Method and device for measuring intensity of electromagnetic field, method and device for measuring current-voltage distribution, and method for judging quality of electronic device, and electronic device therefor

• US 7,098,677 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Company Limited (Taiyo Yuden Co)
• Original Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Company Limited (Taiyo Yuden Co)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Masayuki, Kazama, Satoshi, Fujita, Masakazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Deb, Anjan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dole, Timothy J.
• Application Number:
  US11/203,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20060033510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 324/750, 324/260, 324/632
• US Class Current: 324/750.16
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0814 Field measurements related to measuring influence on or from apparatus, components or humans EMC, EMI and similar testing in general G01R31/001, e.g. in ESD, EMI, EMC, EMP testing, measuring radiation leakage; detecting presence of micro- or radiowave emitters; dosimetry; testing shielding; measurements related to lightning
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0871 Complete apparatus or systems; circuits, e.g. receivers or amplifiers G01R29/0878, G01R29/0892 take precedence; dosimeters, warning devices G01R29/0857
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0878 Sensors; antennas; probes; detectors wave guide measuring sections G01R1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/002 where the device under test is an electronic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/315 by inductive methods

Abstract

A conductor is disposed within an area where electric coupling and magnetic coupling take place between the conductor and a device-under-test (DUT) in at least a portion of frequency band width, and the value of composite currents that is outputted in a plurality of directions different from each other against the DUT, is measured. Based on the measured plurality of values of the composite currents, the first electric current due to electric coupling between the DUT and the conductor and the second electric current due to magnetic coupling between the DUT and the conductor are calculated. From these first and second electric current values, electric field intensity and magnetic field intensity are calculated.

Claims

1. A method of measuring intensity of an electromagnetic field surrounding a device-under-test, comprising the steps of:

(a) disposing an unshielded conducting loop of an antenna at a first position within a region where electric coupling and magnetic coupling take place between said antenna and said device-under-test in at least a portion of a frequency band, the antenna being disposed so it does not include a shield that affects an electromagnetic field coupled from the device to the antenna;

(b) measuring the values of a plurality of output currents flowing in the loop of said antenna in different directions while the electric and magnetic coupling are occurring and the loop is at the first position, the currents flowing in said portion of the frequency band;

(c) calculating (i) a value of an electric coupling current generated in the loop of said antenna in response to the electric coupling between said device-under-test and said antenna while the loop is at the first position, and (ii) a value of a magnetic coupling current generated in the loop of said antenna in response to magnetic coupling between said device-under-test and the loop of said antenna while the loop is at the first position, the calculation step being based on the measured values and said directions of said output currents;

(d) calculating the intensity of the electric field and the intensity of the magnetic field based on said values of said calculated electric and magnetic coupling currents;

(e) moving the loop of said antenna to a second position within the region, and then again performing steps (b), (c) and (d) so that there are first and second sequential measuring steps (b) in response to the loop being at the first and second positions, and first and second calculating steps (c) and (d) that are respectively performed in response to the first and second measuring steps (b); and

(f) responding to the first and second calculations resulting from step (d) to obtain a measure of the spatial distribution of intensity of the electromagnetic field surrounding the device under test.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step (b) comprises the sub-steps of:

measuring one of said output currents while the loop of said antenna is at a first orientation relative to the device-under-test, the first orientation corresponding to the first position;

turning the loop of said antenna relative to said device-under-test so said loop is at a second orientation relative to the device-under-test, the second orientation corresponding to the second position; and

measuring another of said output currents while the loop is at the second orientation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the loop of the antenna includes a central portion between first and second end portions of the loop, the method further comprising coupling the central portion with electric and magnetic fields derived from a region of the device-under-test so that the electric and magnetic fields combine in the central portion to cause (a) a first of the output currents to flow in a first of the directions in the loop, and (b) a second of the output currents to flow in a second of the directions in the loop.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the central portion and the first and second end portions are arranged and coupled with the device-under-test so that the currents respectively flowing in the first and second end portions are respectively determined by the sum of the electric and magnetic coupling and the differences between the electric and magnetic coupling.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the currents flowing in the first and second end portions are measured in response to currents simultaneously flowing in the first and second end portions.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of:

