EP 0 880 311 A1 Europtisches Patentamt European Patent Ottice “3 (12) Office européen des brevets a) EP 0880 311 A1 EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION published in accordance with Art. 158(3) EPC (43) Date of publication 25.11.1998 Bulletin 1998148 (21) Application number: 97942249.0 (22) Date of fing: 03.10.1997 (51) Int. ci: HOBK 9/00 (86) International application number: PCT/JP97/03556 (87) International publication number: ‘WO 98/15161 (09.04.1998 Gazette 1998/14) (84) Designated Contracting States: DE FRGBNL (80) Priority: 04.10.1996 JP 26427496 (71) Applicant MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. Kadoma-shi, Osaka-u, 571 (JP) (72) Inventor: SAKIYAMA, Kazuyuki (Osaka 575 (JP) (74) Representative Crawford, Androw Birkby ot al ‘AA. THORNTON & CO. Northumberland House 303-306 High Holborn London WC1V 7LE (GB) (64) (57) The electromagnetic field shielding apparatus of the present invention includes the electromagnetic field detection col 21 for detecting an AC leakage elec- tromagnetic field and the parallel resonance circuit 22- 24 whose circuit constants are predetermined so that the resonance frequency matches the frequency of the ‘electromotive force induced by the electromagnetic field detection coll 21. The resistor 24 of the parallel reso- nance circuit consumes energy so that the strengths of the magnetic and electrical fiekis passing through the electromagnetic field detection coll 21 are suppressed. ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD SHIELDING DEVICE an is ry2 EP 0 880311 At Description FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus which shields an electromagnetic field emerging from the inside of an electrical device, and in particular to a resonance-ype shield and an active shield which both use electronic circuitry, DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Electrical and electronic devices can generate electromagnetic fields. While weak, such fields can make other devices work erroneously or have adverse effets on the health of users, 60 that devices need tobe shielded. Shield members made of electric conductors or ferromagnetic materials are conventionally usedto shield the elec: tromagnetic fells (see Journal ofthe Electrical Society Vol. 116, Apil 1996, 1203-0217), Figs. 21(a) and 21(0) are drawings that show a conventional method for shielding an electromagnetic field with a shield member. Fig. 21(a) shows a state where an electromagnetic field generated in an electrical device is emerging from the ‘opening 11 ofthe chassis 10, Fig. 21(6) shows a state where the opening 11 is covered with the shield member 12 to shield the electromagnetic fie ‘When the shield member 12is composed ofan electrically conductive material ne generated electromagnetic field is reflected back into the device chassis by eddy currents which are generated in the shield member as a reaction to the leakage electromagnetic field. Conversely, when the shield member 12 is composed of a magnetic material that is more magnetically permeable than air, the magnetic component of the electromagnetic field is confined within the passing through the electromagnetic detection coil 21, is generated in the electromagnetic field detection coil 21 vent rome) where Nis the numberof turns of the electromagnetic field detection col 21 ‘sis apparent from Formula 1, the electromagnetic fild shielding apparatus 20 only detects variation ina leakage “flux” (an AC leakage flux), it may be said thatthe electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20 detects an "electromag6 2 EP 0.880311 A1 etic ila" because an electric field is also generated at the place where magnetic fux varies. “The capacitor 22, the col 23, an the resistor 24 which are mounted onto the circuit board 25 act as the load when the electromotive force Vs induced in the electromagnetic fied detection col 21 isthe signal source to the load. The ‘elements construct a parallel resonance circuit whose resonance frequency 10 is expressed by Formula 2 below. 1 Fi u (Forma 2) 1 ood where Cis the capacitance (F) of the capacitor 22, Lt the inductance (H) of the coil23, and R the resistance value (2) ofthe resistor 24, The specfc values ofthese C, 1, and Rare predetermined so that center frequency (the frequency ‘ofa signal component having the largest quantity in the frequency spectrum) of the leakage magnetic flux whichis the target ofthe electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20 matches the resonance frequency 10 expressed by Formula 2 above. For instance, the combined use of a 0.01uF capacitor 22, a 1OuH coll 23, and a 100 resistor 24 achieves an ‘electromagnetic field shielding apparatus which shields a 478KHz electromagnetic fild ‘The following isa description of the technical basis ofthe shield effect produced by the electromagnetic field shield ing apparatus 20, ‘When an AC electromagnetic field passes through the elactromagnatic field detection coll 21, the AC-induced ele: tromotve force Vs shown in Formula 1 is generated by variation in a magnetic ux in the electromagnetic field. This AC signal Vs is supplied tothe pre-tuned parallel resonance circuit including the elements 22-24 (hereinafter this circu is called “the parallel resonance circuit 22-24" or “the resonance circuit 