WS4-2 Introduction to Reverberation Chambers

An electromagnetic reverberant chamber is nothing more that a closed cavity electrically big and conductive that can be used for emission and immunity electromagnetic tests of an electronic device. Among the immediate advantages in utilization of reverberant chambers is the cost reduction in its construction because it is not necessary to use electromagnetic absorbers. The tests are isotropic and do not exist necessity to modify the position of the device under test. The input power levels in the immunity tests are accessible and it is possible to generate high level field amplitudes as for example 100V/m with input power of 1W at 1GHz.
The interest of the industrial sector in reverberation chamber comes from the needs of bigger efficacy in the development process, validation and homologation of products in relation to electromagnetic compatibility. The other hand, lot of attention have been done in the application of reverberant chambers in the academic works looking for radiated emission and immunity, and also related with MIMO developments and materials characterization. Numerical comparison with electromagnetic tools has been studied.
In the EMC tests inside reverberant chambers several standards are part of this scenario, as MIL-STD-461G, DO160, GMW3097, SAE J, CISPR(draft), ABDO 100, EN/IEC 61000-4-21.
Traditionally, anechoic chambers are used in EMC measurements, but can be observed that, for a same frequency band, there are significant differences related to the physical dimensions of the chambers, costs, and measurements time consummation that will entail in viability increase of test realization in reverberant chambers for a wide portion of users.
Reverberant chambers allow, among others radiated immunity and emission, radiated total power, shield efficiency, materials and due the multiple reflections in the wall also can be performed fading tests, MIMO capacity and diversity gain [VAL08].
This workshop has the objective to present the reverberant chambers and its applications, especially in EMC. It is intended to be a facilitator tool for the comprehension of the principles, requirements, calibration, and qualification procedures of a reverberant chamber. Add to this visa to present the applied standards, the measurements protocols and the different types of tests possible to be realized inside the chamber analyzing the advantages and disadvantages against other means of EMC test. A brochure entitled “Reverberant Chambers” will be delivered for the participants.


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