Today, electrical and electronic

systems are available everywhere as a

result of the advancement in
technology.
The above makes it necessary for
diverse circuits to operate in close
proximity to each other
These circuits generate or emit energy
capable of disturbing the normal
operation of each other
Natural occurrence like thunderstorm
and lightening also emit this energy.
The emitted energy is referred to as
electromagnetic energy.
The disturbance resulting from the
electromagnetic energy is termed
electromagnetic interference (EMI)
By definition, Electromagnetic
Interference is any electromagnetic
disturbance that interrupts, obstructs,
or otherwise degrades the equipment
performance.
Electromagnet
Magnet in which the magnetic field is produced
by an electric current

Electromagnetic field
A field of force associated with a moving electric
charge and consisting of electric and magnetic
fields that are generated at right angles to each
other.
Electromagnetic disturbance
Any electromagnetic phenomenon which may
degrade the performance of a device, equipment
or system, or adversely affect living or inert matter.
Electromagnetic compatibility, EMC
The ability of an equipment or system to function
satisfactorily in its electromagnetic environment
without introducing intolerable electromagnetic
disturbances to anything in that environment
To make compatible means 2 things:
An electronic system should not disturb
other systems.
We talk about Electromagnetic Emission
(EME)
An electronic system is immune for
disturbances induced by other
systems.
We talk about Electromagnetic
Susceptibility (EMS)
 Before the twentieth century, few
man-made sources of electromagnetic
radiation existed.
However, the first crude radio
receivers tended to be susceptible to
interference from natural noise
sources such as lightening,
thunderstorm, etc.
The correction of this problem was
usually by changing frequencies or by
simply moving the transmitter or receiver.
As a result, prior to the 1930's, the
designers of electrical circuits and
systems typically needed only to ensure
that their devices would function in the
presence of natural noise sources such
as lightning or sunspots.
No consideration was given to design
of system with immunity to EMI
In the years that followed, more and
more man-made sources of
electromagnetic radiation began to
appear
At nearly the same time it became
possible to transmit and receive
complex information-carrying signals
via radio, television, and telephones.
The above resulted in increased
generation and use of electricity
Proliferation of noise sources such as
dc motors, ac power lines, relays, and
fluorescent light bulbs came into play.
The design of electromagnetically
compatible systems was still not a
priority during this period, however
conflicts between electrical devices
became much more common.
In 1933, the International Special
Committee on Radio Interference
(CISPR) was formed and produced a
document regarding equipment for
measuring EMI emissions.
World War II saw the introduction of
radar and other remote sensing
systems, along with the use of radio
communication in combat.
Instrumental in the development of
radar was the introduction of small
microwave sources, such as the cavity
magnetron.
This and other relatively small electronic
devices, were incorporated into vehicles
such as ships, airplanes, and
automobiles.
During the war, it became evident that
vehicles which emitted electronic
signals, even unintentionally, could be
detected at a great distance
Moreover, an enemy could disrupt
electrical systems such as radios and
navigational devices by intentionally
broadcasting electronic noise and false
signals.
The advent of electronic warfare
ushered in the need for electromagnetic
immunity and compatibility.
After the war, the testing of nuclear
weapons reveled that the
electromagnetic pulse generated by a
nuclear blast could damage or destroy
certain types of electronic equipment.
As a result the U.S. military became
interested in creating systems which
were immune from the effects of
external interference
In the early 1960's, MIL-STD-461 was imposed,
regulating not only electromagnetic emissions,
but susceptibility as well.
Also in the years following World War II, CISPR
produced various publications dealing with
recommended emissions limits, which were
adopted by some European countries.
The U.S. government became involved as the
manufacturers of digital computers and related
devices began selling large numbers of products.
With the proliferation of small,
integrated circuit devices came a
dramatic increase in the number of
compatibility problems.
In 1979, the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) began regulating
the amount of electromagnetic energy
that digital devices could emit.
Today, the increasing speed, and
decreasing size of micro-electronic
circuits has made electromagnetic
compatibility a critical aspect of
product design
 Sourc Coupli Recepto
e ng r
Path
The source is the emitter of the
interference
The coupling path transmits the
interference signal from the source to the
receptor. It can be conductive, radiative,
inductive or capacitive.
The receptor receives noise or
interference from the source. As such it is
called the victim
 BASED ON
CAUSES AND
PROBLEMS

