Communication Systems & EMC
System Overview
A control room in a manufacturing factory enjoys protection against the risk of any power supply failure or data loss from any transient attack. This might be deliberate or by accident. The environment is usually noisy from an electrical perspective, with a wide variety of electrically powered AC machines, some using significant current to meet their operational needs. There are also sensitive sensors, transducers at various locations around the plant; some are ‘hard wired’, and others connected to the control room via wireless links (maximum range 100 meters). There are also low definition cameras’ placed at strategic locations around the automatic production lines, along with other safety systems that engage and disconnect power/stop the process if personnel enter certain areas or production lines become jammed. This paper will discuss safety critical systems, the control and data connectivity issues, the power and UPS system and system design issues recognition of good EMC design and strategies to combat any unforeseen EMC problems.
Safety Critical Systems
Safety-critical systems refer to the systems that have a high risk in relation to their failure. The failure of the safety-critical systems has the ability to cause loss of life, enormous property damage, and significant damage to the environment. There are numerous examples of the safety-critical systems within the daily applications thus effective illustration in the field of engineering. Some of the examples of such systems include medical devices, nuclear systems, aircraft flight control, and relevant weapons. In the modern society, information systems are gaining the tag of safety critical systems because of the size of the financial risk in association with their adoption and implementation. Information systems would also result in loss of lives in case of failure in the systems in relation to execution of the roles and duties (Freeman, 2005).
From the perspective of the modern trend, it is ideal to note that safety-critical systems will increase in the future. In order to ensure the achievement of quality design in relation to the safety-critical systems, it is essential to adopt and apply new advances in the field of architecture, verification, specification, and process of manufacturing. Numerous visible problems suggest that security is also a substantial threat or challenge in the realization of the goals and objectives in the manufacturing of the safety-critical systems (Lawton et al, 2006).
Safety-critical systems draw their definition from the relevant consequences of failure. The system is safety-critical in case humanity depends on it for the well being or quality existence. Traditional systems that apply as home of the safety-critical systems indicate areas such as medical care, weapons, and aircraft flight control. The failure in the context of these traditional systems would put the lives of the individuals in danger. There will also be extensive damage of the property or the consequential environment. There is extensive application of computer systems within the field of medicine with the aim of avoiding numerous problems that might have a negative influence in relation to the well-being of humanity.
The study of the safety-critical systems is broad thus the essence of non-traditional systems. In most cases, it is easy to understand that the failure in the aircraft flight control will lead to loss of lives or extensive damage of properties. In few circumstances, individuals understand that the failure in the communication systems such as telephone might contribute towards the loss of lives or destruction of properties. Other examples of the non-obvious cases of the safety-critical systems include transportation control, financial systems, banking infrastructures, and generation of electricity. In the context of design and manufacturing, there are activities that contribute towards the loss of lives or destruction of properties in case of failure (Lawton et al, 2006).
This makes it critical to observe the safety measures to ensure that designers deal with the problems effectively and efficiently in order to minimize the loss. Several programs prove to be dangerous or costly in case of failure in meeting their functions or executing their roles. Such systems include computers, compiler, and keyboard. EMC ensures that the government and relevant agencies have the ability to reduce or minimize loss of lives, destruction of properties such as spacecraft, and unnecessary degradation. One of the key issues in the prevention of loss of lives and destruction of properties relates to the demonstration of the critical circuit safety margin. This is vital for the success of the NASA programs within the context of the communication system. The safety of humanity is the driving factor in relation to the elimination of the failures of the programs within the design or manufacturing of the communication systems (Lawton et al, 2006).
There is critical identification of the safety circuit to ensure that the problems are discussed in relation to issues and the alternative solutions. There is the development of unsafe environment in relation to manufacturing and design in case all the circuits are safety-critical systems. The identification of the critical circuits relates to their support to the functional process within the design or manufacturing procedures. A process is essential in their elimination of the circuits not critical in relation to the EMC safety margin verification and identification guidelines. A critical circuit refers to a circuit whose failure or malfunction under the influence of electromagnetic interference would lead to loss of lives, serious injury to the partisans, destruction of properties, abortion of the mission, or endangering the essence of the mission. The EMC critical circuit safety margin focuses on addressing the issues of noise and susceptibility or vulnerability of the threshold. The programs undergo margin demonstration in relation to the interferences or influences from the internal signal, power circuits, and the entire or surrounding environment within the context of the communication system. Other interference levels of the communication systems include electrostatic discharge, lightning, special noise, and relevant magnetic sources. The application of the EMC critical circuit process is an additional illustration of the safety practices in the demonstration of the best aspects of engineering.
According to the requirements of the safety margin, it is essential to note that 6 dB margin (20 dB in case of electro-explosive devices) is acceptable in design or manufacturing process. The demonstration of these values or margins proves to be effective and efficient in handling the issues of systems safety and applications. It is ideal to apply the requirements to demonstrate effective or good practice in electronic and electrical engineering. The EMC regulations enhance the compliance to the functional rules and regulations with the aim of minimizing loss of lives, destruction of properties, and damage to the environment. Safety design must pay attention to the maintenance of functionality as compliance to the EMC requirements in relation to the promotion of best practices in Engineering (Lawton et al, 2006).