measuring said output currents from opposite first and second end portions of said loop while a central portion of said loop between said end portions is at a first orientation relative to a region of the device-under-test, the first orientation corresponding to the first position;

turning said central portion of said loop relative to the region of said device-under-test so said central portion of said loop is at a second orientation relative to the region of the device-under-test, the second orientation corresponding to the second position; and

measuring said output currents from the opposite end portions while the loop is at the second orientation.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the central portion and the first and second end portions are arranged and coupled with the device-under-test so that (a) first and second currents respectively flowing in the first and second end portions while the probe is at the first orientation are respectively determined by the sum of the electric and magnetic coupling and the difference between the electric and magnetic coupling while the probe is at the first orientation, and (b) third and fourth currents respectively flowing in the first and second end portions while the probe is at the second orientation are respectively determined by the sum of the electric and magnetic coupling and the difference between the electric and magnetic coupling while the probe is at the second orientation, the calculation being based on the measured values and directions of the first, second, third and fourth current values.

8. An apparatus for measuring intensity of an electromagnetic field surrounding a device-under-test, comprising:

(a) an antenna having an unshielded conducting loop adapted to be disposed within a region where electric coupling and magnetic coupling can take place between the loop of said antenna and said device-under-test in at least a portion of a frequency band, the antenna being arranged so it does not include a shield that affects an electromagnetic field coupled from the device to the antenna;

(b) a current meter arrangement for measuring a plurality of output currents flowing in different directions in the loop of said antenna, the current meter arrangement being arranged for measuring the output currents in said portion of the frequency band;

(c) a drive for moving the loop of said antenna in relation to different regions of said device-under-test; and

(d) a calculating arrangement for calculating;

(a′

) at each of the different regions of said device under test;

(i) a value of an electric coupling current generated in response to electric coupling between said device-under-test and the loop of said antenna, and

(ii) a value of a magnetic coupling current generated in response to magnetic coupling between said device-under-test and the loop of said antenna, the values of (i) and (ii) being based on values of said measured output currents and the directions of said output currents, and

(iii) the intensity of the electric field and the intensity of the magnetic field, based on said calculated value of said electric coupling current and said calculated value of said magnetic coupling current; and

(b′

) a spatial distribution of the intensities of electric and magnetic fields in response to the results of calculations (i), (ii), and (iii) at the different positions.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a rotor for turning the loop of said antenna in relation to a region of said device-under-test.

10. A method of measuring current-voltage distribution in a device-under-test, comprising the steps of:

(a) disposing an unshielded conducting loop of an antenna at a first position within a region where electric coupling and magnetic coupling take place between the loop of said antenna and said device-under-test in at least a portion of a frequency band, the antenna being disposed so it does not include a shield that affects an electromagnetic field coupled from the device to the antenna;

(b) measuring the values of a plurality of output currents flowing in the loop of said antenna at different directions of the loop relative to the device-under-test while the electric and magnetic coupling are occurring and the loop is at the first position, the currents flowing in said at least a portion of the frequency band;

(c) calculating a value of an electric coupling current generated in the loop of said antenna in response to the electric coupling at the first location between said device-under-test and the loop of said antenna, and a value of a magnetic coupling current generated in the loop of said antenna in response to magnetic coupling at the first location between said device-under-test and the loop of said antenna, the calculation step being based on the measured values and the directions of said output currents at the first location;

(d) calculating the intensity of the electric field and the intensity of the magnetic field based on said calculated values of said electric and magnetic coupling currents;

(e) calculating the intensity of current and the intensity of voltage, based on the intensity of the electric field and the intensity of the magnetic field at the first location as determined during step (d);

(f) moving the loop of said antenna relative to the device under test so the loop and device under test are at a second position, and then again performing steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) in response to the loop and device under test being at the second position so that there are first and second sequential measuring steps (b) and first and second calculating steps (c), (d) and (e) that are respectively performed in response to the first and second measuring steps (b) at the first and second positions; and

(g) responding to the first and second calculations of step (e) to obtain a measure of the spatial distributions of the intensities of current and voltage in the device under test.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising calculating the direction of current based on the intensity of magnetic field determined during step (d).

