Improving the accuracy of EMI emissions testing

James Young Rohde & Schwarz

Q&A
Who uses what for EMI? Spectrum Analyzers (SA) Test Receivers (TR) CISPR, MIL-STD or Automotive? Software or front panel ? Novice, Capable, Fluent or Expert ?

Overview
EMI Equipment comparison Spectrum Analyzers (SA) Test Receivers (TR) Making accurate measurements RF / IF overload and Preselection EMI Detectors and Filters Preamps, where and when

Spectrum Analyzers for EMI

Spectrum Analyzers for EMI

Level [dBV] 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 -20 30M 50M 70M 100M 200M 300M 500M 700M 1G

SA setup for EMI Example

- Set Start freq, stop freq, RBW and detector from standard - Span of 1G-30MHz = 970 MHz / 1000 = 1 MHz resolution - x samples in RBW are stored, 500 or 1000 are displayed - samples within RBW analyzed or weighted by the detector - QP integrates voltage in RBW, applies CISPR weighting

Spectrum Analyzers for EMI

Question
- What was wrong with the previous setup?

30M

50M 70M 100M

200M 300M

500M 700M 1G

Answer
- Frequency and amplitude accuracy depend on many samples falling within each measurement bin (also called display pixel). - Next bin will be 1 MHz away (nearly 10 x 120 kHz)! - Frequency resolution much too course for EMI - Solution?

Spectrum Analyzers for EMI

Level [dBV] 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 -20 30M 50M 70M 100M 200M 300M 500M 700M 1G

Example Revisited
- Span of 970 MHz / 1001 = 1 MHz resolution - If using 120 KHz RBW, CISPR recommends 60 KHz bin points (17 x finer than 1 MHz) - Solution: subrange in the span

Spectrum Analyzers for EMI

Frequency Accuracy of SA
- SA frequency resolution is far too course for EMI without sub-ranging the CISPR span - SA frequency accuracy when exploring peaks influenced by Span, RBW, VBW, marker accuracy

Amplitude Accuracy of SA
6 dB (EMI) filters QP and AVE detector times are observed Data correction for system transducers EUT specific timing issues are considered Subranges set properly for sample # RF and IF stages are not overloaded

Spectrum Analyzers for EMI

Conclusion SA lacks 2 control parameters for EMI

- STEP SIZE between measurement bins - DWELL TIME at each measurement bin - Lacks dynamic range and overload protection (later slides)

Sub-ranging and zero span is an attempt to make SA measure like TR

Test Receivers for EMI

Test Receivers for EMI

Receivers for EMI
- Frequency Span (start / stop) - RBW Filter and detector - DWELL TIME at each measurement point - FREQUENCY INCRIMENT (step size independent of RBW) - TR adjusts sample x and bins depending on span - x is often 16,000 100,000+ - Span / x = frequency resolution

Sample Points Example

120 100 80 60 40 20 0 30M 50M 70M 100M 200M 300M 500M 700M 1G

Level [dBV] 57.00 50.00 40.00 30.00 20.00 10.00 0.00 79.94M 85M 90M 95M Frequency [Hz] 100M 109.63M

Example: TR (green) vs. SA (blue) sample points

Samples and Bins

Freq error

samples
RBW

RBW
Peak Lost

Integration of samples

detector
peak QP Ave RMS

Peak

detector
peak QP Ave RMS

QP

Display BIN

Display BIN

Bin amplitude is detector value, Bin freq is reported in center SA has 1001 bins, TR accesses 100,000 bins (from memory)

Receiver Measurements
CISPR 16 recommends Step size RBW / 2
Frequency Range 150 kHz to 30 MHz 30 MHz to 1 GHz 6-dB Bandwidth 9 kHz 120 KHz Step Size (<1/2 RBW) 4 kHz 50 KHz # of meas Bins 7,463 19,400

VS

80M

85M

90M

95M Frequency [Hz]

100M

110M

Test Receivers for EMI

Conclusion TR incorporates EMI control parameters
- STEP SIZE between measurement bin - DWELL TIME at each measurement bin - # of measurement bins as necessary for accuracy

Time Penalty ?
- Time dependant on detector and EUT, not measurement speed of instruments

Best Instrument for EMI?

Pros and Cons of Each

- SA is faster for initial preview - SA can also be used for RX and TX measurements - TR has little use outside EMI, expensive little use outside EMI, expensive unit for one use - SA sub-ranging negates any speed advantage over TR for EMI - SA frequency / amplitude accuracy easily skewed by improper settings and interpretation

Which one to use?

