ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE
Mandeep Kaur Shikha Kakar
Post Graduate Student, IET Bhaddal Sant Baba Bhag Singh Institute of
Lecturer, SBBSIET Jalandhar ,Punjab Engg. And Tech.,
Email:sainimandeep85@gmail.com Padhiana, Jalandhar,Punjab
Email:rkakar_163@rediffmail.com
Abstract-In this paper the main motive is to study the
Electromagnetic Interference which is very prominent field in
today’s life. Electromagnetic interference also called radio
frequency interference (RFI) is a disturbance that affects an
electrical circuit due to either electromagnetic conduction or
electromagnetic radiation emitted from an external source.
EMI problems have been increasing with the proliferation of
mobile electronic systems, wireless communication systems,
and computer networks. The electromagnetic spectrum is
becoming increasingly crowded. After this the reasons are
elaborated; why electromagnetic interference takes place and
how it affects the system. The presence of electrical field
contributes to the surrounding levels of electrical and electro-
magnetic noise and interference. The increasing demand and
dependence on the use of electromagnetic transmission
systems for information technology applications has enabled
revolutionary communications capabilities to include cordless
communication devices, wireless networking, and satellite
communication systems. As the number of these devices
increases, there is an increase in electromagnetic radiation
within the segments of the electromagnetic spectrum in which
these systems operate. These emissions have the potential to
interfere with the normal operation of electronic
communication links and systems. The electromagnetic energy
disrupting the normal operation or function of electronic
devices is known as environmental interference (EI). The
source of EI can be categorized as environmental (naturally
occurring), incidental or intentional. The effects of EI can be
significant regardless of their source, however, engineering
design and other considerations that can be used to limit the
impact and disruption of EI on electronic, communication and
information systems. As we are aware of the bad impacts of
Electromagnetic Interference so main concentration will be on
Negative Effects of EMI. In the end of this paper different
methods for reducing the EMI and selecting the best one will
be discussed.
Keywords: Electromagnetic Interference, Sources of EMI,
Effects of EMI, Reduction of EMI.
I. INTRODUCTION
The vulnerability of wireless communication links from
sources of interference is increasing. The increase in the
number of transmission systems, band congestion and
intentional interference activity represent significant threats
to the normal operation, availability and reliability of these
wireless systems. This paper will initially address
conventional sources of interference, new threats posed by
___________________________________
978-1-4244 -8679-3/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE
1
Danvir Mandal
Institute of Engg. And
Technology,Bhaddal,
Ropar,Punjab
Email:danvir_mandal@rediffmail.co
m
intentional interference and directed energy sources, and
present a practical example of the effects of intentional
disruption on a global satellite navigation system. The path
on which data travels from its source to its destination is
described as a communication link. The primary sources of
interference that affect wireless communication systems are
electromagnetic in nature and can result in the magnetic and
radio frequency disruption or intermittent failure of
electronic, communication and information systems.
Wireless communication data links utilize free-space
propagation and are subject to interference and signal
disruption from a broad spectrum of sources. Wireless
communication technologies utilize a broad range of the
electromagnetic spectrum, to include high frequency, very
high frequency, microwave, and optical transmission
frequencies. The effects of noise and interference are
different at different segments, or frequencies, of the
electromagnetic spectrum.
II. SOURCES OF EMI
The sources of EMI can be generally separated into the
following categories:
• Incidental interference
• External noise
• Intermodulation distortion
• Spurious Emissions
• Adjacent Channel Interference
• Environmental Interference
• Band Congestion
• Intentional Interference (Jamming)
The ability of electronic systems to operate reliably in the
presence of interference is known as electromagnetic
compatibility (EMC). There are several ways that EMI can
transfer from a source to the victim: radiation, conduction,
and induction[2].
• Incidental Interference
The situation when a device is unable to distinguish a
desired signal due to the reception of a strong signal which
is not the desired signal. This can often be the result of
issues relating to the circuit design, shielding requirements
which can lead to the inability to reject these unwanted
signals that occur within and out-of-band in relation to the
desired signal. The operation of electronic devices causes
the emission of electromagnetic radiation of different levels.
These devices include wireless devices, mobile phones and
radar systems. Incidental Interference is a major concern
with both medical devices and airplane electronics, where
interference between devices that are not
electromagnetically compatible with each other can have
potentially devastating effects.
• External Noise
