Simplified models of emissions from electronic systems based on near field measurements

Electromagnetic modelling is an essential tool for electromagnetic compatibility characterisation of electrical equipment. All electrical equipment must satisfy international standards for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) to ensure that it does not interfere with other equipment or is susceptible to external interference. The use of simulation software greatly reduces the design and development of new equipment that confirms compliance to EMC standards, so it is widely used throughout the electrical industry. The increasing processor clock signal speeds and the decreasing size of electronic devices has made electromagnetic simulation very demanding. It is not possible to fully model the complexity of electronic devices with full 3D electromagnetic simulators. Some form of simplification of the electronic devices is required. A recent EPSRC funded project by the George Green Institute for Electromagnetics Research has developed a way of characterising the electromagnetic emissions from printed circuit boards (PCBs) using near field scan data so that a simplified model of their behaviour can be constructed. The produced models have been demonstrated to be suitable for use in electromagnetic simulators. This work was very successful and achieved all the project objectives, but was only demonstrated on simple PCB structures and in the frequency domain. For this method to be fully incorporated in the industrial sector, however, it needs to encompass all common PCB structures, their interconnects and be extended into a time domain approach. This proposal will research extending the techniques developed so far using near field scans of PCBs so that it can provide simplified models of all common types of PCBs and include their interconnects and a way of combining their characteristics into complete system models. The work will also look at ways of extending the method into the time domain. In this was it is hoped that models suitable for use in full 3D electromagnetic simulators can be developed to enable engineers to provide EMC characterisation at the design stage.

The research will deliver significant benefits within the commercial private sector, both to the collaborating partners and to wider sectors of industry. The proposers see this research as an enabling technology, equally valuable to perhaps the electronics, communications, automotive, military, aerospace and scientific engineering industries, and consequently, the benefit to industry is very significant. They will particularly benefit from reduced product development time. The simplified emissions models will have many applications beyond Electromagnetic compatibility and enable a large range of what if studies on equipment emissions which may also be of interest to the military or health sectors. The benefit of reduced product development time may be realised in the near term (1-5yrs), 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 (5-10years), further research and development leading from this research will deliver more applications for the simplified emission models which will further benefit these and other sectors. To increase the likelihood that these benefits are realised, we have developed this proposal in consultation with our industrial partners - Cobham technical services and CST - and included a process evaluation and dissemination package within the proposed work programme. A positive outcome from the evaluation of the models (WP 5.1) will provide the industrial partners with a tangible proof of capability and benefits, which will encourage them to adopt the technology in their businesses. The research team will work closely with the industrial partners throughout the project (WP 5.2) to ensure that their current and future requirements are considered, to ensure maximum exploitation. The need for protection of any intellectual property emerging from the project will be assessed through consultation with the university technology transfer offices, which will also assist with the development of longer-term exploitation strategies, including, where appropriate, the development of licensing agreements and the evolution of a spin-out enterprise. Engagement with industry as a whole will be achieved through the industrial partners who have a long history in the electromagnetic compatibility support sector.