EMI Shielding and the Automobile Industry: What You Must Know

EMI Shielding and the Automobile Industry: What You Must Know
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With the rapid advancement of technology, the need to integrate electronic systems into automobiles has radically increased. These systems include mobile media, control area networks, communications, safety systems, wireless headsets, controllers, and DC motors. Most of the electronic systems have reduced physical size as there are limitations concerning weight and size in automobile design. Due to the staggering presence of wireless technology, the demand for EMI shielding materials has increased to a considerable extent. Technological developments like GPS, Wi-Fi, RFID, Bluetooth, and 3G have created more interference problems in the automotive industry. Besides the dramatic increase in automobile electronics, there has also been a significant rise in unwanted noise generated in and around vehicles because of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.

The Need for EMI Shielding in Automobile

With more advanced electronics such as those associated with the performance of your car’s engine, you will need effective EMI shielding materials to control interference. That’s why automobile manufacturers are now seeking the assistance of EMI shielding designers earlier in the production process to overcome the problem. Technologies such as voice-activated controls, in-vehicle Wi-Fi, and wireless smartphone chargers in new cars and trucks have resulted in denser EMI. This is because there is more proliferation of electronic systems and electric motors in all parts of a vehicle, including remote starters, sliding doors, keyless ignitions, power windows, and power seats. The motor found in each of these tools generate EMI that could affect or damage your automotive electronics. And, in order to reduce or eliminate unwanted interference, you will need EMI shielding products or material to assure its compatibility with the rest of the vehicle.

When to Integrate Shielding Solutions

All EMI shielding materials should meet the requirements of modern vehicles and that is why selecting the right shielding solution becomes necessary in the initial phase of designing. In case an interference problem is identified later in the process, and the components of a car are on assembly lines, production may have to be stopped while the EMI designers work on resolving the issue. But there is a problem. Electromagnetic radiations or signals in and around a vehicle are sometimes so small that it is difficult to figure out which of the components requires shielding and to what extent. This is the reason EMI shielding is more effective when done at the time an automobile electronic component is being designed. If EMI issues are not resolved during the manufacturing process, finding a suitable shielding solution can create a dent in your wallet, and result in a shielding arrangement that is space-sufficient.

Material Changes Affect EMI Shielding

Traditional cars are manufactured from sheet metal, and it protects the internal electronic parts from external interference. In such a situation, EMI engineers will need to protect the components from unwanted interference. When more vehicle manufacturers are resorting to non-metallic materials, new EMI shielding issues need to be addressed. The smaller cars including electric and hybrid varieties have the minimum amount of metal shielding. This is a challenging situation because EMI material engineers have more interference to eliminate and less metal to separate it from the rest of the car. As more vehicle manufacturers depend on non-metal sheets and incorporate more wireless or electronic constituents to the automobile design, EMI shielding suppliers will need to explore innovative ways to overcome interference issues. And, at the same time, they need to keep the cost of EMI shielding reasonable.

Protect your vehicle’s electronic components with the right EMI shielding material, design, and manufacturing process. Achieve electromagnetic compatibility with PCB shielding, integrated design, and enclosures. You will find different design processes for various EMI issues depending on the kind of electronic system, its design, and the source of interference.

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