External noise sources can be electromagnetic or
electrical in nature. Noise from electromagnetic sources can
vary in their intensity and period, whereas electrical sources
are constant in nature.
• Spurious Emissions
The transmission of signals that are outside the
prescribed frequency band of a transceiver are considered
spurious emissions and can be in the form of discrete
narrowband signals or wideband noise. One common
occurrence of spurious emissions involves harmonics at
multiples of the fundamental frequency.
• Adjacent Channel Interference
Adjacent channel interference may be caused by
receiving a strong signal at a relatively close frequency to
the selected signal and can often be minimized through the
use of proper transmitter and receiver design techniques.
• Band Congestion
The overcrowding of frequency bands in addition to
modulation techniques, transmitter design and receiver
design can cause significant interference between devices
operating within shared or closely spaced frequency bands.
• Environmental Interference
The environment in which we live has natural sources of
electromagnetic radiation. These environmental radiation
emissions can interfere with the operation and effectiveness
of electronic systems and communication data links.
Examples of environmental sources of EI are lightning and
solar energy.
• Intentional Interference (Jamming)
The intentional emanation of energy to cause noise or
interference to another device or electronic system is known
as ‘jamming’[9]. This condition is the created through the
intentional emission or reflection of electromagnetic energy
or signals for the purpose of disrupting the electromagnetic
signals of another system. The ability to effectively jam a
signal or group of signals typically requires the use of a
high-power transmitter which produces a signal that is
stronger than the target signal. The susceptibility of the
receiver is also an important factor in the amount of
transmission power necessary to effectively jam or disrupt a
communication link or system. Intentional interference has
the capability of disrupting radio communications, radar and
radio navigation systems.
III. EFFECTS OF EMI
There are numerous factors that effect radio wave
propagation, which include transmission power, antenna
gain, attenuation factors, and noise. In addition, there are
ionospheric and tropospheric conditions that also have a
dramatic effect on the propagation of radio transmission
through free-space. The Basic Effects are:
• Atmospheric Effects
2
The transmission of High Frequency HF signals(3 MHz
– 30 MHz) for distances greater than approximately 100
miles depends on sky wave propagation, due to the
ionization levels that exist in the ionosphere[3]. The effects
of the ionosphere on signals in the medium and high-
frequency regions are more pronounced than at VHF/UHF
ranges((30 MHz–300 MHz/300 MHz –3 GHz) .The
transmission of VHF/UHF signals depend on ground wave
propagation and almost always follow line-of-sight paths,
which requires no obstructions between the transmitting and
receiving stations.
In effective satellite communication the calculation of
free-space transmission loss is the primary consideration
effect. In addition, noise levels from terrestrial, man made,
and cosmic sources can also interfere and negatively effect
signal propagation[4].
• Transients due to EMI
Electrical disturbances pose a great threat to electrical
equipment and data. Electrical disturbances go by various
names such as spikes, surges, and transient surge voltages.
Regardless of the name, the effects of these disturbances
remain the same: disruption, degradation and damage. With
the increasing popularity of computer networking, the effect
of transient surges on communication lines is also of great
importance. Transient surges may cause serious damage to
communication interfaces inside a building. There are
different ways a transient surge may be created, a single
surge suppression layer applied to incoming lines may not
be appropriate to completely shield the internal lines and
equipment from transient voltages. Transients can be
present on any conductor such as utility power lines,
telephone, data, and signal lines. The types of data lines that
exist on many Local Area Networks (LANs) include RS-
232, RS-422, Ethernet and Token Ring Cable, closed-circuit
TV, surveillance alarm systems, and CNC/machine-tool
interfaces. Spikes, a type of transient surge, are short-term
over-voltages, which are usually measured in milliseconds.
This unwanted excess of electrical energy could be created
easily on any conductive line. The energy content of
transients can be enormous and can damage equipment, or
cause it to malfunction by giving faulty signals due to
inaccurate voltage levels. Equipment driven by
microprocessors and other integrated circuits (IC) are
especially vulnerable to transient voltage surges. Inductive
coupling, created from various sources, is usually the cause
for transients specific to data lines.
A transformer produces a magnetic field extending from
a coiled wire in the primary, which induces a voltage in the
coiled wire of the secondary. Under the same principles,
wires that run adjacent to one another within a building can
magnetically couple transients, as shown in Figure 1. This
coupling can be caused by a power line, which induces a
voltage in an adjacent data line, or from one data line to
another (which is usually referred to as crosstalk)[9].

