FCC publishes rules on use of new measurement standard for Part 15 devices; it’s official.

Image via Wikipedia

The FCC released today, Public Notice DA 09-2478, clarifying the use of ANSI measurement standards for Part 15 devices.

For many years now ANSI C63.4 has been the measurement standard for Part 15 devices, covering both unintentional and intentional radiators. This is now changing.

If you’ve been following the EMC and Regulatory Compliance blog, you may recall the post made on September 15th regarding the publication of the new ANSI C63.10-2009 measurement standard for unlicensed wireless devices. Not to over simplify the process, but that publication was only the first part, of a two part process required to make it official; the FCC would need to publish the new standard in the rules and allow its use.

Public Notice DA 09-2478 provides for the following;

For unintentional radiators, subject to Part15.31(a)(3), you may use either ANSI C63.4 2003, or 2009.

For intentional radiators subject to Part 15.31(a)(3), measurements may be made using ANSI C63.4 2003 or 2009, or, the new ANSI C63.10 2009 standard.

In any event, the standard employed must be identified consistent with 47 C.F.R. § 2.947 (b).

This step now allows the faster pace, rapidly evolving world of wireless devices to be treated individually with respect to testing, and not lumped together with the simpler unintentional radiators. The new rules give clearer guidance on how to test specific types of radio devices, and this also lays the groundwork with respect to testing future developments in wireless technology.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Broadcasters fighting back against wireless spectrum reform (arstechnica.com)
• Dingell Warns FCC On Spectrum (techdailydose.nationaljournal.com)

IEEE EMCs Lecture - An Overview of Chip Level EMC Problems

Image via Wikipedia

Join the Orange County IEEE EMC Society chapter in December, when Dr. Sergiu Radu, Principal Engineer at Sun Microsystems, will present “An Overview of Chip Level EMC Problems”

The CPUs and the VLSI chips are the primary sources of electromagnetic noise in all electronic equipment. Reducing the electromagnetic noise at source level is usually the best and the most economical solution. The presentation discusses typical interference mechanisms associated with CPU/VLSI, as well as mitigation methods at die-level and package level. Among the aspects discussed are some power distribution issues, on-die decoupling, package capacitors, routing aspects, the impact of back-bias and forward-bias, and the impact of die-shrinks on the EMI performance of the VLSI chips.

Visit http://ieee.org/oc-emc for more information on this invaluable free lecture.

Or Contact jklinger@ieee.org for details.

ISN for ITE telecom line testing

Image by pascal.charest via Flickr

On November 11^th, 2009, the VCCI Council of Japan issued notice describing the restrictions on the use of Impedance Stabilization Network (ISN) to be used for the measurement of telecommunication ports conducted EMI. Although this information is published in the current CISPR standard, the VCCI Council will only begin to deal with the filing of reports on telecommunication port conducted emission from April 2010. Currently, a great deal of confusion abounds on the proper selection of the ISN for telecom measurements. This notice helps to clear up some of that confusion.

As implied, the document describes the acceptable types of ISN, suitable for the measurement of telecom line conducted EMI. Most notably, the document comes with warning notes about using certain types of ISNs with certain quantity of balanced pairs. Get a copy of the notice.

> 1GHz testing for Japan

Image by End of Summer via Flickr

It’s known for several months now, that the European Union has deferred implementation of EN55022:2006 +A1:2007 until October 2011.  But what about others that implement CISPR standards for EMC

EN55022 is the emissions specification for Information Technology Equipment, or ITE. It is a derivative if CISPR22. The A1:2007 amendment adds the requirement for testing from 1GHz to 18GHz, depending on the operating frequency of the product under test.

However, in Japan, the current Voluntary Control Council for Interference by Information Technology Equipment (VCCI Council) rules call for mandatory compliance with the CISPR 1GHz to 18GHz test band by October 2010. The news here is that, so that Japan can be harmonized with Europe and other countries, It has been presented at a meeting in London, that the intent of the VCCI is to defer the 1-18 GHz requirements until October 2011.