How to Design to Fail (in 20
easy steps).
Date :
September 28th 1999
What we
saw: As an old engineering
saying goes, "Oscillators won't, but
amplifiers will." Often it seems that
EMC works the same way. So what if we
"designed to fail" instead of
"designed to pass?"
In
the spirit of continuing to provide top quality
education, the RMCEMCS hosted "How to Design
Digital Systems to Fail FCC & CISPR (in 20
easy steps).Thirty eight chapter members and
guests enjoyed pizza provided by Criterion Technology , then rolled along
with Daryl for an interactive hour evening
program. Starting with the advantages of
"Design for Failure" (save component
costs, gain management visibility and career
mobility), Daryl provided RMC members with twenty
easy to remember rules in three key design areas
of components and circuit boards, cables and
connectors and enclosures. Fundamentals included
the keys to a strong transmitter and a good
antenna. Daryl provided special tips on
techniques, elaborating on using fastest
components available, locating clock and I/O
lines together, using long leads on caps, and
providing slots in enclosures. He included
secrets on how to ensure failure even when forced
to use EMC control measures such as shielded
cables, bypass caps or line filters. During the
presentation, several chapter members offered
enhancements to the techniques that product
designers had demonstrated at their companies,
which will remain anonymous. Daryl concluded the
light hearted look at EMC problems with the most
important rule: never ask for help or advice
Some
pictures from the meeting:
The
Presenter was: Mr
Daryl Gerke. Daryl Gerke, PE, is a principal in Kimmel Gerke Associates, Ltd., an engineering
consulting firm that specializes in EMC
issues. The firm was founded in 1978,
and has been in full time EMC practice since
1987. Daryl has authored or co-authored
over 100 technical articles, plus three books on
EMC. He has a BSEE from the University of
Nebraska, and is a NARTE Certified EMC Engineer
and a Registered Professional Engineer.
(Web sites: www.emiguru.com, and www.emicatalog.com)
SPECIAL NOTE:
Thank you Rich Georgerian for these excellent
pictures!!
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