Figure 1 – Inductive coupling
Lightning can cause a much more powerful kind of
magnetic coupling, which can cause sudden damages to
multiple items in a single strike. Figure 2 shows a lightning
bolt striking the ground. This lightning bolt is surrounded by
a very powerful magnetic field. In much the same way a
magnetic field from one conductor can induce transients on
an adjacent conductor, the magnetic field of a lightning
strike can induce power in an external power line without
actually striking the line directly.
Figure 2 – Magnetic field created from a lightning strike
There are other major sources of coupling that can be
detrimental to data infrastructure. When planning or
inspecting the layout of data lines, the following sources of
inductive coupling should be addressed:
• data lines that are draped over power conduits
• running data cables near lightning down conductor (down
conductors are lines or structures in a building designed to
convey lighting discharge current in a building to ground)
• running data cables near building steel (especially in the
vicinity of lightning down conductors)
• running data lines too close to fluorescent lighting (which
emit EMI)
Much of the electrical equipment seen today is built on
integrated circuit and microprocessor technology. Because
of certain characteristics common to integrated circuits and
microprocessors, this equipment is especially sensitive to
transient voltage surges. Microprocessor based and
controlled devices can be found in almost every setting.
Some of this electronic equipment includes computers and
their peripherals, computer and data networks (such as
LANs), telecommunication equipments, medical diagnostic
equipments, CNC production machinery, radio equipment,
televisions, satellite television equipment, electronic cash
registers, copy machines, fax machines, etc. These
3
equipments are commonly found connected to some form of
data line for communication purposes.
Common failures produced by transients
The most common failures produced by transients within
electronic devices are disruptive, dissipative, and
destructive.
Disruptive effects — are usually encountered when a
transient enters the equipment by inductive coupling (either
over data or power lines). The electronic components then
try to process the transient as a valid logic command. The
result is system lock-up, malfunctions, erroneous output,
lost or corrupted files, and a variety of other undesirable
effects.
Dissipative effects — are associated with repeated stresses
to IC components. The materials used to fabricate ICs can
withstand a certain number of repeated energy level surges,
but not for an extended period. Long-term degradation will
eventually cause the components to be rendered inoperable.
Destructive effects — include all conditions where
transients with high levels of energy cause equipment to fail
immediately. Often, there is physical damage apparent, like
burnt and/or cracked PC boards and components, melting of
electronic components, or other obvious indications[5].
IV.REDUCTION OF EMI
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is increasing as a
result of higher clock speeds in today’s PCs and
workstations. The radiations, mainly produced by
fundamental and low-order harmonics, unfortunately
coincides and interferes with many popular radio FM bands.
Electromagnetic Interference can be reduced or eliminated
by using various suppression techniques, electronic filtering
networks and metallic shielding. Any electrical transitions
with sharp edges, such as clocks, data, address and control,
produce electromagnetic radiation. As performance
requirements increase, clock speeds have also increased. The
transition edge, or the slew rate, has become faster and faster
as the need for meeting set up and hold time has become
harder to meet. Set up is the time needed for a data pulse to
be stable before the rising edge of the clock, and hold time is
the time for the data pulse to remain stable after the edge of
the clock. The increased memory requirements, and other
loads on the clock lines, have significantly contributed to
electromagnetic radiation. EMI is linearly proportional to
current, the area of the current loop, and with the square of
frequency. EMI is defined as EMI = kIAf2 where I is the
current, A is the loop area, f is the frequency, and k is the
constant depending on PCB materials and other factors.
There are two types of EMI radiation:
Differential Mode and Common Mode: Current loops
formed between traces and the ground plane on PC add-in
cards and motherboards cause the Differential Mode. These
loops act as antennas and radiate EMI that may exceed FCC
(Federal Communications Commission) limits. Localized
ground noise injected into the PC’s I/O traces and cable
causes Common Mode radiation. Since these cables and
traces are long, they act as antennas. In the past, shielding
was the most prevalent method used to decrease EMI[6].
One powerful method to reduce EMI is the spread spectrum
technique which modulates the signal and spreads the (1 + Δ ) f NOM − 2 ( Δ )( f M )( t ) f NOM ( when 0 < t < 1 / f M )
energy over a wider frequency range. Spread Spectrum is a
controlled and careful modulation of the clock signal in a Where fNOM is the nominal clock frequency in the non-
way that does not contribute significantly to jitter. It has Spread Spectrum mode, fM is the modulation frequency and
been successfully shown that by using Spread Spectrum, Δ is the modulation amount, or the amount of change in the
radiation has been lowered from 7 to 20dB depending on clock frequency.
the degree of modulation.
1. Spread Spectrum Analysis
The Spread Spectrum technique is primarily applied to
square wave signals. Square wave signals include both the
fundamental frequency and odd multiples of the
fundamental frequency. Energy is contained in both the
fundamental and the harmonics. The energy contained in the
harmonics decreases with order since the spectral density
rolls off at a rate that is inversely proportional to the
frequency. It is important to mention several facts here. Figure 3. Clock Modulation Profile
First, most clocks do not have a 50 percent duty cycle. The Spread Spectrum has been mainly applied to system
result is the magnitude of harmonics is higher. Second, the clocks. (The clock specifications for today’s 400 MHz PCs
spectrumis related to the Fourier transform of the signal, call for specific reductions in Electromagnetic Radiation
which transforms the signal into its frequency domain and generated by the clock alone). Table 1 shows an example of
shows the frequency content of that signal. For example, a Desired Peak Amplitude reductions by Spread Spectrum.
sinusoidal signal that is only at a single frequency will TABLE 1
appear as a vertical spike at that frequency in the frequency Desired Peak Amplitude Reduction by Spread Spectrum
domain. The most severe radiation involves the
fundamental, the third, and fifth harmonic of the clock
frequency. Distributing the fundamental energy over a
tightly controlled range, as in the Spread Spectrum method,
also distributes the harmonic energy over a wider range.
This is because the bandwidth of the nth harmonic is n times
the bandwidth of the fundamental. The spread spectrum 2. EMI Filters
method must be controlled and slow compared to clock rate EMI filters are commercially available to eliminate high
to guarantee that the change in the clock rate is transparent frequency noise in power lines. They not only stop the noise
to the system. The modulation method is a very simple from entering the system, they also stop the noise
concept. Usually the modulation is measured as a manufactured by the system to leave the system and reach
percentage. For example, a 0.5 percent modulation means other parts of the bigger system. This effect is called
that a 100 MHz clock is modulated between 99.5 MHz and bidirectional. A combination of inductors and capacitors
100.5 MHz. This is called a center 0.5 percent modulation make up the EMI filters. The impedance of the node that
(D) since the 100 MHz fundamental frequency remains the determines the configuration of capacitors and inductors. A
center frequency. high-impedance node requires a capacitor and a low-
Another important factor is the modulation frequency. impedance node requires an inductor.
This frequency, usually in kHz range, is basically a measure • C Filter
of the rate the frequency is swept between 99.5 and 100.5. This is a feedthrough capacitor with low self inductance. It
The linear sweep is predictable and most prevalent. The shunts high frequency noise to ground and is suitable for
spread spectrum method must guarantee also that the
use with a high impedance source and load.
minimum clock period is not violated. The clock is usually
swept between 99.5 and 100 MHz to avoid exceeding the
maximum frequency of the system. In this method, called
down spreading, the clock frequency deviation is measured
as a negative percentage and the spread is - 0.5 percent (D).
Linear modulation is also called triangular modulation. A
general example of a triangular frequency modulation
profile is shown in Figure 3. The modulation profile in a Figure 4. Feedthrough Capacitor
modulation period can be expressed as follows: • L-C Filter
This is a feedthrough filter with an inductive element in
(1 − Δ ) f NOM + 2 ( Δ )( f M )( t ) f NOM ( when 0 < t < 1 / f M ) combination with a capacitor. It is commonly used in a
circuit with a low impedance source and a high impedance
F=