Use SA or TR to develop hit list Use SA or TR for maximization
Att 30 dB AUTO RBW 120 kHz MT 1 s PREAMP ON

FREQUENCY LEVEL QPK

931.9200000 MHz dBV

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

dBV

100 MHz 60 50

200 MHz

300 MHz

400 MHz

500 MHz

600 MHz

700 MHz

800 MHz

900 MHz

FCC15RB
1 PK CLRWR 40 30 20 10

SGL

TR is optimum for final (dwell time, step size and auto attenuator)

0 -10 -20 30 MHz 1 GHz

Date:

8.SEP.2003

14:13:12

Making accurate measurements

Overload protection Detectors for EMI RBW Filters for EMI Preamps

Accurate Measurement
Dynamic range of SA / TR is ~160 dB 160 dB = 10e8 or 8 orders of magnitude EMC engineers dont know what signals they are looking for initially Accuracy killers
- Overloads (RF and IF) - Incorrect detector settings - Preamplifiers improperly used - Improper RBWs

RF Overdrive
RF: Watch for harmonics of large signals
- Use attenuator to set mixer input level
Max Input Level

Ref Level RF Attenuation sets mixer input level Mixer Level

Input 1st mixer

RF Overload Example
MARKER 1 496 MHz Ref 0 dBm
0

* Att

10 dB

RBW 3 MHz VBW 10 MHz SWT 10 ms

Marker 1 [T1 ] 3.03 dBm 496.000000000 MHz Marker 2 [T1 ] -48.80 996.000000000 Marker 3 [T1 ] -48.60 1.500000000

-10 1 SA AVG

dBm MHz dBm GHz

-20

-30

-40

2
-50

-60

-70

-80

-90

-100

Center 1 GHz

200 MHz/

Span 2 GHz

Date:

23.JUN.2004

20:33:37

Example: amplified signal at 500 MHz

IF Overdrive
IF: Watch for overload flags
- Use Ref Level to set IF Gain Ref Level IF gain using ref Level - Set Ref Level sets IF Gain Mixer Level
Input IF Gain 1st mixer

IF Overload Example
RF ATTENUATION 10 dB Ref 0 dBm
0 A * Att

10 dB

RBW 3 MHz VBW 10 MHz SWT 5 ms

Marker 1 [T1 ] 6.13 dBm 502.053410569 MHz

OVLD 1 AP CLRWR

-10

-20

-30

-40

-50

-60

-70

-80

-90

-100

Center 502.0534106 MHz

99.02160153 MHz/

Span 990.2160153 MHz

Date:

23.JUN.2004

20:55:20

Example: +6 dBm Pulse

Preselection Filtering
Preselector is a tracking RF filter
- ALL RF power (noise & signals) go into mixer - high amplitude signals outside displayed span can influence amplitude and may be aliased

Cure: preselect filtering of signals before RF or IF

- SA may not warn of RF or IF overdrive - IF overload wont show on display - Signals outside display ruin amplitude reading

Preselection Simple

Pre-selection

Mixer stage

V(f) B1

V (f) B2

Overdrive and Preselection

MARKER 1 GHz
* Att

1.000272533 Ref 0 dBm

0

20

dB

RBW VBW SWT

3 MHz 10 MHz 10 ms

Marker

[T1 ] -43.41 1.000272533 [T1 ] -54.36 1.501204189 2

dBm GHz

Marker

-10 1 PK * CLRWR

dBm GHz

-20

-30

-40

-50

-60

-70

-80

-90

-100

Start

400

MHz

141.6135906

MHz/

Stop

1.816135906

GHz

Date:

8.SEP.2003

13:03:46

Example: +10 dBm signal at 500 MHz causing overdrive

Overdrive and Preselection

START FREQUENCY
* Att

600 MHz Ref 0 dBm

0

20

dB

RBW VBW SWT

3 MHz 10 MHz 10 ms

Marker

[T1 ] -43.41 1.000272533 [T1 ] -54.58 1.501204189 2

dBm GHz

Marker

-10 1 PK * CLRWR

dBm GHz

-20

-30

-40

-50

-60

-70

-80

-90

-100

Start

600

MHz

121.6135906

MHz/

Stop

1.816135906

GHz

Date:

8.SEP.2003

13:04:13

Example2: Moving overload off screen wont clear overload

Overdrive and Preselection

START MARKERFREQUENCY 1 600 MHz 1.000272533 Ref 0 dBm
0

GHz
* Att

20

dB

RBW VBW SWT

3 MHz 10 MHz 10 ms

Marker

[T1 ] -62.14 -43.41 1.000272533 [T1 ] -63.57 -54.58 -54.36 1.501204189 2

dBm GHz

Marker

-10 1 PK * CLRWR

dBm GHz

-20

-30

-40

PS

-50

2 1

-60

-70

-80

-90

-100

Start

600 400

MHz

121.6135906 141.6135906

MHz/

Stop

1.816135906

GHz

Date:

8.SEP.2003

13:04:47 13:04:13 13:03:46

Example3: Activating Preselector clears overload by filtering the fundamental Example3: Activating Preselector clears overload by filtering the fundamental

PRF, Dwell time and Detectors

EUT / Detector dwell time requirements

- Must capture worst case emissions of EUT - Cycle time, modulation, and pulse repetition frequency may require extended dwell in each subrange (QP,AVE, RMS) - Test Receivers include this parameter -Since tuning each bin, can dwell as long as necessary - Spectrum Analyzers have a workaround -Zero Span is a way to trick SA into dwelling at tuned bin -Must do calculation since overall sweep time is controlled -Dwell time = sweep time / measurement bins

Detector Settings
Quasipeak ???? QP is an attempt to quantify a signals
Impact on a radio receiver (annoyance) - Factors: amplitude, frequency, pulse repetition frequency

Quasipeak restrictions
- Dwell time (per step or subrange) at least 1 second - PRF issues increase dwell time requirements

Detector Settings
Peak Detector
- Peak gives worst case - Safest detector: Often fast enough to see most signals even if instrument settings are not optimum

Average or RMS Detector

- Average detector used above 1 GHz for FCC and CE tests - RMS for ultra wide band, dwell time critical for integration - dwell for at least 100 mS at each bin for proper integration - Watch RBW (1MHz or 120 KHz above 1GHz?)

