EMI filtering plays an important role in reducing noise that could interfere with other devices; in medical or defense applications, for example, false alarms due to external interference could be detrimental. Here, we will continue our EMI filtering exploration with application and installation considerations. For earlier reading, review EMI filtering basics and filter performance.

To comply with international legislation such as the EU Directive on EMC or the FCC, EMI filtering is an essential element of equipment design. Here, we will continue to explore EMI filtering through insertion loss and filtering performance.

The insertion loss performance shows signal attenuation at any given frequency. As a metric, the insertion loss performance is most useful as a guide in the filter selection process; the actual performance in service can vary depending on circuit characteristics.

Welcome to the Capacitor Fundamentals Series, where we teach you about the ins and outs of chips capacitors – their properties, product classifications, test standards, and use cases – in order to help you make informed decisions about the right capacitors for your specific applications. After describing soldering for capacitors in our previous article, let’s discuss common formulas and calculations for capacitors.

Welcome to the Capacitor Fundamentals Series, where we teach you about the ins and outs of chips capacitors – their properties, product classifications, test standards, and use cases – in order to help you make informed decisions about the right capacitors for your specific applications. After describing visual standards for chip capacitors in our previous article, let’s discuss chip attachment and termination guidelines.

Welcome to the Capacitor Fundamentals Series, where we teach you about the ins and outs of chips capacitors – their properties, product classifications, test standards, and use cases – in order to help you make informed decisions about the right capacitors for your specific applications. After describing high reliability testing in our previous article, let’s discuss visual standards for chip capacitors.

In mission-critical applications, additional screening and testing is required to ensure that only the most robust parts make it to the finished product. Preventative measures, like high quality standards, lessen the possibility of failure in the field and minimize the likelihood of astronomical downstream costs.

Supply noise creates challenges in RF systems where it can mix with RF signals, impacting signal-to-noise ratios and potentially causing spurious output. Thus, high-frequency monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) amplifiers with broadband gain need to be protected from RF noise on the supply lines. Avoiding these issues with supply line noise requires RF designers to use a bypass capacitor that provides an efficient path to ground for RF energy on the supply line before it enters a gain stage (Figure 1).

Imaging systems account for a significant portion of the medical devices and electronics industry. There is an expanding range of imaging modalities, and one of the most common is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI equipment uses a strong magnetic field and computer-generated radio waves to create cross sectional images of the body; these images enable health care professionals to investigate and diagnose without the need for an invasive procedure.

Compared to other applications, a medical implant is a rather benign environment for a capacitor; it’s temperature-controlled with a relatively low voltage. That being said, the success of a capacitor in a medical implant relies heavily on manufacturing components to avoid failures and the know-how to screen for any production discrepancies. As the reliability grade of a component progresses, more screening and testing is required to ensure that only the most robust parts make it to the finished product.

Welcome to the Capacitor Fundamentals Series, where we teach you about the ins and outs of chips capacitors – their properties, product classifications, test standards, and use cases – in order to help you make informed decisions about the right capacitors for your specific applications. After describing standard industry test testing in our previous article, let’s discuss high reliability testing for capacitors.