If you’re in the process of designing and/or marketing an electronic device, you’re aware of the vital importance of complying with regulations such as FCC Part 15 and the European Union’s EMC Directive.
FCC Part 15 sets strict limits on electromagnetic emissions from your device, including radiated emissions. These limits help to promote electromagnetic compatibility, ensuring that devices can function effectively in a common environment.
If your device exceeds FCC limits for radiated emissions, you will need to make changes to your device’s design to reduce its emissions and bring it into compliance.
As an ANSI-accredited testing lab and FCC-recognized Telecommunications Certification Body, we specialize in testing electronic devices for FCC compliance.
Our team can help you test your device and, if required, make changes to successfully limit its emissions and ensure it complies with FCC Part 15.
To talk to our engineers, or to request a free quote for testing your device, contact us online or call us at 866-540-5287.
You can also continue reading below to learn more about what radiated emissions are, why it’s critical to limit these emissions for FCC Part 15 compliance, and steps that you can take to limit your device’s radiated emissions and improve its electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
What are Radiated Emissions?
Radiated emissions are electromagnetic energy that’s unintentionally released from your device into the surrounding area. Unlike conducted emissions, which travel along power or signal lines, radiated emissions travel through the air in the form of waves.
These emissions can cause electromagnetic interference (EMI), meaning they could potentially interfere with other electronic devices in the same environment.
Radiated emissions can occur for a variety of reasons, including high-frequency switching in an electronic circuit, oscillation in components within your device or interference produced by other devices.
Our guide to radiated emissions testing gives more information about how radiated emissions are measured, as well as the importance of limiting radiated emissions for EMC compliance.
Radiated Emissions and FCC Part 15
In the United States, all electronic devices that are capable of producing radio frequency (RF) emissions need to comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations, such as FCC Part 15.
FCC Part 15 has limits for radiated emissions, with limits set for specific frequency ranges and device types (intentional radiators vs. unintentional radiators).
In order to pass FCC testing and receive FCC equipment authorization, your electronic device will need to demonstrate compliance with these limits.
Pre-Compliance Testing Can Identify Radiated Emissions Early
Before starting the FCC compliance and certification process, many device manufacturers opt for pre-compliance testing.
This type of testing can identify potential EMC problems early in the design and development process, allowing you to implement techniques before you submit your device for FCC testing and certification.
Feel free to contact our engineers to ask about pre-compliance testing, or for information on radiated emissions limits and standards.
How to Reduce Radiated Emissions From Your Device
Reducing radiated emissions is an important step in improving your device’s electromagnetic compatibility and complying with regulations such as FCC Part 15. The following approaches can help you limit your device’s radiated emissions and improve its EMC performance:
PCB Design Techniques
Poor PCB design can increase your device’s electromagnetic interference and result in higher levels of radiated emissions. In certain cases, your PCB could act as an antenna that radiates electromagnetic energy, increasing emissions.
Effective PCB design techniques for minimizing radiated emissions include optimal trace layout, solid ground planes, shielded layers, placement of decoupling capacitors and other approaches to minimize EMI.
Shielding
Shielding involves using materials to protect your device’s signal from external electromagnetic signals, and to prevent its signal from interfering with surrounding devices. It can be used at the component or board level to reduce radiated emissions and improve your device’s immunity.
Common shielding materials include copper, copper alloy 770 (nickel silver), carbon foam, film, tape and foil, and silicone. Our guide to EMI shielding materials provides further information on these materials’ strengths and primary uses.
EMI Filtering
EMI filtering involves using filters to absorb excess energy in an electrical circuit. Filters reduce electromagnetic interference, including radiated emissions, and also protect components inside your device from being affected by electrical noise.
Filters can be either active, meaning they detect voltage and generate an opposite current flow, or passive, meaning they reduce emissions at a specific frequency or range of frequencies.
Grounding and Bonding
Proper grounding and bonding are critical for reducing radiated emissions.Common grounding techniques include single-point grounding and chassis grounding, which can reduce the risk of ground loops and enhance the effectiveness of techniques such as shielding.
Contact Us About EMC Testing & Compliance
Radiated emissions are one of several types of electromagnetic interference tested for under FCC Part 15, the European Union’s EMC Directive, and similar regulations and standards for electronic devices.
The best time to test for radiated emissions is during your device’s design phase. This allows you to implement techniques such as those listed above to lower your device’s emissions and more easily achieve compliance.
As experts in EMC testing and compliance, our team can help you improve your device’s EMC performance, including by reducing radiated emissions.
We can also complete lab testing for your device and help you achieve FCC certification, CE RED certification and other necessary compliance marks to market your device in the United States, EU and other markets.
To ask our engineers a question, or to request a free quote for your device, contact us online now or call us at 866-540-5287.
