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What is EMC
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) determines whether or not manufacturers are allowed to release their products on the market. For this reason it is very important to remain up to date with all the regulations on the subject. Because different standards apply to different electronical devices, keeping track on EMC is therefore a must for each product they plan to release.
EMC requirements, like the EC directives and FCC regulations are not voluntary; they contain the conditions that must be met if a product is to be allowed to be sold on that market. In addition there are voluntary directives like the Japanese VCCI. Ensuring the product complies with all these standards provides the manufacturer with a strategic advantage over competitors that do not comply.
While EMC standards by themselves are voluntary, the connections to regulations in that area ensure these standards are followed by most manufacturers. The EMC standards themselves describe procedures for testing, and testing techniques. Following these procedures basically ensures compliance to the regulations that are connected with the EMC standards.
Electromagnetic compatibility stands for the ability of devices to work satisfactory, while not disturbing its surroundings. This consists of two aspects, emissions and immunity.
Anything that affects the performance of the product, or negatively impacts living, falls under Electromagnetic disturbance.
Decrease in performance caused by electromagnetic disturbance is called Electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Military standards are used to measure if emissions and immunity requirements are met.
Electromagnetic disturbances are classified as high or low frequency disturbances and as broad or narrowband disturbances that may originate from parts like ignitions, circuitry, and communication equipment.
In order to fully comprehend how and why electromagnetic disturbances occur one needs to be familiar with electromagnetic field theories and have knowledge of high frequency occurrences.
Electromagnetic compatibility covers a wide area and presents many manufacturers with new challenges in order to comply with the EMC standard. Through use of a fixed set of rules on manufacturing and using the right components complying to these standards and the regulations behind them is not hard to accomplish.
In a world where we demand electronical equipment to function properly and safely, even near high frequency equipment like in hospitals where even radiation is a factor to take notice of, EMC standards have become the guidelines we have come to trust and rely on to reach this level of quality and safety. The handicapped guy sitting in his electronically operated wheel chair still demands the same quality when using his cellular phone to make a call as others that use phones while walking on a street. In order to achieve these levels of quality EMC standards are the necessary tool to create equipment that can ensure it.
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