SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Electromagnetic Compatibility Research

Test Capabilities

 

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Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) offers a full range of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) services. Extensive facilities and equipment combined with an experienced staff provide unique capabilities to assist clients during product development. Since 1956, SwRI has developed EMC standards, specifications, hardware, and software for a variety of applications, including the following:
 


 


EMC Test Capabilities

MIL-STD-461 (A), (B), (C), (D)

MIL-STD-462 (D)

RTCA-DO-160

FCC Part 15 class B,
Other parts 2,68 

Telcordia GR-1089-CORE

FDA

SAE J551/
SAE J1113

European Community
(EC)

Light/Heavy Industrial

General Motors
(GM 9100P)

Ford Motor Co.

Chrysler Corp.

IEC-801/IEC 1000/
EN-61000

 

BCIOQ (Taiwan)

 

 

MIL-STD Test Capabilities

Standard

Effective Date

Standard

Effective Date

MIL-STD-461A

August 1, 1969

MIL-STD-461D

January 11, 1993

Notice 1

February 7, 1969

  

Notice 2

March 20, 1969

MIL-STD-462

July 31, 1967

Notice 3

May 1, 1970

Notice 1

August 1, 1968

Notice 4

February 9, 1971

Notice 2

May 1, 1970

Notice 5

March 6, 1973

Notice 3

February 9, 1971

Notice 6

July 3, 1973

Notice 4

April 1, 1980
  

Notice 5

August 4, 1986

MIL-STD-461B

April 1, 1980

Notice 6

October 15, 1987
     

MIL-STD-461 C

August 4, 1986

MIL-STD-462D January 11, 1993

Notice 1

April 1, 1987

MIL-STD-461EAugust 20, 1999

Notice 2

August 14, 1987

  

 

RTCA-DO-160

Section

Title

 

Section

Title

Section 16

Power Input

 

Section 20

Radio Frequency Susceptibility (Radiated and Conducted)

Section 17

Voltage Spike

 

Section 21

Emission of Radio Frequency Energy

Section 18

Audio Frequency Conducted Susceptibility – Power Inputs

 

Section 22

Lightning Induced Transient Susceptibility

Section 19

Induced Signal Susceptibility

 

Section 25

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)

 

FCC

Part 15

Subpart B - Unintentional radiators

Class A – A digital device that is marketed for use in a commercial, industrial, or business environment.

Class B – A digital device that is marketed for use in a residential environment notwithstanding use in commercial, business, and industrial environments.

 

Subpart C – Intentional Radiators

Subpart D – Unlicensed Personal Communications Service Devices

European Community
(EC)

Part 18

Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment (ISM)

Part 68

Connection of Terminal Equipment to the telephone network

 

SwRI maintains an extensive inventory of EMC test equipment covering frequencies from DC to 110 GHz, including:

  • Receivers

  • Spectrum analyzers

  • Probes

  • Signal sources

  • RF amplifiers

  • Antennas

SwRI also maintains a variety of custom equipment for specialized automotive, avionics, and medical testing. This equipment and auxiliary generic test equipment are calibrated regularly by accredited quality assurance specialists here at SwRI.


SwRI developed a unique direct injection test method to test automotive air bag initiators and other electro-explosive devices (EEDs) for radio frequency immunity.


Computers and software are configured to perform computer-controlled tests. The Institute's local area network facilitates on-line data reduction capabilities and allows private client access to data. SwRI capabilities include:


Conducted Emissions (CE)

  • Conducted switching transients

  • Conducted narrow-band and broad-band emissions

Radiated Emissions (RE)

  • Automated testing from 30 Hz to 110 GHz

Conducted Immunity (CI)

  • Conducted transients

  • High-voltage sinusoidal bursts (10 kHz to 220 MHz)

  • Radio frequency (RF) injection at discrete frequencies from 0.5 MHz to 18 GHz

  • Lightning transients

  • AC power crosses and surges

Radiated Immunity (RI)

  • Transverse electromagnetic (TEM) cell testing from DC to 1 GHz

  • Tri-plate-line testing from 10 kHz

  • Shielded enclosure testing:

  • 10 kHz to 2.8 GHz at 200 V/m

  • 2.8 GHz to 18 GHz up to 100 V/m

  • Open area test site (OATS) at licensed discrete frequencies from 10 kHz to 18 GHz up to 100 V/m

Electrostatic Discharge

  • Positive or negative polarity from -25 kV to 25 kV

  Photo of small satellites and subsystems that SwRI tests for electromagnetic compatibility in accordance with military and NASA specifications such as MIL-STD-461 and MSFC-521B.
 

The Institute tests small satellites and subsystems for electromagnetic compatibility in accordance with military and NASA specifications such as MIL-STD-461 and MSFC-521B.

General EMC Standards

Specific EMC Standards

  • MIL-STD 461/462

  • FDA EMC guidelines

  • IEEE DoD 587, RTCA/DO-160

  • MIL-STD-1686, DoD-HDBK-283 (ESD programs)

  • IEC-801/IEC-1000/EN-61000

  • Telcordia (Bellcore) GR-1089-CORE

  • SAE J551 and J1113

The Institute tests small satellites and subsystems for electromagnetic compatibility in accordance with military and NASA specifications such as MIL-STD-461 and MSFC-521B.

  Motorcycle in anechoic chamber. Evaluation and analyses of whole vehicle radiated immunity


 

Computer-Controlled Testing

SwRI has developed software to automate most routine EMC tests. Computer-assisted calibration ensures reproducible and repeatable test results, which are important during the development of preproduction equipment. Test data are available for each test point, allowing detailed study of equipment performance during the test.


 

Vehicle EMC Design Evaluation

The Institute performs automotive component and whole-vehicle tests for compliance with SAE, U.S., and international EMC vehicular industry standards. These services can be performed at any stage in development – from initial concept to final production. After analyses and investigation, SwRI can offer modification suggestions and services to the client.


 

  Photo of telecommunications equipment at the open-area test site. Telcordia GR-1089 radiated emissions test of telecommunications equipment.

Medical Devices

SwRI tests electronic medical implants, monitoring equipment, and diagnostic equipment to European Union standards and to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) Reviewer Guidance for Premarket Notification Submissions.


 

Telecommunication Devices

SwRI tests central office and shelf-mount telecommunications equipment for EMC, earthquake resistance, and fire in accordance with the Telcordia GR-1089-CORE test standard. The Institute also tests cell phones and other intentional radiators to FCC regulations.


For more information about electromagnetic compatibility test capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Jenny Ferren at jferren@swri.org or (210) 522-2329.  We can offer you insights about how to specify the best approach to solving your EMC problem.

Contact Information

Jenny Ferren

Electromagnetic Compatibility

(210) 522-2329

jferren@swri.org

Related Terminology

industrial standards

military specifications

electromagnetic compatibility research

A2LA

ISO 17025

automotive components testing

AEMCLRP

NARTE

whole vehicle testing

component testing

subsystem evaluations

immunity testing

radiated emissions measurement

ANSI C63.4

CISPR

IEC

ISO standards

SAE specification

SAE J1113-25

electromagnetic emissions detection

susceptibility problems

immunity problems

 
 

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Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

June 26, 2008