q uantum c hange / emc systems q uantum c hange / emc systems presents tile the total integrated...

QQuantumuantum CChangehange//EMC EMC SystemsSystems

Presents TILE the

Total Integrated Laboratory Environment

The ‘Enter’ button moves you between each page. The right arrow and left arrow also goto the previous and next page

Quantum Change/EMC Systems• Overview

– Designed to support all types of testing

(radiated immunity and emissions, conducted immunity and emissions)




– Designed for all Test Standards

IEC, FCC, Mil-Std, SAE, Automotive,

Medical and other specialized specifications




– Designed for all Test Standards

IEC, FCC, Mil-Std, SAE, Automotive,

Medical and other specialized specifications– Designed to support all manufacturers of EMC

hardware

Quantum Change/EMC Systems

• Overview (Continued)– 32 Bit application is native under Win95, Win

98, Win NT (above 3.51) and Win2000


• Overview (Continued)– 32 Bit application is native under Win95, Win

98, Win NT (above 3.51) and Win2000– Site Licensed for flexibility

Load it on as many PC’s in your lab as required. A separate hardware lock is not required for each machine.

A TILE profile is a completely defined test.


A TILE profile is a completely defined test.

Each Profile has a minimum

5 windows. The front window

is called the Flowchart.


Each icon on the screen

performs a step in the test.

The user/designer of the test

has control of almost every

parameter that is reasonable.


The Palette of tools varies

depending upon the options

purchased. This palette shows

most all icons currently

found in the TILE software.


Double-clicking on any icon

gives you access to

‘Edit/Execute or Run’ choices.

You can ‘Execute’ any step on a

flowchart. ‘Go’ causes the complete

chain of icons to execute.


Editing gives the user access to all settings of this step. Each step is unique, so different settings can apply for the same type of action in different steps of a profile.


The tabs identify different types of settings that can be modified. The Action tab identifies the version information for this icon. This information is used when doing troubleshooting or checking upgrades.


From the flowchart, there are system icons to move between each of the 5 standard windows. These windows are the ‘Flowchart’, ‘Data’ , ‘Instrument’, ‘Log’ and ‘Audit Trail’


The Data window displays all the various pieces of information tracked within the profile. The first column is the data element name. This can be any name that is unique for the designer/user. Names which reflect their purpose make understanding the information much easier.

Data window shortcut icon


The ‘DB’ refers to linkages with the TILE/DB database product. The ‘Valid’ refers to the current number of valid data points in this element. The ‘Type’, ‘Intp’ and ‘Source’ columns all deal with the data type and its source.


Double clicking on any line, or hitting ‘New Data’ gives you access to the data definition. There are 8 types of data: ‘Measurement’s are results of reading an instrument, ‘File’ refers to data from a text file (correction factors, specification limits, etc), ‘Equation’s are math processes, ‘Preset’s are data created internally for reference purposes, ‘Word’ data is alpha-numeric data (such as comments) that is linked by frequency. Finally, ‘Direct’ data is frequency and amplitude data entered directly through TILE’s direct entry process.

New Data icon


The ‘Continuous (Linear)’ and ‘Continuous (Log)’ buttons give the user/designer control of how the TILE program will interpolate data. Turning both off will cause there to be no interpolation. This is important for displaying data in graphs or windows. You do not want to interpolate failure information, for instance. You only want to report the actual frequencies of failure.


The ‘Save to Database’ controls whether this information is automatically stored in the related TILE/DB database product.

The ‘Auto Sort’ determines whether the data element is sorted by frequency when it is first created.


The ‘Values’ tab gives the user access to the values currently stored in this data element. You can also change the sorting direction on this page. The values shown can only be viewed, not modified. This insures data security.


The Instrument window gives the user access to which instruments will be used within a profile and what they will be referred to by name. Above you can see a signal generator, called ‘SigGen’, defined.

Instrument window shortcut icon


The line shows the instrument name, for use within the profile, the ‘type’, the interface (GPIB, Serial, etc), the current instrument driver (which actual instrument is present), the version number for this instrument driver (defined by Quantum Change), the Serial Number and Calibration Date.


Double-clicking on any instrument gives the user access to the definitions for this instrument. Changing the ‘Driver’ (which instrument is actually being used) and the ‘Address’ (Buss/Serial etc.) are the most common changes. Currently, Tile supports over 300 different instruments. New instruments drivers are added constantly. Our commitment is to support every instrument you own, that is appropriate for an EMC test.