22-24", In the resonance circuit 22-24, resonance is caused, generating electricity which is accumulated in the capacitor 22. ‘The resistor 24 with postive resistance is inserted ino the resonance cicult 22-24 to consume electricity, The con- ‘sumption of electricity by the resistor 24 means the consumption ofthe electromotive force induced in the electromag: etic field detection coil 21, that is, the release of energy of the leakage electromagnetic field. Therefore, the ‘Consumption ofthe electricity by the resistor 24 achieves the result that the electromagnetic field is shielded. “That isto say, because the electromotive force Vs induced by the electromagnetic detection col 21 is attenuated by the resistor 24 in the parallel resonance circuit, the variation in the magnetic flux ® passing through the electromag: netic detection col 21 is suppressed and vanishes. Itis apparent from Formula & below, which is one of Maxwells equa tions, that, when there is no variation in a magnetic flux (namely variation in the magnetic field H of variation influx density B) in an AC electromagnetic field, the electric fied E is also zero in the electromagnetic field detection col 21. 2=-98 (wher roté=-$? (where H) (Formula 3) ‘Therefore, the magnetic field and the electric fied in the electromagnetic field detection coll 21, that is, the electro: ‘magnetic field that attempts to pass through the electromagnetic field detection coll 21 can be shielded. ‘The following is a description of results of a simulation ofthe shield etfect of the electromagnetic field shielding ‘apparatus 20 having the above structure, Figs. 5(a) to 5(¢) show the simulation model used to verify the shield effect of the electromagnetic field shielding ‘apparatus 20, where Fig. 5(a) isa perspective view, Fig. (0) isa top end view, and Fig. 5(c) is sectional view taken ‘along line B-8 of Fig. 5). ‘This medal includes the oll 18 which generates a radiation electromagnetic field of 100KHe, the lower chassis 10a \which contains the col 18 and is open upward, the upper chassis 10b which is placed over the lower chassis 10a with the opening gap 14 therebetween, and the electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20 which is placed to shield the clectromagnetic fel that emerges from the front ofthe opening gap 14 ‘The lower chassis 10a and the upper chassis 10b are originally a rectangular chassis except for its top and the top, respectively, and are made of magnetic substances, Fig. 6 shows the distribution of the leakage fx ines in the sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 5(b), when the simulation model is not provided with the electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20. Fig. 7 shows the distribution of the leakage flux ines in the sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. S(t), when the simulation mode! is provided withthe electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20, Itis apparent from the Figs. 6 and 7 thatthe leakage flux ines leaking from the chassis 10a and 10b are abated by the electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20, Fig. 8is a graph showing the shield effect onthe electromagnetic field, when the capacitance ofthe capacitor 22 land the resistance value of the resistor 24 are fied at constant values and the inductance of the col 23 is changed in the electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20. The vertical axis shows the shield effect on the leakage electromag:2 EP 0 880311 At netic fleld, namely the strength ofthe magnetic field when the electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20 is provided, ‘on the assumption thatthe strength ofthe leakage magnetic fied without the electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20is one, Itis apparent from Fig. 8 thatthe profoundest effect is produced by tuning the resonance frequency ofthe parallel resonance circuit 22-24 in the electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20 tothe frequency of the AC electromagnetic field generated in the chassis 10a and 10b. As desctibed above, the resonance-ype electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20 of Embodiment 1 of the ‘present invention shields the electromagnetic feld passing through the electromagnetic field detection coll 21. Further- mere, because this electromagnet field detection col 21 can be formed in any shape, itis possible to shield the elec ‘tromagnetic field emerging from an opening of a device chassis without covering the opening, thereby keeping the ‘opening unobstructed. Also, by appropriately selecting the electronic parts 22-24 of the paralll resonance circuit, an electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20 which corresponds to various kinds of AC electromagnetic fields of diferent frequencies or ‘strengths can be constructed without dificuly. For instance, by appropriately selecting the circuit constant, a strong magnetic field over 1.5 tesla can be shielded. (Modification 1) The folowing isa description ofthe electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 40 using a distributed constant circuit \which is Modification 1 ofthe electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20 of Embodiment 1 Fig. 9 shows the appearance ofthe electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 