System and method for protecting an electronic device from electromagnetic radiation interference

• US 5,877,630 A
• Filed: 08/16/1996
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Desco Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Credence Technologies, Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Kraz, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): BROCK, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US08/698,716
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 324/500, 324/511, 324/555, 324/628, 324/627, 324/750, 324/527, 340/600, 340/635, 340/653, 340/654, 340/659, 361/159, 361/178, 371/25.1, 371/29.1
• US Class Current: 324/511
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/18 Screening arrangements against electric or magnetic fields, e.g. against earth's field
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/001 Measuring interference from external sources to, or emission from, the device under test, e.g. EMC, EMI, EMP or ESD testing measuring electromagnetic fields G01R29/08; circuits for generating HV pulses in dielectric strength testing G01R31/14

Abstract

A system for protecting an electronic device from electromagnetic radiation is provided that receives electromagnetic radiation impinging on said electronic device, determines a value of a characteristic of said electromagnetic radiation, generates a testing signal when said value of said characteristics of said electromagnetic radiation is greater than a predetermined value, and tests said electronic device in response to said testing signal to determine if said electromagnetic radiation has affected said electronic device. A method for protecting an electronic device from electromagnetic radiation is also provided.

Claims

1. A system for protecting an electronic device from electromagnetic radiation, comprising:

means for receiving electromagnetic radiation impinging on said electronic device;

means for determining a value equal to a field strength of said electromagnetic radiation;

means for determining a value equal to an amplitude modulation of said electromagnetic radiation;

means for combining the value of the field strength and the value of the amplitude modulation to generate a combined signal;

means for generating a start signal when the value of said combined signal is greater than a predetermined value; and

means for testing said electronic device in response to said start signal to determine if said electromagnetic radiation has interfered with the operation of said electronic device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said electronic device malfunctions when it is interfered with by said electromagnetic radiation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said testing means comprises means for supplying a series of testing pulses in response to said start signal to said electronic device, the pulses being selected to cause the electronic device to produce a response, means for receiving return pulses from said electronic device produced in response to said series of testing pulses, and means for generating an alarm signal if said return pulses are not received by said testing means.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising means for resetting a processor in response to said alarm signal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said testing means further comprises means for disabling the generation of the testing pulses when said processor is being reset.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said predetermined value is adjustable.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said means for determining the amplitude modulation comprises means for switching off said amplitude modulation determining means.

8. A method for protecting an electronic device from electromagnetic radiation, comprising:

receiving electromagnetic radiation impinging on said electronic device;

determining a value of the field strength of said electromagnetic radiation;

determining a value of the amplitude modulation of said electromagnetic radiation;

combining the value of the field strength and the value of the amplitude modulation to generate a combined signal;

generating a start signal when a value of the combined signal of said electromagnetic radiation is greater than a predetermined value; and

testing said electronic device in response to said start signal to determine if said electromagnetic radiation has interfered with the operation of said electronic device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said electronic device malfunctions when it is interfered with by said electromagnetic radiation.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein testing said electronic device comprises generating a series of testing pulses in response to said start signal, said series of testing pulses being sent to said electronic device, receiving return pulses from said electronic device in response to said series of testing pulses, and generating an alarm signal if said return pulses are not received during testing.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising disabling said generation of the testing pulses when said electronic device is being reset.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising resetting a processor in the electronic device in response to said alarm signal.