New instrument Icon


The Log Windows allows the user to display a history of GPIB/Serial commands sent to the various defined instruments. This is used, primarily, for debugging problems. The default behaviour is to have the log turned OFF.

Log window shortcut icon


Audit trail shortcut icon

The Audit Trail provides a document history of the settings for each icon on the flowchart. It is used for documentation purposes. The action name, in this case ‘Immunity - 10 Vrms’ is matched to the icon on the flowchart. The remainder of this printout displays the internal settings for this step.


Beyond the standard 5 windows you can have as many separately defined graphs and tables as you need. It is as simple as clicking on ‘Window/Add/..’. If you select ‘Graph’ a new, blank graph is created. If you select ‘Table’ a new blank table is created.


LegendsTitles (3 Lines)

User Controlled information Data

Graphs are defined in a static view, with data updating constantly. You define what data to include and other display options and the graph will be constantly updated to reflect changing data.


Graphs can be exported to disk as windows metafiles (.wmf), a special version of a standard bitmap that is supported by most word processors or copied to the clipboard to be pasted . You can configure as many different graphs as you need. Each with different data, frequency ranges, titles, etc.


The same basic options apply for table definition. The titles for columns, column widths and decimal accuracy can be specified.



Tables can be automatically saved to disk as comma-separated text files (.csv). They can be copied to the clipboard and pasted into other applications (such as word processors or spreadsheets). Remember, you can have as many different tables as you need. Each designed to display different views of the available data.


It would never do to discuss the TILE software and not demonstrate the power of each action found within the program. Actions are broken up into six general categories - emission actions, immunity actions, information actions, utility actions, GTEM actions and miscellaneous actions.

We will next run through a quick summary of each type of action.


Emissions Actions


Immunity Actions


Information Actions


Utility Actions


GTEM Actions


Miscellaneous Actions


To demonstrate the power of the TILE software, we are going to step through the options found in two actions - Immunity Test and Optimize (an Emissions Scan).


When editing an action, the first page is called ‘Action’. It provides a place for the user to name this step of the test. The name of the test is important since it will show up on any drop-down box that allows you to specify actions.

This page also displays the Version number, DLL name and a short description of what type of test or activity this action performs.

Also visible are all the tabs relevant for this action. Immunity is the most complex action in the TILE system as can be seen by the number of tabs.


The frequency tab allows the designer to select 4 different methods of determining frequency. You can specify percent steps, with fractions acceptable, log steps, linear steps or you can use the ‘Set from Data’ switch and point to a data element with a specific set of frequencies.


The ‘Freq Step’ tab gives the user control of some unique capabilities within TILE. When performing a immunity test, the software will normally step to a frequency, turn on the signal generator, set the expected output level, check the level, turn on modulation, delay the required time and then turn off modulation, set the rf to a minimum level and turn off the signal generator. Many of these steps are not desired for certain types of equipment. With this tab, the designer can customize the level loop to fit their requirements.


In the ‘Primary Amp’ tab a data element is selected which represents the level to which the primary leveling loop will aim. The ‘Data Units’ is selected to show the correct unit on the display while the test is running. The software will level to any type of number, Volts, V/M, Amps, Current, dBm, etc. The only critical need is for the level data element value to match the capabilities of the power meter or probe.


The ‘Secondary Amp’ tab is for the selection of criteria needed when performing a test with more than one leveling loop present. A good example would be a Mil-Std CS114 test. In this test, you inject a known power level into an injection clamp/probe. The specification requires you to monitor the amount of power actually induced onto the line by mounting a separate monitoring probe a short distance down the cable. If the level induced exceeds a second limit, the power is reduced until this level is achieved. The automotive world also checks the harmonics. A feature that can be set here.


The ‘Leveling’ tab provides for a selection of leveling method. The three choices - No leveling, Power Meter and Probe - provide slightly different methodologies. If ‘No Leveling’ is selected none of the remaining choices on this page are active. It implies that the ‘Primary Amp’ data element is in signal generator levels. If either of the remaining two choices are made, then these selections let you set tolerance levels, maximum and minimum steps sizes, amplifier maximum input limits, the number of try’s and a special data element, called ‘Best Guess’, which allows the designer to control the first signal generator level at each frequency in the leveling loop.