4
load (or vice versa). The inductive element should face the Frequency Weapons. United States Navy Pacific Ranges and
low impedance. Facilities.
[7]. United States Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Center. (1999)
Directed Energy Weapons – Acronyms & Glossary at
www.nawcwpns.navy.mil/~teclib/dewglossary.html
[8]. United States Naval Air Warfare Center. "Glossary: Jamming".
Electronic Warfare and Radar Systems Engineering Handbook.
Obtained online at https://ewhdbks.mugu.navy. mil/Glossary.htm.
[9]. United States Air Force. (2001). Electrical Power and Thermal
Figure 5. L-Circuit with Inductor on One Side Management for Airborne Directed Energy Weapons. Available at
• Pi-Filter http://www.afrlhorizons.com/Briefs/Sept01/PR0101.html
This is a feedthrough filter with 2 capacitors and an
inductive element between them. Ideally, it should be used
where both source and load impedances are high.

Figure 6. PI-Circuit with Two Capacitors Surrounding an

Inductor
• T Filter
This is a feedthrough filter with 2 series inductive
elements separated by one feedthrough capacitor. It is
suitable for use
where both source and load impedances are low.

Figure 7. T-Circuit with Inductor on Either Side of the

Capacitor
3. Shielding
An effective manner used to minimize, and in some
instances eliminate EMI, is to effectively shield components
from interaction with electromagnetic energy. This
technique is often expensive and causes major design
engineering challenges, especially to fully shield a device,
which requires that conductive material completely enclose
the equipment or circuitry. Any separation in the shielding
material reduces the effectiveness of the shielding technique.

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[3]. United States Army. (1998). 1998 ASTMP Annex E Global
Technology Capabilities & Trends. Available at
http://www.arl.army.mil/tto/ARLITT/ASTMP/aannexe.htm
[4]. Schlesinger, Robert, J. (1961). Principles of Electronic Warfare.
Prentice-Hall. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
[5]. Air Force Association. (2002). Attack at the Speed of Light. Air
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Weapons – 21st Century Threat Live Fire Testing of Radio