Designing electronic systems to ensure good EMC performance is crucial if products are to pass EMC testing. Good EMC designs are not hard to implement, especially if they are undertaken from the earliest design stages. If changes need to be made later in the product design to pass EMC compliance, then it becomes much more difficult and costly. That’s why EMC design follows variously tested and proven design approaches for optimal results.

EMC Design Basics

Any electronic circuit that has signals that vary in frequency tends to produce emissions, as any wires and interconnections will act as radiating antennas. Also, electronic circuits also tend to pick up radiated emissions from other electronic circuits or gadgets, whether they are producing emissions deliberately or not. EMC design takes these two aspects into consideration and works to minimise radiated emissions as well as boost immunity against electromagnetic radiations from various sources.

EMC design also takes into consideration any inductive and capacitive coupling, along with any unwanted emissions that may be conducted along power lines connecting multiple electronic gadgets and appliances. EMI problems can prevent adjacent electronic equipment from working alongside one another. With the tremendous increase in the use of electronic appliances in the world, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) has become a particularly crucial consideration.

As a result, it has become paramount for electronic equipment manufacturers to design for EMC from the onset and implement the various design approaches for EMC into the overall design blueprint of their products. Only by considering the EMC requirements of a product at the conceptual stages of development can effective measures be implemented correctly.

Designing For EMC Compliance

When designing an electronic circuit board, it is important to consider a number of factors to ensure that it passes Electromagnetic Compliance tests. Attempting to fix compliance issues long after the circuit has been designed and built will be extremely difficult and expensive. With that said, there are several design aspects that can be addressed during product development to ensure EMC performance is achieved:

  • EMC Circuit design for minimum radiation
  • EMC filters
  • Circuit partitioning
  • Grounding

Electronic Systems Design EMC Compliance Best Practices

1). EMC Circuit Design For Minimum Radiation

EMC circuit design can help you design a circuit board with the main goal of minimising electromagnetic interference between different cables and circuits. Different measures can be used to minimise radiation in a piece of equipment. However, a careful balance must be made between electromagnetic compatibility and equipment performance.

2). EMC Design: Filters

One of the key issues to consider when designing for Electromagnetic Compliance is RF radiated emissions that come from connecting cables. Cables typically radiate and receive signals, and this can be an EMC problem. One solution is to place filters at the entry and exit points of cables leaving and entering the unit. 

3). EMC Design: Circuit Partitioning

Circuit portioning involves designating different parts of a circuit into EMC critical and non-critical areas. EMC critical areas are those parts of the circuit that emit radiation or are susceptible to radiation. Non-critical EMC areas are those parts of the circuit that are unlikely to emit radiation or be susceptible to radiation.

4). EMC Design: Grounding

Poor grounding can result in earth loops that cause signals to be picked up or radiated within the unit, hence poor EMC performance. Planning a grounding and earth system is crucial for good EMC performance. Short and thick wires are more appropriate for grounding. 

These and other EMC design approaches can be adopted to ensure that an electronic product is free from EMC issues. Following these design practices from start to finish is the best way to ensure that your product meets the strict EMC performance standards set by regulatory bodies.

Compliance Engineering offers accredited testing services for a broad range of products in particular compliance with EMC and EMI regulations in Australia. We provide the highest standard of environmental testing that measures the performance of specific products under particular environmental conditions.

Please call us today at Compliance Engineering on + 61 3 9763 3079 or leave an enquiry.