The Control and Data Connectivity Issues
In the process of ensuring quality or best practices in the field of engineering, the EMC rules and regulations offer critical guidance to control and data connectivity issues. In the modern society, it is essential to note the influence of the information system in relation to the operations of the business entities. Availability of the information or data is essential to the success or failure of the business operations or relevant production mechanism. Any failure within the communication systems with reference to the business environment will result into significant loss or destruction of the proprieties. Several data or control connective issues have the negative impacts on the operations of the business.
The most common aspect of control and connectivity issues relates to the unplanned interruptions of the data and other relevant information applications. These unplanned interruptions in relation to control and data connectivity issues have serious damage in the essence of the operations of the business entity. EMC adopts and implements best engineering practices through the application of the EMC Secure Remote Support (ESRS). The EMC secure Remote Support functions towards the identification and elimination of the control issues and data connectivity challenges prior to their negative influence in the operations of the business entity. This is through the provision of secure, high, speed, and around the clock remote support in relation to the EMC infrastructures relative for information purposes.
In case of unplanned interruption with reference to control and data connectivity issues, EMC provides adequate response to curb the influence on the operations of the business. This demonstration aims at enhancing the availability of information while reducing the cost of the information thus the ability to reduce spending of the business organization. The application of the EMC Secure Remote Support enhances the focus of the shareholders and stakeholders on the aspects of the business entity by focusing on addressing the control and data connectivity issues within the context of the economic field. The ability of the EMC to enhance control and data connectivity issues is aided by the four crucial requirements: automation, authentication, authorization, and audit or accounting (Paul et al, 2006).
In the context of automation, the IP based connection has the ability to diagnose any remote issue and offer valuable solution before the emergence of the influences in relation to the business operations or production mechanisms. The authentication requirements enhance the privacy or confidentiality of the information or data belonging to an individual or business entity. Authentication is ensured through privacy or security features such as the AES 256-bit encryption. Another feature that is essential in the enhancement of privacy or authentication requirements is the RSA digital certification process.
This is crucial to ensure the security of the information thus eliminating essence of internal and external invasion of the private or confidential information. Authorization enables business entities and individuals to have control over their private information or data. Authorization offers the authority to the business entity to share their information with the right people thus the ability to minimize access of the data by malicious invaders. Authorization refers to the customizable policies that enable the organization or business entity to allow or deny access of the information through remote support sessions. The main objective of the authorization process is to control the amount of data or information in transactions thus the availability to essential communication resources within and outside the perimeters of the organization. The other essential requirement of the EMC relates to the audit or accounting of the availability of information or data (Cornelissen, 2012). The available data or information must comply with the requirements of the internal business structures in order to maximize the levels of output thus increase in revenues or benefits and reduction, in the cost of operations.
The Power and UPS System
The application of computers has increased in the modern society due to the influence of technology in shaping the lives of individuals. Computers are applicable in enhancing life experiences of humanity though making life easier. Power supply is vital for the operations and production procedures of the business entity. Computer system requires 220 voltages AC to offer maximum execution of the instructions by relevant users of the systems (Paul et al, 2006). Power supply should be consistent in order to enhance the ability of the computer systems and other relevant communication gargets in ensuring their functions. One of the common problems or issues that hinder the operations of the business entity is the unplanned power shortage.
This might lead to loss of information or data thus influencing the operations of the business in a negative manner. This need demands the adoption and implementation of the UPS. UPS is vital for the protection of the private data and information. UPS refers to an electronic power system that is essential in the provision of continuity and quality power in case of partial or total failure in the power supply. This is through conversion of the stored form of energy to supply power for the specific duration in relation to the units available. There are two types of UPS: on line and off line UPS. On-line UPS supplies the relevant output voltage in relation to the inverter. This is irrespective of the condition of the input supply. Off-line UPS represent the power supply to the load through inverter battery in the case of lack of input supply. UPS electronics adopt and implement the use of inverter in the conversion of the DC voltage into relevant AC voltage thus maintaining the quality or continuity of the supply of power to the communication gargets (Paul et al, 2006).
The development of the UPS electronics adopts technologies under the influence of the EMI disturbances and electromagnetic pollution or interference. It is, therefore, crucial for the evaluation of the UPS electronics with the aim of determining the electromagnetic compatibility of the devices to the environment in the context. This is essential towards the preservation of private or confidential data thus enabling the organization to control its operations effectively and efficiently. The testing of the UPS electronics to estimate the compatibility levels to the environment is under the influence of the national or international standards.
