Tutorial 10

Effect of Electromagnetic Fields

(1) What is EMI?

Electromagnetic interference, abbreviated EMI, is the interference caused by an

electromagnetic disturbance affecting the performance of a device, transmission channel, or
system. It is also called radio frequency interference, or RFI, when the interference is in the
radio frequency spectrum.

All of us encounter EMI in our everyday life. Common examples are:

- Disturbance in the audio/video signals on radio/TV due an aircraft flying at a low
altitude
- Noise on microphones from a cell phone handshaking with communication tower
to process a call
- A welding machine or a kitchen mixer/grinder generating undesired noise on the
radio
- In flights, particularly while taking off or landing, we are required to switch off
cell phones since the EMI from an active cell phone interferes with the navigation
signals.

(2) Sources of EMI

There are three types or sources of electromagnetic interference : natural, inherent, and
man-made. One way of categorizing the type of EMI is by the way it was created :

(i) Natural EMI

Natural interference is caused by natural events, such as snow storms, electrical storms,
rain particles and solar radiation. This type of interference is commonly called
static or atmospheric noise. It can cause problems with RF communications and older
data links between shore, ship, and air. However, it does not cause many problems with
modern digital data equipment.

(ii) Inherent EMI

Inherent interference is noise within a piece of electronic equipment, caused by

thermal agitation of electrons flowing through circuit resistance. (This noise is usually
noticed as the background noise heard in a radio receiver when it is tuned to a frequency
between stations.

(iii) Man-Made EMI

Man-made EMI is produced by a number of different classes of electrical and electronic

equipment. They include transmitters, welders, power lines, motors and generators,
lighting, engines and igniters, and electrical controllers. These devices can cause
severe EMI, which can degrade the operation of shipboard or shore based data
processing equipment.
 (3) Types of EMI

Another method of categorizing the type of EMI is by its duration.

(i) Continuous interference:

This type of EMI generally arises from a source such as a circuit that is emitting a
continuous signal. However background noise, which is continuous, may be created
in a number of ways, either manmade or naturally occurring.
(ii) Impulse noise:
Again, this type of EMI may be man-made or naturally occurring. Lightning, ESD, and
switching systems all contribute to impulse noise which is a form of EMI.

It is also possible to categorize the different types of EMI by their bandwidth.

(i) Narrowband:
Typically this form of EMI is likely to be a single carrier source possibly generated by
an oscillator of some form. Another form of narrowband EMI is the spurious signals
caused by inter modulation and other forms of distortion in a transmitter such as a
mobile phone of Wi-Fi router. These spurious signals will appear at different points
in the spectrum and may cause interference to another user of the radio spectrum. As
such these spurious signals must be kept within tight limits.
(ii) Broadband:
There are many forms of broadband noise which can be experienced. It can arise
from a great variety of sources. Man-made broadband interference can arise from
sources such as arc welders where a spark is continuously generated. Naturally
occurring broadband noise can be experienced from the Sun - it can cause sun-outs
for satellite television systems when the Sun appears behind the satellite and noise
can mask the wanted satellite signal. Fortunately these episodes only last for a few
minutes

(4) EMI coupling Mechanism

The basic arrangement of noise source, coupling path and victim, receptor or sink is
shown in the figure below. Source and victim are usually electronic hardware devices,
though the source may be a natural phenomenon such as a lightning strike, electrostatic
discharge (ESD).
There are four basic coupling mechanisms: conductive, capacitive, magnetic or inductive,
and Radiative. Any coupling path can be broken down into one or more of these coupling
mechanisms working together. For example the lower path in the diagram involves
inductive, conductive and capacitive modes.
(i) Conductive coupling
Conductive coupling occurs when the coupling path between the source and the receptor
is formed by direct electrical contact with a conducting body, for example a transmission
line, wire, cable, PCB trace or metal enclosure.
Conducted noise is also characterized by the way it appears on different conductors:

In Common-mode or common-impedance coupling, noise appears in phase (in the same

direction) on two conductors.

In Differential-mode coupling: noise appears out of phase (in opposite directions) on

two conductors.
(ii) Inductive coupling
Inductive coupling occurs where the source and receiver are separated by a short
distance (typically less than a wavelength). Strictly, "Inductive coupling" can be of two
kinds, electrical induction and magnetic induction. It is common to refer to electrical
induction as capacitive coupling, and to magnetic induction as inductive coupling.
a. Capacitive coupling
Capacitive coupling occurs when a varying electrical field exists between two adjacent
conductors typically less than a wavelength apart, inducing a change in voltage on the
receiving conductor.
b. Magnetic coupling
Inductive coupling or magnetic coupling (MC) occurs when a varying magnetic
field exists between two parallel conductors typically less than a wavelength apart,
inducing a change in voltage along the receiving conductor.
(iii) Radiative coupling
Radiative coupling or electromagnetic coupling occurs when source and victim are
separated by a large distance, typically more than a wavelength. Source and victim act as
radio antennas: the source emits or radiates an electromagnetic wave which propagates
across the space in between and is picked up or received by the victim

(5) Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)

Electromagnetic compatibility or EMC means that a device is compatible with (i.e., no

interference is caused by) its electromagnetic (EM) environment and it does not emit
levels of EM energy that cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) in other devices in the
vicinity.
EMC is defined as the ability of devices and systems to operate in their electromagnetic
environment without impairing their functions and without faults and vice versa.
There are two main elements to EMC:
a. Emissions:
The EMI emissions refer to the generation of unwanted electromagnetic energy.
These need to be reduced below certain acceptable limits to ensure they do not
cause any disruption to other equipment.
b. Susceptibility & immunity:
The susceptibility of an item of electronics to EMI is the way it reacts to unwanted
electromagnetic energy. The aim of the design of the circuit is to ensure a
sufficiently high level of immunity to these unwanted signals.