One of the unique features of TEM Cell’s, and TEM-type devices, is that you can calculate the field, in V/M, if you know the height of the septum, an accurate impedance for each frequency and the power level injecting into the cell. When this tab is selected, you can level to field strength using a power meter.


This tab has two different, unrelated, settings. The first is used when you want to configure a relatively fast test, using a set of pre-calibrated signal generator levels, but want to insure that the injected power is within a known limit. Set the ‘Power Meter Data’ to the value induced in the transducer during the calibration and the allowed tolerance. The software will set the signal generator level and then check to insure the power meter levels are within this tolerance.

The ‘Door Check Active’ is configured to check a DAQ or Switch position during the test to insure door closure. In the event of an opening, the software will turn off the RF and goto ‘Manual’ mode.


When the Immunity Test is running the display shows the current level and target. This is normally shown in the units of the leveling loop. Sometimes it is preferred to display a field in another unit. For instance, if you calibrated your room, stored the power required and the field level generated. You would run the immunity test to achieve the same power level. If you enter the field level in the ‘Reference File’ and select the appropriate units, the display will show these values, tracking them to the relative power level actually present. You can also store this reference value for later display.


Certain standards require recognition of both a level where the failure occurred and also the level at which the EUT returns to normal performance. These are called the ‘Upper’ and ‘Lower’ threshold. This tab allows the designer to configure a test to meet these requirements.


Auto Thresholding is a method of automatic failure analysis if your failure can be identified by reading a specific instrument with a tolerance. For instance, if your EUT is supposed to put out 5 Volts +/- .5 Volts, you can hook a voltmeter to the output. Set the ‘Threshold Limit’ to a data element preset to a 5. Set the ‘Tolerance’ to .5 and the EUT delay any specific delay that your units needs to respond to triggering. This action will record, automatically, a failure if the voltage is outside this range.


TILE supports three methods of modulation - AM, FM and PULSE. The ‘AM Modulation’ tab allows configuration of the required modulation and waveform. These settings are ONLY appropriate if your signal generator will output these waveforms.


‘FM Modulation’ sets the parameters for FM modulation. If AM Modulation is also selected, it will be turned off if your signal generator supports only one modulation output at a time. If the signal generator supports dual, or more, modulation outputs, you can set up to all three modulation types.


The last type of modulation supported is ‘Pulse Modulation’. Set this, as required. Again, this tab will only work if your signal generator supports this type of modulation. Modulation is turned on in the sequence AM, FM and PULSE. If you have turned on one or more types of modulations, but your signal generator only supports one at a time, the last one in this sequence will be on.


The instruments used in an immunity test require calibration data for the software to properly utilize them. The amplifier numbers should show the gain of the amplifier (in dB). The power meter calibrations, both channel 1 and 2 (or instrument 1 and 2), reflects the losses between the actual signal and the measuring power. This number is usually the directional coupler loss, plus any cable loss that is appropriate to consider. The probe calibration is the percentage of error at each frequency. These values will be found in the original manufacturers documentation.


You can store the final values of any instrument in the test. If you are using two power meters, or a two channel power meter, you can also record the ‘Net Power’ separately from the forward and reverse power.


While the immunity test is running, if you go to ‘Manual’ mode, you can enter comments into a special dialog box. These ‘comments’ can be stored. With these stored values you can create a table with the levels achieved and a comment explaining the events. The ‘Pass/Fail’ data element is a special element. Its values will be either 1 (for a pass) or 0 (for a failure). This allows you to manipulate data to easily segregate failed frequencies from the remaining passed values.


The ‘Instrument’ tab is used to identify the specific instruments to be used during a test. For the Power Meters and Probes, you also have the ability to specify a trigger delay time. Most power meters and probes are designed as constant output devices. They will also return a value, whether the current triggering cycle has settled or not. Many do not have any indication that a reading is being taken prior to completion of the trigger cycle. This value gives the user the capability to control a specific delay, within the TILE software, between the triggering and the reading step. This allows high speed with a high degree of comfort.


One of the unique features of TILE is the ability to monitor up to eight different instruments during a test. Monitor instruments are read, and their values saved, without interfering with the leveling cycle. If your EUT has outputs that can be monitored with Noise Meters, Distortion Analyzers, Oscilloscopes, DMM, Voltmeters, etc, these two tabs allow you to capture up to eight different instruments readings at each frequency.


