EMI Acronyms Glossary

Mueller Corporation offers vacuum metalizing and spray coating services for companies of all sizes. What sets our company apart is our longevity in the business, having been in operation since 1955, and our ability to work with a variety of clients across many industries to provide vacuum metalizing and painting solutions to almost any project. Our engineers work directly with our clients to help them understand every aspect of the process.

To help our clients begin to navigate the world of vacuum metalizing and functional coatings, we compiled a glossary of helpful terms to know:

Conducted Susceptibility (CS)

Conducted susceptibility (or immunity) is the ability of a system to operate when subjected to undesirable conducted EMI, typically from I/O cables, signal leads or powerlines. CS is an integral of EMC compliance testing.

Current Probe

An EMI measuring sensor that clamps onto a wire, wire pair, coaxial line, or cable harness. Snap-on current probes measure the normal-mode current in a wire pair, coax, or wire bundle. They help locate and quantify ground loops.

Electric Field (E)

Electric field is the electric force per unit charge.

Electromagnetic Disturbance (EMD)

Also referred to as Radio-Frequency Interference (RFI) EMD is any is disturbance generated by an external source that affects an electrical circuit by electromagnetic induction, electrostatic coupling, or conduction.

Electromagnetic Environment (EME)

Any electrical or electronic device creates an Electromagnetic Environment as electrons move around to make the device work. Natural phenomena, such as lightening, is also considered electromagnetic environment.

Electromagnetic Field (EMF)

EMF is a field of force that consists of both electric and magnetic components, resulting from the motion of an electric charge and containing a definite amount of electromagnetic energy.

Radiated Emission (RE)

Radiated Emission is electromagnetic energy that is transmitted into or across space as a transverse electromagnetic wave or by coupling. Testing for radiated emissions involves measuring the electromagnetic field strength of the emissions that are unintentionally generated by your product.

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)

RFI was once used interchangeably with EMI, and is still considered a part of the EMI spectrum. However, it relates solely to interference signals in the radio frequency range.

Conducted Emission (CE)

Conducted Emission refers to the mechanism that enables electromagnetic energy to be created in an electronic device and transferred through powerlines, I/O lines or control leads.

Decibel (dB)

In electronics and communications, the decibel (abbreviated as dB, and also as db and DB) is a logarithmic expression of the ratio between two signal power, voltage, or current levels.

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)

Electromagnetic Compatibility is the capability of equipment or systems to perform within their designated environment without emitting levels of EM energy that could cause EMI in other devices in the vicinity.

Electromagnetic Emissions (EME)

Electromagnetic radiation including intentional or non-intentional and conducted or radiated emissions.

Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (EEE) or (E 3 )

Electromagnetic Environmental Effects are the impact of the electromagnetic environment on the capabilities of electronic equipment, systems, or platforms. EEE Testing is mandatory in sectors including the military and medical industry, so as to ensure external electromagnetic do not negatively affect devices operating within these circumstances.

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)

EMI is any electromagnetic disturbance, phenomenon, signal, or emission that causes, or is capable of causing, undesired responses or degradation of performance in electrical or electronic equipment. Essential any rapidly-changing electrical currents may cause EMI.

Radiated Susceptibility (RS)

Radiated susceptibility is the ability of a piece of equipment or a system to perform as it is designed within the presence of undesirable EMI from external sources.