40 of Modtication 1. ‘The electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 40 includes the electromagnetic field detection coll21 andthe plate- ‘shaped electric conductor 41 and is a shielding apparatus for an AC electromagnetic field of a higher frequency than in Embodiment 1, which isa high frequency at which the apparatus itself can be used as a distributed constant circuit. The electric conductor 41 is an aluminum plate, for instance, The end parts 41a and 4b, which are connected 10 the electromagnetic field detection col21, are placed to face each other, and the main part 41c except forthe end parts ‘47a and 41 is bent in rectangular form. The electric conductor 41 has a resistance value which is determined by its metal material, the end parts 41@ and 41b have capacitance because they face each other, and the main part 41c corresponds to a one-turn coll. Theretore, it may be said thatthe electric conductor 41 constructs a cavity resonator corresponding to the resonance circuit 22-24 ‘of Embodiment 1. As a result, the electromagnetic fild shielding apparatus 40 of Modtication 1 produces the same ‘Shield effect as Embodiment 1 ona high frequency leakage electromagnetic fel The following is @ description ofthe shield principle of the shielding apparatus using a distributed constant circuit, ‘such as the electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 40, and conditions for producing a shield effec with this shielding apparatus ‘As shown in Fig. 10, the electromagnetic eld shielding apparatus 40 can be regarded as a distributed constant cir- ‘cuit including the high requency power source 42 corresponding tothe electromagnetic field detection coil 2, the lines 43 transmiting lectic power of the high frequency power source 42, andthe load 44 connected tothe ends. ‘Assuming thatthe direction from the power source 42 to the load 44s the positive direction on x-axis, voltage V(x) ‘and current I(x) at point x ofa distributed constant circuit are expressed by Formula 4 and Formula § below. VOX) = Vie + Ve (Formula 4) = 2 vie™- v0") (Formula §) where Z is impedance per unit length ofthe ines and ys a propagation constant (a9, where «tis an attenuation con- stant and fis a phase constan} Here, on the assumption thatthe line 43 isa zeros line (a=0), Formula 4 and Formula 5 become Formula 6 and Formula 7, respectively VOX) = Vie ava"! (Formula 6) Woe $5120) Forma6 2 EP 0.880311 A1 where characteristic impedance Fle yA Be off When the length of the lines 43 is A and impedance ofthe load 44 connected tothe ends of the lines 43 is equal to characteristic impedance Z0 ofthe lines 48, Formula 8 and Formula 9 below should hold atthe ends. TR 2 (Formula 8) MEA). 29 Vie Teveet (Forma 9) WA) vieW*.v2—i* From Formula 8 and Formula 9, V2 equals to 0 so that there is no reflected wave V2exp (jbx). ‘That so ey. by malctng the impedance ol the ines 49 fo hat of hele 44, lec power supped fom the power source 42 is consumed by the load 44 without being reflected. As described above, by matching the impedance of the AC electromagnetic field targeted by the electromagnetic field sheng partis 401 those hens andoed, high trequencyelecromagneticcan be sited. Tsp Cole is turdamentaly the same as fat ofthe elecvomagnetc fit shising apparatus 20 of Ebodimert 1 which shields an electromagnetic field of a comparatively low frequency by connecting the AC electromagnetic field targeted by the shielding apparatus 20 to the resonance circuit 22-24. The elowng ca desaption ol the ganeral held pence and condone br preucing a hi iment tard Meta 1 Fig 11a standardized cru diagram of th resorancetype electromagnet eld shieing apparatus adhe electomagnetc ishing appeal using a distbvied constant cult of Be present invention Thees lecvonagetted hetngappattuces 20 and 40 ray be conte io have ho ebucureincudng the induced electromotive fre 42 induced by an lecomagneti id, tho fond 44, and th for ternal netwrk by whi the inducedeloceoralve ce 42 and the a a are comedidtogehe. In Formula 10 below, each parameter (S11, S12, S21, and S22) is determined so that S11 (voltage reflection coet- fin) i as cose as possble to er, wth V2u-Rt2 hog, efectin Embod: (Formula 10) V1] jS11 si2}v2 eee ee eee ‘The electromagnetic field shielding apparatus ofthe present invention is achieved by placing the four-terminal net- work 45 with the characteristic expressed by the parameters determined as described above between the load 44 and the electromagnetic field detection coll 21 ‘As described above, the parallel resonance electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20 using integrated constant ‘elements and the impedance matching electromagnetic eld shielding apparatus 40 using a distributed constant circuit have a common principle that an electromagnetic field is shielded by transferring energy of the power source 42 in the fourterminal network 45 in one direction ard consuming the energy using the load 44. ‘Modification 2) ‘The following is a description ofthe electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 30 which shields a varying electo: ‘magnetic field by fllowing the variation inthis leakage electromagnetic field dynamically, as Modification 2 ofthe elec2 EP 0 880311 At tromagnetic field shielding apparatus 20 of