How can you design electronic systems to be more resistant to interference?

1 Factor 1: EMI Sources

The first factor to consider is the type and strength of the EMI sources that your electronic system may encounter. Different sources may have different frequencies, waveforms, and modes of propagation. For example, EMI from power lines may be low-frequency and conducted, while EMI from radio waves may be high-frequency and radiated. You need to identify the potential EMI sources in your environment and measure their characteristics using tools such as spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, or antennas.

2 Factor 2: EMI Susceptibility

The second factor to consider is the susceptibility of your electronic system to EMI. This depends on the design and layout of your circuit, components, and enclosure. Some factors that can increase the susceptibility of your electronic system are long wires, loops, gaps, or cracks that can act as antennas or create impedance mismatches; sensitive or high-impedance inputs that can pick up noise or distort signals; or poorly grounded or shielded elements that can allow EMI to enter or escape.

4 Best Practice 1: Follow Standards

One of the best practices to design electronic systems that are more resistant to EMI is to follow the relevant standards and regulations for your industry and application. These standards provide guidelines and specifications for the acceptable levels and methods of EMI testing and compliance. For example, in automotive manufacturing, you may need to follow standards such as ISO 7637, ISO 11452, or CISPR 25 that cover different aspects of EMI in vehicles and components.

5 Best Practice 2: Use Simulation

Another best practice to design electronic systems that are more resistant to EMI is to use simulation tools and software to model and analyze your system before building and testing it. Simulation can help you identify and resolve potential EMI issues early in the design process, saving you time and money. For example, you can use simulation tools such as SPICE, MATLAB, or EMPro to simulate your circuit behavior, signal integrity, or electromagnetic fields under different EMI scenarios and conditions.

6 Best Practice 3: Test and Validate

The final best practice to design electronic systems that are more resistant to EMI is to test and validate your system using appropriate equipment and procedures. Testing and validation can help you verify and improve your system performance, reliability, and safety under real-world EMI situations. For example, you can use testing equipment such as signal generators, amplifiers, or couplers to inject EMI into your system; or use testing procedures such as burst, surge, or immunity tests to measure your system response and tolerance to EMI.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?