12. An apparatus for measuring current-voltage distribution in a device-under-test, comprising:

(a) an antenna having an unshielded conducting loop adapted to be disposed within a region where electric coupling and magnetic coupling can take place between the loop of said antenna and said device-under-test in at least a portion of a frequency band, the antenna being disposed so it does not include a shield that affects an electromagnetic field coupled from the device to the antenna;

(b) a current meter arrangement for measuring a plurality of output currents flowing in different directions in the loop of said antenna, the current meter arrangement being arranged for measuring the output currents in said portion of the frequency band;

(c) a calculating arrangement for calculating;

(i) a value of an electric coupling current generated by electric coupling between said device-under-test and the loop of said antenna, and a value of a magnetic coupling current generated by magnetic coupling between said device-under-test and the loop said antenna, based on values of said output currents and directions of said output currents,

(ii) the intensity of the electric field and the intensity of the magnetic field, based on said value of said electric coupling current and said value of said magnetic coupling current, and

(iii) the intensity of current and the intensity of voltage, based on said intensity of electric field and said intensity of magnetic field; and

(d) a drive for moving the loop of said antenna relative to the device-under-test.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said calculating arrangement for calculating (iii) is arranged for determining the direction of current flowing in the device-under-test.

14. A method of enabling a determination to be made of the quality of an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

(a) disposing an unshielded conducting loop of an antenna within a region where electric coupling and magnetic coupling take place between said loop and said electronic device in at least a portion of a frequency band, the antenna being disposed so it does not include a shield that affects an electromagnetic field coupled from the device to the antenna;

(b) measuring a plurality of output currents flowing in different directions in said loop, the output currents being in the portion of the frequency band;

(c) calculating the value of an electric coupling current generated by electric coupling between said electronic device and said loop, and a value of a magnetic coupling current generated by magnetic coupling between said electronic device and said loop, the calculations of the electric and magnetic coupling currents being made based on the values of said measured output currents and the directions of said output currents;

(d) responding to said value of said calculated electric coupling current and said value of said calculated magnetic coupling current to calculate the intensity of an electric field and the intensity of a magnetic field coupled between the device and the loop; and

(e) judging the quality of said electronic device based on the intensities of the calculated electric and magnetic fields.

15. An apparatus for enabling the quality of an electronic device to be judged comprising:

(a) an antenna having an unshielded conducting loop adapted to be located within an area where electric coupling and magnetic coupling take place between the loop of said antenna and said electronic device in at least a portion of a frequency band, the antenna being arranged so it does not include a shield that affects an electromagnetic field coupled from the device to the antenna;

(b) a current measuring arrangement connected to be responsive to a plurality of output currents flowing in different directions in said loop, the output currents being in the portion of the frequency band;

(c) a computer arrangement for

(i) calculating a value of an electric coupling current generated by electric coupling between said electronic device and said loop, and a value of a magnetic coupling current generated by magnetic coupling between said electronic device and said loop, the calculations of the electric and magnetic coupling currents being based on values of said output currents and directions of said output currents; and