Detector Settings Example

Ref
-20 A

-20

dBm

Att

10

dB

RBW VBW SWT

120 kHz 1 MHz 175 ms

Marker

[T1 ] -49.64 280.000000000

dBm MHz

-30 1 RM * CLRWR

-40

1
-50

-60

-70

-80

-90

-100

-110

-120

Start

Hz

50

MHz/

Stop

500

MHz

Date:

23.JUN.2004

21:44:15

Example: -40 dBm signal at 280 MHz measures with RMS

Detector Settings Example

Ref
-20 -30 -30 1 AV * 1 RM * CLRWR CLRWR A A

-20

dBm

Att

10

dB

RBW VBW SWT

120 kHz 1 MHz 175 ms

Marker

[T1 ] -56.89 -49.64 280.000000000

dBm MHz

-40 -40

1
-50 -50

1
-60 -60

-70 -70

-80 -80

-90 -90 -100 -100 -110 -110 -120 -120

Start Start

0 0

Hz Hz

50 50

MHz/ MHz/

Stop Stop

500 500

MHz MHz

Date: Date:

23.JUN.2004 23.JUN.2004

21:44:41 21:44:15

Example2: Same -40 dBm but with Ave and same settings

Detector Settings Example

Ref
-20 -30 -30 1 AV * 1 QP * RM CLRWR CLRWR A A

-20

dBm

Att

10

dB

RBW VBW SWT

120 kHz 1 MHz 175 ms

Marker

[T1 ] -76.57 -56.89 -49.64 280.000000000

dBm MHz

-40 -40

1
-50 -50

1
-60 -60

-70 -70

-80 -80

-90 -90 -100 -100 -110 -110 -120 -120

Start Start

0 0

Hz Hz

50 50

MHz/ MHz/

Stop Stop

500 500

MHz MHz

Date: Date:

23.JUN.2004 23.JUN.2004

21:45:04 21:44:41 21:44:15

Example3: Same -40 dBm but with QP and same settings

Transducers and PRF

Transducer correction
- CISPR needed a way to eliminate effects of variability in chambers, antennas and cable losses - Standards require normalization of these effects to compare results to limit line - Chamber ruled by Normalized Site Attenuation (NSA) - Transducers and connections used correction factors derived from actual calibrations

Resolution Bandwidth Filters

Ref Lvl 97 dB V
97 90 A

RBW VBW SWT

100 kHz 10 MHz 5 ms

RF Att Uni t

20 dB dB V

3dB RBW

80

70 I N1 1 MA 2 MA

60

6dB RBW

1M A X 2V I EW

50

40

30

20

10

0 -3

Center 100 MHz

100 kHz/

Span 1 MHz

Preamps
Preamps: When are they needed?
- Generally needed above 7 GHz - Below 7 GHz ONLY if stringent limit line or long cables

Preamps: Where to put them?

- Preamps amplify signal and noise - Real goal of preamp is PRESERVE signal Real goal of preamp is PRESERVE to noise ratio (best at the antenna) antenna) - Low level signals require amplification at antenna, before signal is subjected to path loss of cables

Preamps
Preamp S/N Ratio example

S N S N

S N
Preamp near EMI receiver

Common Cables loss

S N
Preamp at antenna

dB per meter at 1GHz 3 dB per meter at 40 GHz

S N

S N

Preamps
Preamps
- Noise Figure equation states the 1st gain/loss encountered has the most impact on s/n ratio - Must have high gain & low noise figure (amp contributed noise) - 1-18 GHz gain around 30 dB with NF of 3.2 dB or less - 18-26 GHz gain around 35 dB with NF of 3.0 dB or less - 26-40 GHz gain around 50 dB with NF of 2.8 dB or less

Noise contributed by preamp (NF)

S N

RF Thermal Noise (N0)

Preamps
Know your Preamp overload range and behavior
- Must keep preamp in linear region - Know the preamp range (what is the max signal input without compression or damage)
st - Watch RF input levels to 1st mixer system check if unsure (variable attenuator)

- Non-wave guide guide antennas have a direct connection to the FET, watch static discharge

Preamps

Conclusion
TR vs. SA
Span Subranges step size resolution dwell time overloading preselection

RF & IF Overloads
RF -> Harmonics Attenuator IF -> If overload flag Ref Level

Preamps
amplify at antenna know linear region system check (attenuator) static below 1gz