When performing an immunity test, almost every standard has some requirement for dwelling on a frequency for a certain period of time. There are three different types of dwell timing available in TILE. A ‘Key Test’ is a defined sequence of turning on and off the signal generator over a specified millisecond time. This is meant to duplicate the affects of someone keying on their hand-held transmitter in the neighborhood of the EUT. The ‘Std Delay’ is a fixed delay time, for example the IEC requires a 3 second (3000 millisecond) dwell at each frequency. The final timing element is the ‘Soak Off Time’. Some of the automotive specifications require a fixed off time between each frequency.


The final tab has two uses. The first is how the action will prompt the user during the test. Typically, the user will interface with the test by going from automatic to manual mode and back again. There is the capability to have an automatic prompt pop-up at times to prompt the user to check the EUT. The last section, ‘Call Action’, is used to link to outside activities as part of an automatic pass/fail sequence.


This may have been far more information than you needed to know about how TILE does an immunity test, but it demonstrates the power of the software. Although the default settings will handle many tests, the designer can customize a tremendous amount of this action. The same action can be configured for either conducted or radiated immunity test.

Next, we would like to show you a sample of a typical emissions action. There are different types of actions for emissions depending upon your configurations of towers, turntables or OATS. For demonstration, we are going to show you the settings for one action - called optimize. The Optimize action scans a receiver/analyzer across a defined set of frequency ranges while moving the tower and turntable to locate the maximum signal.


As with all actions, when you first start to edit an action the front tab is ‘Action’. Name is the only setting on this page, but it does display the version number, DLL name and a short description of what this action does.


The ‘Frequency’ tab is used to define the frequency range of interest. You specify start and stop frequency, number of ranges (how many discrete scans the analyzer will make across this range), the method of scaling the ranges and a reference level for the analyzer during the test.


The ‘Data’ tab is used to select the storage data elements for outputting the maximum level, the position the tower and the turntable were in at this maximum. These positions will vary for each frequency point. The ‘Check in Continous Mode’ button is used to determine whether the turntable is stepped and read or read in continuous motion.


When designing a test, this tab is used to set the limits for travel on the tower and turntable. Positioner 1 (which is normally the tower) is always stepped, so the start, stop and step values apply. The Margin is the amount of tolerance for starting and stopping. Most tower can handle 1-2 cm’s of accuracy. Some turntables can handle 1-2 degrees of accuracy but larger ones typically require 4-5 degrees to stop. The positioner 2 is stepped unless the ‘Check in Continuous Mode’ switch is set on the ‘Data’ tab.


On this tab you identify the instruments being used for this specific step. Towers and turntable can be set to ‘Manual’ mode. If this is set, the software will put a prompt up to specify which position to move to so that the operator can manually position the equipment.


Certain towers and turntables do not respond quickly to the stop command. This tab lets the designer tune this action to their site. Polarity timing is the amount of time it takes for the antenna tower to flip the antenna from horizontal to vertical or back. If the pressure is low this can take longer then 2 seconds. You do not want to be scanning height or turntable positions while the antenna is still in motion.


The final tab lets the designer set the RF bandwidths, video bandwidths (or step size for receivers), number of sweeps (more than one puts the analyzer in Max Hold) and the sweep time. The detector defaults to Peak and you would not normally use any other setting due to the interaction of the slower detectors and the timing of the tower and turntable movements.


This summarizes our explanation of the TILE approach to designing a test. Each action within TILE has unique customization features that make it a powerful tool for doing any type of emissions or immunity test.

The power of the software also explains the rational for one of the company’s standard features - On-site installation and training. It has always been our belief that software is useless until the customer is actually running tests. There is no reason for an engineer to spends weeks reading a manual and trying to configure a test, when a short one-two day training class will make the site productive immediately.

The advantage of the separate DLL’s for each action is summarized by the term ‘Rolling Upgrades’. Every TILE user has access to the latest features (the improved DLL’s) without the requirement to reinstall the software each time. The latest versions are always on the web-site.


In Summary

The greatest strength of TILE is its flexibility

It will let you design a profile to perform any test using any hardware.

The greatest weakness of TILE is its flexibility

It does require someone to be trained on how to design profiles.

Thank you for taking the time to view this presentation. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at 1-215-674-8845 or [email protected] or [email protected] or visit our web-site (www.quantumchange.com) for the names of local representatives or distributor.

http://www.quantumchange.com/



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