Characterising electromagnetic fields of integrated electronic systems in enclosures - a ray-wave approach
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Mathematical Sciences
Abstract
Electronic consumer goods and internet-enabled smart infrastructures require highly integrated miniature electronic systems. One of the main problem with this miniaturisation is that unwanted interactions can arise between different components. Depending on the rate of change of currents within electronic components, these components radiate electromagnetic (EM) waves which can couple into other parts of the structure and can cause interferences. Controlling electromagnetic interferences within electronic devices is becoming an increasingly important challenge. Digital clock speeds are relentlessly increasing already exceeding 10 GHz in high-performance systems and expected to reach 20 GHz by 2020. This is within range of highly sensitive radio frequencies where analogue blocks and chip-sized components become efficient radiators and receivers. In addition, increasing circuit density and decreasing voltage supplies will result in decreased immunity levels. Future design processes of integrated electronic systems will therefore have to include a much more detailed electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) characterisation than is done at present. Carrying out EMC studies for complex multi-signal components within a device in a fast and efficient way will simplify design decisions in industry enormously and will help to bring down costs.
The challenges of delivering fast and reliable EMC modelling tools at high frequencies are enormous; determining EM fields in a complex multi-source environment and in the GHz range including multiple-reflections, diffraction and interferences is a hard task already. For realistic electronic devices, the underlying source fields depend in addition on the (a-priori unknown) mode of operation and are thus aperiodic and time dependent; they act in many ways like stochastic, uncorrelated input signals. Indeed, no EMC methodology for modelling transient signals inside and outside of electronic devices originating from decorrelated, noisy sources exists today.
This proposal sets out to meet this challenge head-on by developing an efficient numerical method and accompanying measurement techniques for the modelling of radiated transient EM fields inside and outside of multifunction electronic devices. The new numerical method is based on ideas from wave chaos theory using Wigner-Weyl transformation and phase-space propagation techniques. It makes use of the connections between wave correlation functions and phase space densities. Methods for efficiently propagating these densities have been developed recently by members of the project team. In this way, we can work directly in terms of statistical measures such as averages and field correlation functions appropriate for stochastic fields. This innovative approach demands input data from measurements which require a rethink of standard measurement techniques. In particular, correlated two-probe near-field measurements of electronic components become necessary which will be developed and tested as part of the project.
The proposed way of approaching EMC issues is completely new and becomes possible only due to the unique mix of expertise available at the University of Nottingham both from the Mathematical Sciences and the Electrical Engineering side Support provided by two industrial partners, inuTech and Computer Simulation Technology (CST), will be vital throughout. This fresh way of thinking will provide the necessary leap within EMC research to satisfy the demands of the electronics industry; it will enhance the applicability of existing EMC protocols and provide the tools to meet the challenges of the future.
The challenges of delivering fast and reliable EMC modelling tools at high frequencies are enormous; determining EM fields in a complex multi-source environment and in the GHz range including multiple-reflections, diffraction and interferences is a hard task already. For realistic electronic devices, the underlying source fields depend in addition on the (a-priori unknown) mode of operation and are thus aperiodic and time dependent; they act in many ways like stochastic, uncorrelated input signals. Indeed, no EMC methodology for modelling transient signals inside and outside of electronic devices originating from decorrelated, noisy sources exists today.
This proposal sets out to meet this challenge head-on by developing an efficient numerical method and accompanying measurement techniques for the modelling of radiated transient EM fields inside and outside of multifunction electronic devices. The new numerical method is based on ideas from wave chaos theory using Wigner-Weyl transformation and phase-space propagation techniques. It makes use of the connections between wave correlation functions and phase space densities. Methods for efficiently propagating these densities have been developed recently by members of the project team. In this way, we can work directly in terms of statistical measures such as averages and field correlation functions appropriate for stochastic fields. This innovative approach demands input data from measurements which require a rethink of standard measurement techniques. In particular, correlated two-probe near-field measurements of electronic components become necessary which will be developed and tested as part of the project.
The proposed way of approaching EMC issues is completely new and becomes possible only due to the unique mix of expertise available at the University of Nottingham both from the Mathematical Sciences and the Electrical Engineering side Support provided by two industrial partners, inuTech and Computer Simulation Technology (CST), will be vital throughout. This fresh way of thinking will provide the necessary leap within EMC research to satisfy the demands of the electronics industry; it will enhance the applicability of existing EMC protocols and provide the tools to meet the challenges of the future.
Planned Impact
The impact of this research will be twofold: on the one hand it will change the way research into 'Electromagnetic Compatibility' (EMC) is conducted and will thus have a strong influence on a whole research field and on the academic and industrial practitioners involved; on the other hand, the proposed research will deliver significant commercial benefits, both to the collaborating partners and to wider sectors of industry. The research will provide technology which will lead to reduced product development times and new EMC standards for electromagnetic devices with realistic modes of operation. The outcomes of this project will in the long run thus be of significant benefit to the electronics, communications, automotive, military, aerospace and scientific engineering industries.
