Evaluation of EM Vehicle Environment Measurement Methods for Risk-Based EMC Analysis

Abstract

Due to the increasingly implemented electronic devices in modern applications, the electromagnetic environments become more and more complex. Therefore, there is need for such environments to be evaluated, so that potential electromagnetic compatibility issues can be identified and solved. So far, standardized methods have been using conventional measuring techniques such as e.g., superheterodyne receivers, oscilloscopes, etc. These types of devices depict the output data measured over frequency or time, determining the electromagnetic behavior of a system under test in a single domain. Although they are suitable for laboratory tests, a proper description of the real intended electromagnetic environment, where the device would be placed, requires a more careful analysis, especially in order to implement the risk-based EMC approach. Experiments performed in a vibrating intrinsic reverberation chamber representing an example harsh environment, using four different measuring methods show the receiving capabilities of each for better understanding on how an electromagnetic environment could be characterized.

On-Site Automotive Environment Measurements for a Risk-based EMC Approach

“…The main advantage of the RTSA for these EME measurements is that it has faster sweeping operation of the spectrum compared to a conventional SA [28]. Therefore, the issue of large sweep times of a traditional SA is alleviated [18]. Also, since many more sweeps can be recorded within the same time frame, a considerable number of samples per measurement is available for statistical processing.…”

“…The discrete, fixed position technique does not consider the spatial alteration effect, as it records the magnitude in a constant location over time by performing multiple sweeps over frequency. Oppositely, the random-walk technique assesses the EME changes over time, frequency, and space parameters [18] altogether. In Section III, both measurement techniques are compared and discussed.…”

“…The new embedded onboard technologies have created a more complex automotive EME and therefore, more investigations are made towards internal field distributions in vehicular [16] as well as aviation [17] systems. Devices such as field probes and spectrum analyzers (SAs) are applied to evaluate the EME of an SUT depending on the measured quantity of interest [18]. The importance of assessment of the EME of a vehicle caused the introduction of new patents which lean towards real conditions such as a 3D field scanner presented in [19] and the random-LOS measurement system verified in [20].…”

“…An application of the random-walk has also been implemented in an office environment representing a hospital in [28]. Each technique focuses on estimating the EME in different domains independently [18]. In this paper, a comparison between the two techniques is made with measurements performed in a combustion engine vehicle.…”

Investigation of Real Dynamic Automotive Electromagnetic Environment Measurements

“…In [13], preliminary measurements inside a combustion engine car have shown the complexity of real automotive EMEs and have generated discussion regarding characterization of such environments following two methodologies. Investigations on the measurement techniques have also been performed using different sets of equipment to evaluate the different receiving mechanisms and show how they can play a significant role within simple measurements [14]. However, the same question remains "How can we characterize a real dynamic automotive electromagnetic environment?".…”