How to Achieve Optimal Performance for Electronics (EMC, EMI, & RF Shielding)

When dealing with electronics and design, many acronyms get thrown around. For electrical engineers and designers, three of the most common are EMI, RFI, and EMC. Knowing the differences between the three is essential to optimize a design and ensure excellent performance. Below, we will go into the main differences between EMC and EMI.

• EMI = Electromagnetic Interference
• EMC = Electromagnetic Compatibility

Although the above terms are different, often, the two are used interchangeably. Because it is easy to confuse the two, it is much more important to understand the difference. How are EMI and EMC different?

EMC measures an electronic device's ability to function appropriately in a shared operating environment. EMC is broken down into two components:

Emission Testing:  this tests/measures the total EMI generated within a device's electrical system.

Immunity Testing: this test evaluates how a device reacts to electromagnetic energy.

The testing equipment for EMI and EMC helps people understand how devices perform. Emission testing utilizes testing equipment, such as receiving antennas, amplifiers, and spectrum analyzers.

Knowing the differences between EMC and EMI allows individuals to conduct better testing to ensure optimal real-world performance.

Electromagnetic interference is all around us, but only electronic devices experience it. Natural sources cause EMI, but the biggest issues stem from the number of electronic devices in the modern world. All electronic devices produce EMI, so it becomes a matter of adequately shielding and filtering EMI.

For more information on testing and protecting equipment, it would be best if you reached out for help. We are EMI, EMC, and RF shielding experts.

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