The EMC test market is still developing with a lot of interest in the ability to improve speed and accuracy. This demand is predominately from the larger electronic, electrical and telecomm OEMs.qqqRainford EMC Systems has recently developed and installed new products, which enhance the performance of Anechoic EMC test chambers.

The first new innovation has been the introduction of a 5 metre test range within the anechoic environment. Traditionally 10m testing were seen as the most accurate chamber configuration since this compared most favourably with an OATS. These chambers are generally of dimension 20m x12m x 8.5m and cost in excess of £1 million sterling, an obvious problem both with capitol expenditure and real estate requirements. The answer had previously been to have 3m testing with potential loss of accuracy but affordable.
The 5m solution has two major benefits over the 3m site, the first is that the additional separation of the equipment under test (EUT) and the antennae improves the accuracy when comparing to an open area test (OAT) site result. The second is the ability to measure large EUTs perhaps in excess of 2m diameter yet maintaining calibration with an OATS site comparison. The 5 metre range only requires a chamber of dimension 12m long x 7.5m wide x 6m high. Combined with a cost of less than 50 per cent of the 10-metre chamber this is seen as the way forward for many of the larger equipment OEMs.
Rainford EMC Systems have recently completed a 5 metre chamber for Motorola in Swindon, UK, and are currently designing one for another test house to be installed early in 2001.
The second recent introduction has been the automated sliding door for the Rainford SmartShield range of EMC anechoic test chambers. The unit is fully automated by pneumatics and has the ability to safely carry the necessary heavy ferrite tiles and absorber required by today's broadband EMC test chambers. The doors are available in a variety of sizes and may be custom designed for different configuration of absorber.

Enquiry No 42

Rainford EMC Systems is based in Wigan, Lancs. www.raifordemc.com