Inter- Intra-
System System
 BASED ON
OPERATION

Radiated Conducted
EMI EMI

Narrow Broad Band

Band
Caused by induction (without physical contact of the conductors).
Narrow band interference usually arises from intentional transmissions
such as radio and TV stations, pager transmitters , cell phones etc. It is a high
frequency operation .
Broad band interference usually comes from incidental radio frequency
emitters. These includes electric power transmission lines, electric motors etc.
It is a low frequency operation
 Caused by the physical contact of the conductors as opposed to
radiated EMI, which
Electromagnetic disturbances in the EM field of a conductor will
no longer be confined to the surface of the conductor and will
radiate away from it.
This persists in all conductors and mutual inductance between
two radiated electromagnetic fields will result in EMI
 EMI SOURCES
These are divided mainly into two types.
I. Natural and
II. Man-made
Natural EMI sources are again of the following
types:
Terrestrial e.g. Lightening, thunderstorm
and
Extra-Terrestrial: e.g. Solar Noise, Cosmic
Noise and Radio Star
Man-made sources are also
divide into two types:
Communication : e.g. Radar,
Telephone, Broadcast
and
Non Communication: e.g.
Computers, Tools, Vehicles,
Industrial, Medical &
Household equipment
TRANSMISSION LINES - unintentional activation
or explosion of electro explosive devices apart
from presenting radiation hazards to humans.
MAINS POWER SUPPLY- impair the operation of
computers and many IT products.
SWITCHES AND RELAYS- Affects telephone
circuit and radio telescopes
TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT - picks up
transmissions from nearby television stations
AIRCRAFT NAVIGATION- affects navigational
equipment during takeoff and landing
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS- induces steady current,
surging of shock current through the body and
induce electrochemical process and voltage in
human body
MILITARY EQUIPMENT- causes missile launch
failure.
INSECURE COMMUNICATIONS -intelligence
bearing signal can be analyzed by sensors which
leads to insecure communication
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS- sometimes
burnout the devices. In digital circuits
-increases BER or malfunctions the circuit
and in analog circuits -increases noise
levels and degrades the operation of
circuits and systems.
RADIO ASTRONOMY- Weak radio signals
from pulsars and distant galaxies are
difficult to detect
Momentary Effects of EMI
disturbance in TV and radio
reception due to operation of electric
shavers, a passing vehicle or phone calls,
etc.
Change of setting of status of control
equipments
Reset of computers and loss of data.
Burning out of sensitive cells /
components.
Failure of pace maker implanted in a
patient.
False initiation of electro explosive
detonator.
Malfunctioning of flight controlling system
due to use of laptop by passenger
Biological hazards:
Thermal Effect
Non Thermal Effect
Excessive exposure to Electromagnetic
Radiation may result in:
Cancer, asthma, heart problems, chest
pain, insomnia, etc.
The figure below shows the four mechanism of EMI coupling:
Conductive coupling
Here,there is a direct contact between the source and the
victim e.g. a transmission line, wire, cable, PCB trace or
metal enclosure.
Conducted EMI is also characterized by the way it
appears on different conductors:
Common mode or common impedance coupling:
Noise appears in phase(in the same direction) on two
conductors.
Differential mode coupling:
Noise appears out of phase(in the opposite direction)on
two conductors.
Capacitive coupling
occurs when a varying electrical field exists between two
adjacent conductors typically less than a wavelength apart,
inducing a change in voltage across the gap.
Inductive/Magnetic coupling
occurs when 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.
Radiative coupling or electromagnetic coupling
The 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 open space in
between and is picked up or received by the victim
 Suppression of emissions at the source
Interruption or reduction of the efficiency of

the coupling path

Making the receptor immune to emissions
Proper Groundingsingle point, multi point
or hybrid grounding depending upon the
frequency of operation.
Shielding Metal barrier is used to suppress
coupling of radiated EM energy into the
equipment.
EMI Filtering-used to suppress conducted
interference on power, signal and control lines.
PCB layout Proper PCB design from the early
design stage is required.
so far, we were able to create
awareness about the existence
of electromagnetic interference,
its sources, transmission,
coupling mechanisms, effects,
control and some examples of
EMI.
Thank you