AN - RF Current To Electric Field Strength Extrapolation - V1.0

AN_ RF current to electric field strength extrapolation_V1.0.docx V1.
USING RF CURRENT PROBE MEASUREMENTS

TO EXTRAPOLATE TO RADIATED E-FIELD STRENGTH
1 Introduction
Signal- and power supply cables carrying conducted noise act as antennas and consequently cause
radiated emissions.
Henry Ott and Clayton Paul outlined a method to convert RF current probe measurements into electric field
strength radiated from cables carrying RF currents. It is a derivation/simplification of the full treatment outlined
in “Antenna Theory – Analysis and Design” (C. Balanis).
This application note is based on an excellent article on the website of Andy Eadie from EMC FASTPASS.
The application note explains how this method can be applied, using Tekbox EMCview software. It
automatically creates a graph of radiated emissions, converting a common mode current conducted noise
measurement carried out with a RF current probe and a spectrum analyzer.
Andy Eadie´s article can be found here:
https://emcfastpass.com/current-probe-e-field-emi-testing/
2 A bit of mathematics
“The Formula”
4𝜋 ∙ 10−7 (𝑓 ∙ 𝐼 ∙ 𝐿)𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝐸=
𝑟
E = electric field strength [V/m]
f = frequency [Hz]
I = CM current [A]
L = cable length [m]
r = measurement distance [m]
Ɵ = π/2
According to Andy Eadie’s article, this formula delivers a very accurate result up until approximately 200
MHz with a 1m cable.
Since we have radiation limits given in dBµV/m and measure RF currents with a spectrum analyzer, we have
to convert the formula into a more practical form.
Substituting field strength and RF current by its logarithmic equivalents:
𝑑𝐵µ𝑉⁄
𝐸 [𝑉⁄𝑚] = 10(𝐸 [ 𝑚]−120)/20
𝐼 [𝐴] = 10(𝐼 [𝑑𝐵µ𝐴]−120)/20

Inserting it into the formula:
𝑑𝐵µ𝑉⁄ 4𝜋 ∙ 10−7 (𝑓 ∙ 𝐿) ∙ 1
10(𝐸 [ 𝑚]−120)/20 = ∙ 10(𝐼 [𝑑𝐵µ𝐴]−120)/20
𝑟
Applying the logarithm to the formula:
𝑑𝐵µ𝑉⁄ 4𝜋 ∙ 10−7 (𝑓 ∙ 𝐿) ∙ 1
log(10(𝐸 [ 𝑚]−120)/20 ) = log ( ) + log(10(𝐼 [𝑑𝐵µ𝐴]−120)/20 )
𝑟
Applying logarithmic rules:
−7
𝑑𝐵µ𝑉⁄ 4𝜋 ∙ 10 (𝑓 ∙ 𝐿)
𝐸[ 𝑚] = 𝐼[𝑑𝐵µ𝐴] + 20 log ( )
𝑟
Substituting I with U being the output voltage of the RF current probe and Z the trans-impedance of the
current probe:
−7
𝑑𝐵µ𝑉⁄ 4𝜋 ∙ 10 (𝑓 ∙ 𝐿)
𝐸[ 𝑚] = 𝑈[𝑑𝐵µ𝑉] − 𝑍[𝑑𝐵Ω] + 20 log ( )
𝑟
Author: Mayerhofer 1 of 5 TekBox Digital Solutions 24-Jun-20

AN_ RF current to electric field strength extrapolation_V1.0.docx V1.0

3 Using EMCview to measure cable current and display radiated emissions
The formula was converted into a sum of three logarithmic terms, which now can be processed easily by
EMCview:
U [dBµV] is the RF current probe output voltage, measured by the spectrum analyzer
Z [dBΩ] is the trans-impedance versus frequency file of the current probe
4𝜋∙10−7 (𝑓∙𝐿)
20 log ( ) is the “cable current to radiated field strength conversion coefficient”
𝑟
Calculate it for a series of frequency points and the desired values for cable length and measurement distance
using Excel. Next convert it into a cable current to radiated emission conversion file in text format, same as
any other conversion / correction file used for EMCview.
Trans-impedance file and the cable current to radiated emission conversion file can be loaded as either LISN
file, amplitude correction file or cable correction file, since any of those files simply contain coefficients versus
frequency which will be added or subtracted to the measurement values read from the spectrum analyzer.
4 Example
The conversion coefficient shall be calculated for a cable length of 1m and a measurement distance of 3m.
The frequency span shall cover 150 kHz to 200 MHz. The table below shows the results of the Excel
calculation:
Common Mode Conducted Noise Current to Radiated Emissions Conversion

Cable length Measurement Frequency Wavelength/2 Conversion coefficient
[m] distance [m] [MHz] [m] [dB]
1.00 3.00 0.15 999.33 -24.04
0.25 599.60 -19.60
0.50 299.80 -13.58
0.75 199.87 -10.06
1.00 149.90 -7.56
1.50 99.93 -4.04
2.00 74.95 -1.54
2.50 59.96 0.40
3.00 49.97 1.98
4.00 37.48 4.48
5.00 29.98 6.42
7.50 19.99 9.94
10.00 14.99 12.44
12.50 11.99 14.38
15.00 9.99 15.96
17.50 8.57 17.30
20.00 7.50 18.46
30.00 5.00 21.98
40.00 3.75 24.48
50.00 3.00 26.42
75.00 2.00 29.94
100.00 1.50 32.44
125.00 1.20 34.38
150.00 1.00 35.96
175.00 0.86 37.30
200.00 0.75 38.46
The conversion coefficients need to be entered into a conversion file for EMCview. Andy Edie’s article refers
to a paper, which recommends to truncate the conversion factor at the maximum cable length of λ/2 in order
to increase the accuracy of the conversion. Consequently, the conversion value will be truncated at a value of
35.96 dB above 150 MHz when creating the EMCview conversion file.