The testing of the UPS under the rules and regulation of the EMC follows a test plan in relation to manufacturers or designers’ specifications. The EMC evaluation of the UPS electronics adopts and implements crucial performance indicators in relation to the IEC 62040-3 specification. In the modern setting, evaluation of the UPS power systems considers the following parameters or performance indicators. The evaluation indicators or parameters include emission on the IP line or relevant output lines, radiated emission, current harmonic test, Electrostatic Discharge, Electric fast transient, radiated immunity, and low frequency immunity evaluation. Evaluation of the conducted emission is through examination of the present noise within the power line of the system through the application of the LISN (Cornelissen, 2012).
The evaluation of the conducted emission is executed in relation to the frequency spectrum between 150 KHz and 30 MHz in the process of examining the present noise. The compliance of the system is examined in relation to the environment of application because UPS devices are applicable in both industrial and home environments. Examination of the radiated emission is under the influence of the frequency range between 30 and 100 MHz thus ensuring compliance to the requirements. This is achievable through the adoption and implementation of adequate filters at the input and relevant output of the UPS devices. Examination of the immunity of the electrostatic discharge of the UPS is applicable through the 6 KV and 8 KV criteria. The ventilation holes are as small as possible to enhance the process of discharge thus promoting the efficiency of the device (Cornelissen, 2012).
The examination of the EFT is under the influence of the EFT noise in relation to 1 KV. Subjection of the UPS to the RF field in relation to the strength of 10 V/M in frequency is vital for the examination of the best practices of engineering within the context of Radiated Immunity. The range of examination of the radiated immunity is about 27 to 500 MHz to ensure compliance with the rules and regulations of the EMC. The achievement of this compliance is through adoption of the RF filter within the aspect of the output connection between the lead and the shield of the UPS devices (Freeman, 2005).
System Design Issues
Recognition of good EMC design and Strategies to combat any unforeseen EMC problems or Issues
Manufacturers or designers of the electronic devices have the opportunity to certify that the devices comply to the appropriate regulations or standards in order to promote or enhance marketing of the system. The determination or recognition of the unforeseen EMC issues or challenges occurs at the product-testing phase. This examination demands modification of the design of the product with the ability to decrease reliability of the electronic device. The modification of the products or electronic devices at the product-testing phase involves enhancement of the complexity of the design, which in most cases involves adoption, and implementation of new components. The relevant modification attempts by the organization or manufacturer/designer has the opportunity to increase the market value in relation to the enhancements of the time-to-market (Lawton et al, 2006).
In order to eliminate the unforeseen issues within the process of manufacturing or designing of the electronic devices, it is ideal to integrate the requirements of the EMC. Meeting the standards of the EMC in relation to relevant tests proves to be cost-effective thus an efficient approach towards minimization of the cost of production and marketing within the context of an organization. Elimination of the unforeseen problems in relation to design and manufacturing requires the designer or the manufacturer to understand the concepts of the principles of the most effective EMC designs. The model for coupling problems in the EMC regulations or requirements is composed of three crucial stages: emitter, path, and receptor (Freeman, 2005).
The process of identifying the three crucial stages of the EMC regulations is not challenging thus ideally applicable for adoption and implementation by designers aiming to reduce the cost of production and distribution. This is essential in the elimination of the wastes while enhancing the value of the product before serving the purpose for its designing procedures. Emitter and the receptors have the ability to function as two independent systems or subsystems in relation to larger systems. The first step in the analysis of the problem relates to identification of the malfunction or failure of the receptor to execute its needs and roles by meeting the demands of the consumers. The analysis of the emitter then follows from the results of the receptor. This is through extensive examination of the features or characteristics of energy influencing or received by the receptor (Freeman, 2005).
The properties of any signal in relation to energy deposited on the receptor are under the influence of the characteristics or features of the emitter such as amplitude and spectrum. The coupling features or characteristics perform the role of the filter in the examination of compliance to the regulations or rules of EMC. The complication of the problem might be realized in the case of numerous coupling paths within any given EMC problem. In the elimination of the problems in relation to EMC and EMI, it is ideal to adopt and implement three crucial solutions. The first approach is the suppression of emissions in relation to the electronic devices. The second approach is a reduction of the efficiency levels of the coupling paths. The last approach in the elimination of the problem is to reduce the susceptibility of the receptor in relation to capturing of the energy signals (Paul et al, 2006).
References
Lawton, R. M., GB Tech, Inc., & George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. (2006). System guidelines for EMC safety-critical circuits: Design, selection, and margin demonstration. MSFC, Ala: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Marshall Space Flight Center.
Freeman, R. L. (2005). Fundamentals of Telecommunications. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
International Conference on Electromagnetic Interference and Compatibility., & Society of Electromagnetic Compatibility Engineers India. (1997). Proceedings of the International Conference on Electromagnetic Interference and Compatibility. Hyderabad, India: The Society.
Cornelissen, B., Keely, P., Greene, K., Hadzhiyski, I., Allen, S., & Sampaio, T. (2012). Mastering System Center 2012 Operations Manager. New York: Wiley.
Paul, C. R., & John Wiley & Sons (Firma comercial). (2006). Introduction to electromagnetic compatibility. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Interscience.