The simplified electromagnetic emission models will have many applications in the context of electromagnetic compatibility. They will enable a large range of "what-if'' studies on equipment emissions allowing much more in depth design decisions at the modelling stage thus reducing costly prototype building and testing. The electronics sectors will thus benefit in particular since the need for rapid product development is being driven by pressure from short commercial lifetimes of modern electronic devices. General engineering industries will benefit through the assured EMC compliance of all equipment. There is a variety of beneficial implications beyond EMC which will impact in particular on the military and health sectors. Benefits for the military will be through better understanding and suppression of electromagnetic emission levels thus helping to protect the camouflage of military equipment, the health sector will be able to assess emission levels on patients in more detail.
The impact on reduced product development time may be realised in the near term (1-5 years), since electromagnetic simulations are already utilised in all identified sectors, and they are well positioned and ready to benefit from the research outcomes. In the longer term (5-10 years), further research and development leading on from this research will deliver virtual design and test tools for ever more complex electronic architectures. The methodology has the potential to become a standard tool in industry on this time scale with significant commercial value. To increase the likelihood that these benefits are realised, we have developed this proposal in consultation with our industrial partners inuTech and CST and included a process evaluation and dissemination package within the proposed work program (WP6 in the case for support). A positive outcome from the evaluation of the models will provide industrial partners with tangible proof of capability and benefits, which will encourage them to adopt the technology in their businesses. It will inform new EMC standards which will have a lasting impact on the whole electronics industry as well as associated manufacturing industries (automotive, aerospace etc) - the way electronic components are placed both within integrated electronic devices and in sensitive areas of mechanical structures (cars, areoplaens) will be based and assessed on these guidelines.
The simplified electromagnetic emission models will have many applications in the context of electromagnetic compatibility. They will enable a large range of "what-if'' studies on equipment emissions allowing much more in depth design decisions at the modelling stage thus reducing costly prototype building and testing. The electronics sectors will thus benefit in particular since the need for rapid product development is being driven by pressure from short commercial lifetimes of modern electronic devices. General engineering industries will benefit through the assured EMC compliance of all equipment. There is a variety of beneficial implications beyond EMC which will impact in particular on the military and health sectors. Benefits for the military will be through better understanding and suppression of electromagnetic emission levels thus helping to protect the camouflage of military equipment, the health sector will be able to assess emission levels on patients in more detail.
The impact on reduced product development time may be realised in the near term (1-5 years), since electromagnetic simulations are already utilised in all identified sectors, and they are well positioned and ready to benefit from the research outcomes. In the longer term (5-10 years), further research and development leading on from this research will deliver virtual design and test tools for ever more complex electronic architectures. The methodology has the potential to become a standard tool in industry on this time scale with significant commercial value. To increase the likelihood that these benefits are realised, we have developed this proposal in consultation with our industrial partners inuTech and CST and included a process evaluation and dissemination package within the proposed work program (WP6 in the case for support). A positive outcome from the evaluation of the models will provide industrial partners with tangible proof of capability and benefits, which will encourage them to adopt the technology in their businesses. It will inform new EMC standards which will have a lasting impact on the whole electronics industry as well as associated manufacturing industries (automotive, aerospace etc) - the way electronic components are placed both within integrated electronic devices and in sensitive areas of mechanical structures (cars, areoplaens) will be based and assessed on these guidelines.
Organisations
- University of Nottingham (Lead Research Organisation)
- ONRG Office of Naval Research Global (Collaboration)
- IMST GmbH (Collaboration)
- European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) (Collaboration)
- University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis (Collaboration)
- Technical University of Munich (Collaboration)
- Telecom Italia (Italy) (Collaboration)
- NXP Semiconductors was Philips Semiconductor (Collaboration)
- University of Maryland, College Park (Collaboration)
- Container Speditions und Transportgesellschaft (Germany) (Project Partner)
- inuTech (Germany) (Project Partner)
Publications
Cecconi F
(2019)
Diffusive transport in highly corrugated channels
in Physics Letters A
Creagh S
(2013)
In-out decomposition of boundary integral equations
in Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical
Creagh S
(2020)
Diffraction of Wigner functions
in Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical
Creagh S
(2017)
Propagating wave correlations in complex systems
in Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical
Gradoni G
(2015)
Propagation of correlation functions in cavities
Gradoni G
(2018)
Near-Field Scanning and Propagation of Correlated Low-Frequency Radiated Emissions
in IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility
Gradoni G
(2015)
A phase-space approach for propagating field-field correlation functions
in New Journal of Physics
Description | We have found an efficient numerical algorithm which is based on the connection between correlation functions of electromagnetic signals and an underlying ray dynamics related to the EM radiation. We have demonstrated that the method predicts the propagation of radiation accurately by comparing with measurements and exact calculations. This methods adds new analysis tools in understanding radiation inside cavities. |
Exploitation Route | The EPSRC grant led to further funding in terms of an FETopen grant (Horizon2020) and collaboration with Telecom Italia. We will develop the method further with our new partners to make use in modelling near-filed communication inside complex domains and for modelling possible 5G networks. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Electronics Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Transport |
