Is the EN 61000-4-3 linearity check supported?

[joro]

Does RadiMation support the linearity check that is described in the EN 61000-4-3 standard?

[joro]

In RadiMation® it is fairly easy to verify that the amplifier is used in its linear range (and thus not saturated).

The EN 61000-4-3 2006 version specifies that the calibrations in the Uniform Field Area should be performed on electrical field strength that is at least 1.8 times higher than the field strength that will be used during the substitution test. It is also required that it is ensured that the amplifier is used in a range in which it is not in saturation. To be able to perform a substitution test on 10 V/m, it is thus necessary that the calibrations are performed on at least 18 V/m. The Uniform Field Area calculation can be performed as it is described in Chapter 12. After the the complete calculation has been performed, and a final calibration file has been created, it has to be ensured that the amplifier will not be used in saturated range of the amplifier.

The easiest way to confirm that the amplifier is not used in its saturated range, is:

1.Configure a Radiated Immunity substitution test with the calibration file that was the result of the Uniform Field Area calculation. Ensure that the substitution test is configured with the correct settings:

• use the signal generator calibration method.
• the forward power input should be activated, because the forward power should be measured.
• level to an electrical field strength that is exactly 1.8 times lower than the field strength that was calibrated. This will result in a 5.1 dB lower signal generator power.
• use the same frequency range and frequency steps, as was used during the calibration.
• use the same testsite as was used during the calibration.

2.Start the substitution test and wait until it is finished.
3.Now the forward power that is used during the substitution test, and the forward power during the calibration should be compared. It is the most easiest to do this in Microsoft Excel. Start Microsoft Excel, and create an empty sheet.
4.Open the calibration file that was the result of the Uniform Field Area calculation.
5.Open the forward power graph, and copy the data (table) of the forward power to the clipboard.
6.Paste the forward power of the calibration file into the Microsoft Excel worksheet (for example on cell A6)
7.Open the results of the substitution test, open the forward power graph, and copy the data (table) of the forward power to the clipboard.
8.Paste the forward power of the substitution test into the Microsoft Excel worksheet (for example on cell D6)
9.Compare the data of the forward power of the calibration and the forward power during the substitution. The forward power of the substitution should be 5.1 dB lower then the forward power of the calibration file. The comparison is very easy, by inserting the formula '=B6-E6' in cell H6. The formula can then be copied down for all other frequencies.
10.The EN 61000-4-3 standard assumes that the amplifier is not in saturation if the difference between the forward power values on all frequencies is within +3.1 dB to +5.1 dB.

An example Microsoft Excel file, can be downloaded here http://wiki.dare.nl/wiki/images/3/33/EN ... _check.xls, which can be used for the calculations.

Another possibility to ensure that the amplifier is not used in saturation, is to limit the generated power of the amplifier to its 1 or 2 dB compression point. The amplifier limitation feature of RadiMation® can be used to limit the generated power of the amplifier.

[joro]

In RadiMation 2015.3.1 a completely automated test for the amplifier linearity as described by the EN 61000-4-3 is implemented.
See the following link for a detailed description. viewtopic.php?f=5&t=525