The conversion factors are now entered into a gain file for EMCview using a plain text editor and saved as
L1m_R3m_current_to_radiated_conversion.amp
Since gain will always be subtracted from the measurement result, the sign of the conversion factor needs to
be reversed in order to be added.
[Application]
Software=TekBox RP-W32-D7
Version=Release
Date=23.06.2020 17:55:55
[General]
Name=L1m_R3m_current_to_radiated_conversion
Freq_Interplot_Mode=log
Level_Interplot_Mode=log
[Data]
Freq1=150000
Lev1=24.04
Freq2=250000
Lev2=19.6
Freq3=500000
Lev3=13.58
Freq4=750000
Lev4=10.06
Freq5=1000000
Lev5=7.56
Freq6=1500000
Lev6=4.04
Freq7=2000000
Lev7=1.54
Freq8=2500000
Lev8=-0.4
Freq9=3000000
Lev9=-1.98
Freq10=4000000
Lev10=-4.48
Freq11=5000000
Lev11=-6.42
Freq12=7500000
Lev12=-9.94
Freq13=10000000
Lev13=-12.44
Freq14=12500000
Lev14=-14.38
Freq15=15000000
Lev15=-15.96
Freq16=17500000
Lev16=-17.3
Freq17=20000000
Lev17=-18.46
Freq18=30000000
Lev18=-21.98
Freq19=40000000
Lev19=-24.48
Freq20=50000000
Lev20=-26.42
Freq21=75000000
Lev21=-29.94
Freq22=100000000
Lev22=-32.44
Freq23=125000000
Lev23=-34.38
Freq24=150000000
Lev24=-35.96
Freq25=175000000
Lev25=-35.96
Freq26=200000000
Lev26=-35.96
Freq27=500000000
Lev27=-35.96
The conversion file is extended to 500 MHz in order to use it for a fast pre-test project for CISPR 32 radiated
noise tests, which makes a fast scan from 10 MHz to 500 MHz using peak detector. Any spurious with high
levels, can then be re-measured using the Quasi Peak detector. The conversion term is linear and in its
logarithmic form also results in a straight line within a logarithmic grid. Consequently it would not be


necessary to involve so many frequency points. In fact, a conversion file with 3 frequency points would be
sufficient, as will be shown below.
The screenshot of EMCview shows the corresponding project, designed to carry out a fast peak scan as
mentioned above.
For an example measurement of the radiated emissions of a Laptop power supply cable, following files were
used and can be downloaded from our website:
EMCview configuration files:
Project file: RN_CISPR32_CLASS_A_3M_conducted to radiated_10M_500M_FAST.prj

Segment file: RN_CISPR32_SEGMENTS_10M_500M_3METER_PEAK_FAST.seg
Limit file: RN_CISPR32_CLASS_A_3METER_QP.lim
Measurement equipment specific files:
TBCP1-500 trans-impedance file: Tekbox_Current_Probe_TBCP1_500.lsc

Coaxial cable loss file: CableSet1.cac
Common mode current to radiated emission conversion file:
1 meter cable length / 3m measuring distance: L1m_R3m_current_to_radiated_conversion.amp
Excel file for the calculation of the conversion coefficients:
CM_current_to_radiated_emission_conversion.xlsx
The screenshot on the following page shows the graphs of the example measurement:


5 History
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AN_ RF current to electric field strength extrapolation_V1.0.docx V1.

USING RF CURRENT PROBE MEASUREMENTS

𝐼 [𝐴] = 10(𝐼 [𝑑𝐵µ𝐴]−120)/20

Author: Mayerhofer 1 of 5 TekBox Digital Solutions 24-Jun-20

USING RF CURRENT PROBE MEASUREMENTS

3 Using EMCview to measure cable current and display radiated emissions

Z [dBΩ] is the trans-impedance versus frequency file of the current probe

Common Mode Conducted Noise Current to Radiated Emissions Conversion

Author: Mayerhofer 2 of 5 TekBox Digital Solutions 24-Jun-20

USING RF CURRENT PROBE MEASUREMENTS

Author: Mayerhofer 3 of 5 TekBox Digital Solutions 24-Jun-20

USING RF CURRENT PROBE MEASUREMENTS

EMCview configuration files:

Project file: RN_CISPR32_CLASS_A_3M_conducted to radiated_10M_500M_FAST.prj

Measurement equipment specific files:

TBCP1-500 trans-impedance file: Tekbox_Current_Probe_TBCP1_500.lsc

Common mode current to radiated emission conversion file:

1 meter cable length / 3m measuring distance: L1m_R3m_current_to_radiated_conversion.amp

Excel file for the calculation of the conversion coefficients:

Author: Mayerhofer 4 of 5 TekBox Digital Solutions 24-Jun-20

USING RF CURRENT PROBE MEASUREMENTS

Version Date Author Changes

Author: Mayerhofer 5 of 5 TekBox Digital Solutions 24-Jun-20

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