URL | http://www.wamoresearch.org |
Description | The findings have been used to attract new funding from the European Commission and from Telecom Italia. In the FETopen EC grant (2015-18), we have been working with 3 industrial partners, IMST GmbH, CST AG and NXP Semiconductors to further develop the methods established in this project to achieve lasting impact. We have in addition attracted funding from the Office of Naval Research (2016-20), US, to work on EMC related issues in the context of EM fields in a naval environment. The knowledge base created by this grant led to an Impact Case by Dr Gabriele Gradoni and myself, see https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/vision/making-way-for-5g-and-beyond-1 . Dr Gradoni was the post doc funded by the EPSRC grant and is now Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham. In particular, his work with Telecom Italia has led to the company making sustainable wireless power policies for 5G, limiting human exposure to the waves in indoor environments like houses and factories, in line with Italian government guidelines. Dr Gradoni is now a Royal Society Industry Fellow with BT, hosted by the Maxwell Centre, University of Cambridge and is helping the telecoms giant with the rollout of its 5G network and making decisions on future technologies to evolve the nationwide network towards the planning of 6G. Dr Gradoni is also the PI for a new EU Horizon2020 RIA ICT52 project (Rise-6G 2021-2025, https://5g-ppp.eu/rise-6g/) making use of the technologies established in integrating Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) in complex EM environments working among other with Telecom Italia, NEC Laboratories and Orange as well as the car manufacturer FIAT (in the context of smart factory applications). |
First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
Impact Types | Economic Policy & public services |
Description | Telecom Italia study |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or Improved professional practice |
Impact | See above. |
Description | MHiVec |
Amount | € 328,820 (EUR) |
Funding ID | Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IAPP PROJECT NO: 612237 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 08/2013 |
End | 08/2017 |
Description | NEMF21 |
Amount | € 851,425 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 664828 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 09/2015 |
End | 09/2018 |
Description | Propagating electromagnetic signals through complex built-up structures - Resilience of electromagnetic components in the presence of EM noise and environmental uncertainty |
Amount | $283,366 (USD) |
Funding ID | N62909-16-1-2115 |
Organisation | US Navy |
Department | US Office of Naval Research Global |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United States |
Start | 05/2016 |
End | 05/2019 |
Description | Propagation and fading in mmWave wireless communications |
Amount | € 15,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | Telecom Italia |
Sector | Private |
Country | Italy |
Start | 08/2015 |
End | 08/2016 |
Description | Reconfigurable Intelligent Sustainable Environments for 6G Wireless Networks (RISE-6G) |
Amount | € 6,499,613 (EUR) |
Funding ID | H2020-EUK-815323/RISE-6G |
Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 01/2020 |
End | 12/2024 |
Description | CST |
Organisation | European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) |
Country | Belgium |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | We are collaborating on the HORIZON 2020 FETopen project NEMF21. We develop together new software tools to describe near-field chip-to-chip communication. |
Collaborator Contribution | Provided 3 year software licence and training. |
Impact | None yet. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | IMST |
Organisation | IMST GmbH |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | IMST is a partner in the FETopen project NEMF21. We are developing together simulation tools and equipment useful for near-field communication which could be used for Chip-to-Chip communication. |
Collaborator Contribution | IMST provides their Empire software package including training as in-kind contribution. In addition, we get a lot of useful support and advice from them |
Impact | No outputs yet |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | NXP |
Organisation | NXP Semiconductors was Philips Semiconductor |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We are partners in the Horizon2020 FETopen project NEMF21. We are developing toghether software and equipment for future chip-to-chip communication devices. |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing expertise and equipment. |
Impact | Nothing yet. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | ONR Global |
Organisation | ONRG Office of Naval Research Global |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Reports and Paper |
Collaborator Contribution | We won a grant covering for a 3 year PDPR position. |
Impact | Papers and reports |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | TUM |
Organisation | Technical University of Munich |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are partners in the Horizon 2020 FETopen project NEMF21. We work together developing the theory for near field chip-to-chip communication as well as sharing expertise on measurement techniques. |
Collaborator Contribution | We work together developing the theory for near field chip-to-chip communication as well as sharing expertise on measurement techniques. |
Impact | Several conference proceedings. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Telecom Italia |
Organisation | Telecom Italia |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We did various small projects for the company Telecom Italia amounting to a research sponsorship of in total 25000 Euros. The projects dealt with simulating a EM fields in a complex environment using both exact field solvers (TLM) and approximative solutions (DEA). |
Collaborator Contribution | Telecom Italia sponsored the research and received reports. We are discussing a long term collaboration on mobile network coverage. |
Impact | Two project reports; two conference proceedings, government guidelines on indoor EM levels |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | University Nice |
Organisation | University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are working together in the FETopen proejct NEMF21 |
Collaborator Contribution | See above. |
Impact | We are in the process of writing joint papers. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | University of Maryland |
Organisation | University of Maryland, College Park |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration via research exchanges and working within an ONRG project |
Collaborator Contribution | see above |
Impact | Preparing joint papers |
Start Year | 2016 |