(ii) calculating the intensity of an electric field between the device and the loop and the intensity of a magnetic field between the device and the loop, the electric and magnetic field intensities being calculated based on said value of said calculated electric coupling current and said value of said calculated magnetic coupling current.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the loop includes a central portion between first and second end portions, the central portion being adapted to be coupled with electric and magnetic fields derived from a region of the device-under-test so that the electric and magnetic fields can combine in the central portion to cause (a) a first of the output currents to flow in a first of the directions in the loop, and (b) a second of the output currents to flow in a second of the directions in the loop.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the central portion and the first and second end portions are arranged and adapted to be coupled with the region of the device-under-test so that the currents respectively flowing in the first and second end portions are respectively determined by the sum of the electric and magnetic coupling and the difference between the electric and magnetic coupling.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the currents flowing in the first and second end portions are measured in response to currents simultaneously flowing in the first and second end portions.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 further including a rotor for turning the loop to first and second orientations relative to the device under test, and wherein the loop includes a central portion between first and second end portions, the central portion and the first and second end portions being arranged and adapted to be coupled with the region of the device-under-test so that

(a) first and second currents respectively flowing in the first and second end portions while the loop is at the first orientation are respectively determined by

(i) the sum of the electric and magnetic coupling and

(ii) the difference between the electric and magnetic coupling while the probe is at the first orientation, and

(b) third and fourth currents respectively flowing in the first and second end portions while the loop is at the second orientation are respectively determined by

(i) the sum of the electric and magnetic coupling and

(ii) the difference between the electric and magnetic coupling while the probe is at the second orientation, the calculation being based on the measured values and directions of the first, second, third and fourth current values.

20. A method of providing a measure of the intensity of an electromagnetic field in a region in sufficient proximity to a device-under-test so that electric and magnetic field coupling occur between the device and region, comprising the steps of:

disposing an unshielded conducting loop of an antenna within the region so electric and magnetic field coupling take place between said loop and the region of said device-under-test in at least a portion of a frequency band, the antenna being disposed so it does not include a shield that affects an electromagnetic field coupled from the device to the antenna;

the electric and magnetic field coupling causing separate currents to flow in the loop;

detecting the amplitudes and directions of flow of the separate currents; and

providing the measure of the intensity of the electromagnetic field by responding to the detected amplitudes and directions of flow of the separate currents.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the currents flow at first and second different times while the loop is at first and second different angles relative to the region of the device-under-test so that during the first time a first of the currents flows through the loop between first and second ends of the loop and during the second time a second of the currents flows through the loop between first and second ends of the loop, and the detecting step includes:

(i) measuring the amplitude of the first current and detecting the direction of flow of the first current between the first and second ends, and

(ii) measuring the amplitude of the second current and detecting the direction of flow of the second current between the first and second ends.

22. Apparatus for providing a measure of the intensity of an electromagnetic field in a region in sufficient proximity to a device-under-test so that electric and magnetic field coupling occur between the device and the apparatus while the apparatus is in the region, the apparatus comprising:

an antenna having an unshielded conducting loop arranged so that while the loop is in the region, electric and magnetic field coupling can take place between said loop and the region of the device-under-test in at least a portion of a frequency band, the antenna being disposed so it does not include a shield that affects an electromagnetic field coupled from the device to the antenna;

the loop being arranged for enabling the electric and magnetic field coupling to cause separate currents to flow in the loop;

a detector arrangement for the amplitudes and directions of flow of the separate currents; and

an output arrangement connected to be responsive to indications of the detected amplitudes and directions of flow of the separate currents for providing the measure of the intensity of the electromagnetic field.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the currents are superimposed so that a first of the currents flows between one end of the loop and a second end of the loop and a second of the currents flows in the same direction through the first and second ends of the loop;

the detector arrangement being arranged for;

(i) measuring the amplitude of first current and detecting the direction of flow of the first current between the first and second ends, and

(ii) measuring the amplitude of second current and detecting the direction of the flow of the second current through the first and second ends.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 further including a rotor for turning the loop to first and second different angles relative to the region of the device-under-test for causing (a) the first and second currents to respectively flow at first and second different times while the loop is turned to first and second different angles relative to the region of the device-under-test;

and the detector arrangement being arranged for (a) measuring the amplitude of the first current and detecting the direction of flow of the first current through the conductor, and (b) measuring the amplitude of the second current and detecting the direction of the flow of the second current through the conductor.