Embodiment 1. Fig. 12s a block diagram ofthe electromagnetic fied shielding apparatus 30 of Modification 2 ‘The electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 90 includes the electromagnetic field detection col 21, the waveform ‘analyzer 32, the Grcuit constant control unt 8, the variable reactor 34, the variable capacitor 35, and the variable resis- tor 86. The apparatus 30 and Embodiment 1 are equivalent in being resonance shielding apparatuses, butditfer in that ‘the apparatus 30 has the function fr being tuned tothe frequency of an electromagnetic field detected by the electro- magnetic field detection col 21. “The waveform analyzer 32 includes a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) for performing FFT (Fast Fourier Tanstorma- tion). The wavetorm analyzer 32 identities the center frequency 10 of the electromotive force Vs induced by the electro- magnetic field detection col 21 at a constant time interval and informs the circuit constant control unit $8 ofthe center ‘requency 10. ‘As shown in Fig. 19, the variable reactor 24 includes MOS transistors 372-374 which area plurality of switches, the ‘cols 38-384, and the decoder circuit $9 connected to respective gates of the MOS transistors 372-374. The variable reactor 34 changes an inductance in stages by turning ON only one out of the MOS transistors 378-374 according to the instruction from the crcut constant contol nit $3 The variable capacitor 35's, for instance, a variable capacity diode and its capaci is changed ina specific range by the control voltage from the circuit constant control unit 33 ‘The variable resistor 36's, for instance, a MOS transistor and is resistance value is changed in a specticrange by the contol voltage from the circuit constant control unit 33, ‘The circuit constant control unit 38 controls the respective circuit constants ofthe electronic parts 94-36 according {0 Formula 2 above, so that the parallel resonance circuit including the elements 34-6 is tuned tothe center frequency {0 indicated by the waveform analyser 2. Fig. 14's a block diagram showing a detalled structure ofthe circuit constant control unit $3 ‘The circuit constant contol unit 33 incudes the circuit constant storage table 83b for storing inductances to be ‘selected for each center frequency 10 informed from the wavetorm analyzer 32 and an adjustable circuit constant range ‘of each electronic circuit, circuit constant calculating unit 38a for calculating the respective optimal circuit constants of the electronic parts 34-36 according othe circuit constant storage table 33b, to the center frequency 10 informed from the waveform analyzer 32, and to Formula 2 above, and the D/A converters 88 and 38d for converting the calculated gta deta into a control votage, With the electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 30 having the above structure of Modification 2, even if the f ‘quency of the AC electromagnetic field passing through the electromagnetic field detection coll 21 varies, the circuit ‘constants of circuit parts 34-36 are adjusted and are tuned following the varying frequency, so that a constant shield effects always produced. This means thatthe electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 30 produces a constant shield effect without requiring changes to its construction or constituent materials in response to changes in the frequency of the electromagnetic field to be shielded. (Embodiment 2) Embodiment 2 relates to an active shield including an electromagnetic field generation means for canceling out an electromagnetic fe, Fig. 15 shows the appearance of the electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 50 of Embodiment 2. The electromagnetic field shielding apparatus 50 includes the electromagnetic field detection uit 1, the electro- ‘magnetic field generation unt 52, andthe electromagnetic field control unt $3 “The electromagnetic field detection unit 51 is the same as the electromagnetic field detection coll 21 of Embod ment 1. The electromagnetic field generation unit 2s @ hollow col, whose conductor is wound inthe same form and direc- tion as the electromagnetic field detection unit 51. The electromagnetic field generation unit $2 is firmly attached to or is placed over the electromagnetic field detection unt 51 so thatthe spaces surrounded by both units are coincident or atleast coaxial, and generates a counteractive electromagnetic field for canceling out a leakage electromagnetic field ‘passing through the electromagnetic field detection unit 51 The magnetic fed control unit §3 is @ contol circuit for generating the reaction magnetic field by generating an electromotive force with a phase opposite to an induced electromotive force generated in the electromagnetic field detection unit $1 and by supplying the electromotive force to the electromagnetic field generation unit 62 The apparatus 50 is mounted on an electrical apparatus in the manner shown in Fig. 8 orn Figs. 4(a) and 4(b). Fig. 16's a block diagram ofthe electromagnetic fied shielding apparatus 50. “The electromagnetic field contro unit $3 further includes the band-pass fier 88a, the delay unit 53b, an the power ampitication unit $3c. Figs. 17(a) 10 17(e) are waveform diagrams for showing relations among phases of signals output from respective