Rohde & Schwarz Debuts EMI Test Receiver
August 7, 2012. The R&S ESR test receiver from Rohde & Schwarz, introduced at the EMC Symposium in Pittsburgh today, comes in two different models for frequencies ranging from 10 Hz to 3 GHz or 7 GHz to meet the requirements of users who perform EMC certification on commercial equipment. The R&S ESR covers all commercial standards relevant for test houses and EMC labs used by electrical equipment manufacturers and their suppliers.
The test receiver features time-domain scan, an FFT-based receiver technology that allows it to perform measurements up to 6000 times faster than other EMI test receivers, the company reports. Standard-compliant EMC measurements that took hours in the past can now be completed in just seconds, saving users time on the way to obtaining desired results. This measurement method offers advantages when the DUT can only be operated for short periods for testing—for example, in the automotive and lighting industries.
The R&S ESR includes a spectrogram function that seamlessly displays the analyzed spectrum over time and records measurements for up to five hours, allowing developers to detect sporadic interferers. The frequency mask-trigger responds to specific events in a spectrum. If the mask is violated, a trigger is activated. The measurement is stopped, and the user can analyze the exact cause and effect of the interferer. A persistence mode allows users to clearly differentiate between pulse interferers and continuous interference. It displays the probability distribution of occurring frequencies and amplitudes in various colors, making it possible to detect interferers that are hidden by broadband signals.
R&S ESR also offers conventional stepped frequency scan. The test receiver is also a full-featured spectrum analyzer and offers tools such as IF analysis and time domain display for functions such as click-rate analysis.
The R&S ESR also features a clearly structured touch screen. The various measurement modes are distinctly separated, and the operating mode can be switched at the press of a button. Users can easily configure complex measurements and automated test sequences directly on the touch screen. The R&S EMC32 software can be used to remotely control the R&S ESR and integrate it into complex EMC systems for automated measurement sequences.
The R&S ESR makes it easy to perform acceptance testing (conducted or radiated) in line with EN/CISPR/FCC on modules, assemblies, household appliances, IT equipment, TVs, radios, and so on. In the automotive sector, the R&S ESR is suitable for acceptance testing of vehicles and accessories in line with automobile manufacturer guidelines, also for mobile applications thanks to the DC operation option.