________________________________
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ken
Javor
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 8:57 PM
To: Untitled
Subject: Commercial EMI test software, need opinions on
Forum Members,
I am assisting in choosing automated software control for an EMI test
facility. I’m old school – REAL old school – and am unfamiliar with any
of the following:
ETS Lindgren – TILE http://www.ets-lindgren.com/page/?i=Tile
Teseq – Compliance 3 http://www.tese
.com/com/en/products_solutions/emc_radio_frequency/software/index.php?navid=37
CKC – EMI Test http://www.ckc.com/emitest.asp
If any of you have experience with any of these, or others, positive or
negative, please let me know off-line.
Thank you,
Ken Javor
I think that the most important decision is to determine what kind of testing
you intend to perform. By that, I'm asking if you want to study the EUT, or
are you looking only for pass/fail results? Automation is great, until you
come up against test conditions that the automation didn't anticipate.
For emission testing, find out how the software handles single-event
emissions, or low duty cycle pulses. Can you delete data point-by-point, or
does a single improper data point invalidate the entire test scan? How easy is
it to stop an automated scan and go manual, and then can you resume the
automated scan? Can you call for multiple re-scans, or do you have to guess
that before the first scan? How easy is it to edit the support files (antenna
factors, etc)? How many support files can you use at one time (separate files
for an antenna, cable, pre-amp, band-pass filter)?
For susceptibility testing, how does the software control the field strength?
Does it use real-time monitoring, or a level look-up table? How does the
software allow for various modulations (CW, 80% AM, 50% square pulse, other
PRR's and durations)? Can an automated scan be paused during a scan, allowing
full and easy manual control, and then have the automated scan continued?
For all software, find out how open the code is. Are you locked out of the
code? For instance, could you prove the dwell times of a frequency stepped
scan? What would you have to do if you wanted to buy some new hardware and
control it with your existing software? Are data files archived in a format
compatible with export to MS Word and Excel? Can support files be edited on a
PC and loaded into the test computer, or must you use the test computer to
perform all support functions (software support time can cut into operational
availability)?
For my testing, I have highly automated the emission testing, while
deliberately keeping the susceptibility automation to a minimum. I only want
my emission software to gather, present and archive the data; I don't want it
to even attempt to create reports. I only want my susceptibility software to
handle the drudge part of the work; I still want to be in close control of
what's happening throughout a scan.
In my opinion, complete lab automation is not yet achievable (or even
desirable). I think the best way is to separately address the functions of
emission and immunity, and apply sufficient automation to assist, but not
replace, the EMC engineer. Certainly, my opinions are somewhat biased being
based primarily on military testing. However, I become suspicious of highly
automated EMC operations; the smoother it looks on the surface, the more
likely there's a ground loop (or some other fascinating surprise).
Ed Price
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> WB6WSN
NARTE Certified EMC Engineer & Technician
Electromagnetic Compatibility Lab
Cubic Defense Applications
San Diego, CA USA
858-505-2780 (Voice)
858-505-1583 (FAX)
Military & Avionics EMC Is Our Specialty
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