The new 3-meter chamber at Don Sweeney’s lab.

New 3-Meter Chamber

D.L.S. Electronic Systems, Inc. has added a new fully-automated, state-of-the-art, semi-anechoic 3-meter chamber to its Wheeling, Illinois, testing facility. This chamber, listed with the FCC, allows for a streamlined measurement process at frequencies that exceed 1GHz. More products currently have clock/crystal frequencies >108MHz, and the FCC requires these frequencies to be tested beyond the former 1GHz limit. D.L.S. offers global compliance programs for EMC and product safety.

Compliance Worldwide Receives ISO Accreditation

Compliance Worldwide Inc. of Sandown, New Hampshire, has received updated A2LA accreditation to ISO 17025-2005 and designation from NIST as a Phase I competent assessment body (CAB) for the economies of Australia, Canada, Chinese-Taipei (BSMI), Chinese-Taipei (NCC Formerly DGT), Singapore, Korea, and Hong Kong for the testing of information technology equipment (ITE), wireline telecommunications terminal equipment (TTE), and low power wireless devices.

In addition to the company’s designations, Compliance Worldwide Inc.’s radio frequency emissions site holds listings with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Industry Canada (IC), and in Japan under Voluntary Control Council for Interference (VCCI) Membership Number 2147, and has been designated as a CAB by the FCC (US 1091) for issuing Declaration of Conformity (DoC) reports.

The measurement facility includes an indoor 10-meter open area test site containing a motorized antenna mast and a 2000-pound capacity 10-foot diameter turntable. The facility also contains a 12 x 20 x 10-foot ferrite tile chamber with a low profile remotely controlled turntable for pre-scanning products to EMC standards. A motor generator provides 230VAC at 50Hz up to 25A for powering products per European and International specifications.

TÜV First to Add UK Def Stan 59-411

TÜV Product Service worked with the U.K. Ministry of Defense sponsor to produce the new Ministry of Defense Def Stan 59-411 Issue 1 on electromagnetic compatibility. TÜV Product Service has since become the first laboratory to gain UKAS accreditation (test lab #0141) to carry out testing to this standard.

As a result of TÜV Product Service’s expertise in EMC testing, it also became the lead author for Parts 1 and 4 covering management and planning plus platform and system tests and trials.

Def Stan 59-411 supersedes Def Stan 59-41 and other EMC-related defense standards and updates, and consolidates seven EMC-related defense standards.

TÜV Product Service is now fully equipped to assist with site surveys, gap analysis, risk assessment studies and compliance testing of modified designs.

Avionics Wins Military Contract from BAE

Avionics Innovations, Inc., has received the largest order in its history, winning a contract to supply a compact, ruggedized, Mil-Spec video switching unit to BAE Systems for a forthcoming retrofit program funded by the U.S. Army. The initial order calls for 152 units, with potential of up to 80 units per month and a total of over 3,500 units for the program life.

“We appreciate the confidence that BAE Systems has shown in our company and our products, and we’re looking forward to expanding our commercial product line through the experience gained with this program,” noted Dave Hainline, Avionics Innovations’ president. BAE was also impressed with AI’s ability to develop and build this new Mil-Spec EMI/RFI unit within 120 days.

Avionics, of Ramona, California, designs and manufactures video and audio systems for corporate, airline, military and general aviation applications.

Raytheon RF Receives Top NSA Accreditation

The National Security Administration’s Trusted Access Program Office has accredited Raytheon Company’s semiconductor foundry, Raytheon Radio Frequency Components (RRFC), as a Department of Defense Category 1 Trusted Foundry for production of substrates for printed circuit board chips.

The agency’s Category 1 designation, the highest awarded by the DoD, recognizes Raytheon’s support of defense systems vital to mission effectiveness or operational readiness of deployed or contingency forces, and indicates that the loss or degradation of these systems results in immediate and sustained loss of effectiveness.

“This accreditation reflects our capability to provide the stringent protection measures required by the National Security Administration for gallium arsenide (GaAs) and gallium nitride (GaN) foundries,” said Mark Russell, vice president of engineering for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.

With headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts, Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.

Tecan Offers EMI/RFI Aid

Tecan, located in Weymouth, Dorset, U.K., is now offering free design assistance to electronics designers looking for solutions to EMI/RFI problems. Tecan offers solutions from multi-cavity structures to standard or customized enclosures, some designed and dispatched in 48 hours.

Tecan also offers site visits, rapid prototyping, sample production, finish and thickness options, forming, assembly and re-evaluation for cost reduction. The company uses a range of well-established and proven manufacturing systems, such as photo-chemical machining (PCM) and punch-and-press to provide cans for demanding production needs.

Typical enclosures may include options such as fences, dividing walls, five-sided enclosures, multi-cavity, full enclosures, spring-fingered lids, simple fold lids, folding spring lids and screening meshes. Resultant fabrications are compatible with all standard production requirements including surface-mount, and are also suitable for pick and place assembly.

Agilent Wins Multimillion-Dollar Navy Contract

Agilent Technologies Inc. reports that the U.S. Navy has selected the company’s test equipment for the General Purpose Electronic Test Equipment program. The five-year contract, awarded by the Naval Inventory Control Point, is valued at approximately $3.3 million.

The Agilent test solution includes the Agilent E4418B power meter and Agilent 8481A/8481D power sensors, a combined unit that provides accurate, true-RMS RF power measurements for electronic systems support. As part of the contract, Agilent remains the incumbent contractor for continuous-wave power meters until 2012, which supports the company’s aerospace/defense growth initiative.

“This win is the result of great teamwork and high-value competitive products,” said Gooi Bor Chun, worldwide marketing manager for Agilent’s basic instruments division.



3C Test Approval Granted at New EMC Center

The new EMC testing facilities at the Silverstone Circuit, Northants, operated by 3C Test, has been granted VCA technical service status and UKAS accreditation for whole vehicle testing.

The 10-meter semi-anechoic chamber can accommodate large and heavy vehicles as well as standard passenger vehicles. The chamber enables EMC testing to be carried out for both emissions and immunity, eliminating the need to move the vehicle, resulting in reduced set up times and therefore reduced costs.

3C Test is approved by UKAS for the Automotive EMC Laboratory Recognition Program ensuring quality EMC testing for automotive component and subsystem. AEMCLRP demonstrates compliance with the quality system and technical requirements of ISO 17025 and its own quality policies and procedures. Accreditation has been gained through onsite assessment and demonstration of proficiency in EMC testing.

Mouser, Laird Enter Global Distribution Agreement

Mouser Electronics has signed a global distribution agreement with Laird Technologies, a leading global manufacturer of EMI solutions serving the tele-communications, data communications, computer, general electronics, network equipment, aerospace, defense, automotive, and medical equipment markets.

Mouser will stock Laird’s fabric-over-foam EMI shielding gaskets, fingerstock gaskets and metal grounding products, as well as board-level shielding products and EMI/RFI absorber foam sheets.