COURSE

CODE
TUTORIAL 4
Q1.

: ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTS AND MEASUREMENTS

: BEF 24002
: ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE

Explain the following terms:

i. Interference
ii. EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility)
iii. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) shielding
iv. Electromagnetic Interference (EMI):
v. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding
vi. Radio frequency interference (RFI) shielding
Answers
i.
Interference
A signal, emissions, malfunctioning or degradation of electrical equipment
performance.
ii.

EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility)

Capacity of electronic systems to operate harmoniously without interference
or degradation from other electromagnetic impulses.

iii.

EMI (Electromagnetic Interference)

An electrical interference that can affect the operation of electrical or
electronic equipment. Compatibility is accomplished with line fillers and
equipment shields.

iv.

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) shielding

is the process of limiting electric current that flows when an excess of electric
charge, stored on an electrically insulated object, finds a path to an object at
a different electrical potential (such as ground) by separating them with a
barrier made of a lightly conductive material. Static dissipative materials
have electrical resistance between insulative and conductive materials. There
can be electron flow across or through the dissipative material, but it is
controlled by the surface resistance or volume resistance of the material.
Typical materials for ESD shielding in the semiconductor and medical device
industries include carbon-filled silicone and polyurethane blends that shield
highly sensitive electronic circuitry.

v.Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)

Interference caused by the radiation of an electric or magnetic field.
v.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding

is the process of blocking the induction of electromagnetic radiation, which is
emitted by electrical circuits carrying rapidly changing signals, as a byproduct of their normal operation to other circuits which causes unwanted

signals (interference or noise). This is achieved by separating the circuits

with a barrier made of conductive material.
vi.

Radio frequency interference (RFI) shielding

is the process blocking radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation from one
circuit to another by separating them with a barrier made of conductive
material. This is achieved by separating the circuits with a barrier made of
conductive material.
Typical solutions for EMI/RFI shielding in the aerospace and medical
device industries include gaskets and custom molded seals made from
highly conductive elastomers that bridge uneven seams in electronic
packaging. Anything other than a 100% metal to metal contact can provide
gaps that allow interference to degrade systematic performance.

Q2. Describe capacitively-coupled interference and two good ways of reducing it.
Q3. List and explain four methods for reducing electromagnetic interference.
Q4. Explain the difference between electrostatic and electromagnetic interference and
describe how the effects of each may be reduced.
Answer
Electrostatic interference is due to the capacitive coupling that exists between
conducting surfaces. To shield one conducting surface from the electrostatic field
caused by the potential of another, an earth (or zero potential) screen must be
positioned between them.
In a practical measuring system this principle must be extended so that both the
connection between, and the component parts of, the system are contained within
the shield, as illustrated in the figure below.

Screened
measuring
instrument
Screened
signal source

Screened
connections

Instrument
isolated
from earth
Earth

Electromagnetic interference results from the electromagnetic coupling of a

current-carrying conductor with other conductors. The most likely sources of this
type of interference are power supply connections and transformers.
To eliminate the effects electromagnetic interference, signal-carrying conductors
should be kept well clear of such items, and if necessary, screened from them by
using a shield made from very high permeability material.
To eliminate the effects of r.f. electromagnetic interference it may be necessary to
place the equipment subject to r.f. interference in a screened enclosure or room.
The shield material used for such a construction is usually copper sheet, and since
the prevention of electromagnetic interference is only possible if the screen is
complete, all joints must be continuous and of low resistance. Power supplied into
such enclosure should be filtered and screened, the filter having a shunt capacitor
(low impedance at high frequency) followed by a series inductor (high impedance
at high frequency).