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Electromagnetic Compatibility Engineering

Ott, Henry W. 2009

Praise for Noise Reduction Techniques IN electronic systems

"Henry Ott has literally 'written the book' on the subject of EMC. . . . He not only knows the subject, but has the rare ability to communicate that knowledge to others."
EE Times

Electromagnetic Compatibility Engineering is a completely revised, expanded, and updated version of Henry Ott's popular book Noise Reduction Techniques in Electronic Systems. It reflects the most recent developments in the field of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and noise reduction¿and their practical applications to the design of analog and digital circuits in computer, home entertainment, medical, telecom, industrial process control, and automotive equipment, as well as military and aerospace systems.

While maintaining and updating the core information—such as cabling, grounding, filtering, shielding, digital circuit grounding and layout, and ESD—that made the previous book such a wide success, this new book includes additional coverage of:

  • Equipment/systems grounding

  • Switching power supplies and variable-speed motor drives

  • Digital circuit power distribution and decoupling

  • PCB layout and stack-up

  • Mixed-signal PCB layout

  • RF and transient immunity

  • Power line disturbances

  • Precompliance EMC measurements

  • New appendices on dipole antennae, the theory of partial inductance, and the ten most common EMC problems

The concepts presented are applicable to analog and digital circuits operating from below audio frequencies to those in the GHz range. Throughout the book, an emphasis is placed on cost-effective EMC designs, with the amount and complexity of mathematics kept to the strictest minimum.

Complemented with over 250 problems with answers, Electromagnetic Compatibility Engineering equips readers with the knowledge needed to design electronic equipment that is compatible with the electromagnetic environment and compliant with national and international EMC regulations. It is an essential resource for practicing engineers who face EMC and regulatory compliance issues and an ideal textbook for EE courses at the advanced undergraduate and graduate levels.


Why Read This Book

You should read this book if you want a practical, engineering-focused masterclass on controlling electromagnetic interference across real embedded products. You will learn field-tested techniques for PCB layout, grounding, shielding, filtering, and measurement that translate directly into more robust firmware/hardware designs and faster regulatory compliance.

Who Will Benefit

Embedded hardware and firmware engineers, EMC/test engineers, and system designers working on IoT, automotive, aerospace, medical, or consumer products who need to reduce emissions, improve immunity, and pass certification.

Level: Intermediate — Prerequisites: Basic analog and digital electronics, familiarity with PCB layout and circuit schematics, and a working knowledge of oscilloscopes and multimeters; some exposure to signals and systems is helpful.

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Key Takeaways

  • Design PCB layouts and ground structures that minimize radiated and conducted emissions
  • Apply shielding, bonding, and cable-management techniques to reduce susceptibility and cross-coupling
  • Choose and implement filters, ferrites, and decoupling strategies that improve power and signal integrity under EMC constraints
  • Perform and interpret common EMC measurements (radiated/conducted emissions, LISN, near-field probes) and prepare for compliance testing
  • Diagnose real-world EMC problems using systematic troubleshooting and corrective modifications
  • Align product designs with regulatory standards and practical certification strategies to shorten time-to-market

Topics Covered

  1. Introduction to Electromagnetic Compatibility and EMI Fundamentals
  2. Basic Electromagnetic Field and Circuit Models for EMC
  3. Coupling Mechanisms: Conducted, Radiated, and Common-Mode
  4. Grounding, Bonding, and Reference-Plane Design
  5. Shielding Principles, Materials, and Enclosures
  6. Cables, Connectors, and Cable Shielding Techniques
  7. Printed Circuit Board Layout for EMC and High-Frequency Behavior
  8. Power Systems, Filters, Decoupling, and Power Integrity
  9. Measurement Techniques, Instrumentation, and Test Setups
  10. Radiated Emissions and Immunity Testing Procedures
  11. Designing for EMC in System and Product Development
  12. Troubleshooting Case Studies and Practical Remedies
  13. Automotive, Aerospace, and Specialty Application Considerations
  14. Standards, Regulations, and Preparing for Compliance

Languages, Platforms & Tools

General embedded platforms (microcontrollers and SoCs such as ARM, RISC-V)Automotive and aerospace electronic systemsConsumer and industrial electronic productsSpectrum analyzer, EMI receiver, LISN, network analyzer, oscilloscope, near-field probesPCB EDA/layout tools (Altium, Cadence/OrCAD, Mentor)Circuit and EM simulation tools (SPICE, HFSS, CST, EM solvers)Shielding and grounding test fixtures, anechoic and semi-anechoic chambers

How It Compares

More comprehensive on practical measurement and mitigation than Tim Williams' EMC for Product Designers, and more EMC-focused (vs. signal-integrity focus) than Johnson & Graham's High-Speed Digital Design.

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