoken at several webinars and seminars.

Joseph DiBiase
Joseph graduated from Villanova University, in 1983 with a BS EE degree. Throughout his career he has been involved in EMC. This involvement consisted of development and testing of Tempest products, EMC design and test of military and consumer products, and providing training and support to EMC test laboratories and engineers. Joe has also developed and managed an ISO 17025 accredited EMC testing organization. During Joe’s career he has received the following certification: Tempest Engineer, iNARTE (International Association for Radio, Telecom & Electromagnetics) Engineer, and Six Sigma Green Belt. Joe is also a Technical Advisor to IEC CIRPR I (Electromagnetic Compatibility of Information Technology Equipment, Multimedia Equipment and Receivers).

Patrick G. André
Patrick G. André received his physics degree in 1982 from Seattle University, with post graduate work in Electrical Engineering and Physics. He has worked in the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) field over 30 years. He is a NARTE Certified Engineer in both EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and ESD (Electrostatic Discharge). He has worked in the military and aerospace environment for his entire career, and worked with commercial electronics since 1995. Projects worked on vary from semiconductors, satellite equipment, industrial test equipment (for Agilent) and cellular installations, to writing the procedures and reports, and performing or supervising EME testing of many panels for the flight deck of the 787 and other aircraft. He has successfully worked with, and given input to, all branches of the military and NASA, as well as several of their subcontractors. He has a strong ability in the test, measurement, and troubleshooting of EMC. He is president of André Consulting, Incorporated.

Patrick has published numerous articles for a variety of magazines, his latest appearing in In Compliance 2014 Annual Reference Guide. He is the coauthor of EMI Troubleshooting Cookbook for Product Designers.

Steve Koster
Steve Koster is a Vice President at Washington Laboratories where he has dealt with EMC and Radio requirements for the last 21 years. Steve has tested or directly supervised thousands of projects over the years for FCC, MIL-STD, CE Mark, DO160 and REG Guide 1.180 and EPRI 102323. Steve has presented at the EMC symposium numerous times discussing test setups for FCC testing.