[May 12, 2014]

AIS's Design for Manufacturability Services for HMIs, Meet Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Standards and Certifications for Industrial Automation and Process Control Applications

American Industrial Systems, Inc. (AIS), engineering and manufacturing solutions provider of open platform HMIs, Panel PCs and tablets, announces their Design for Manufacturability Services (DMS) for the development of Human Machine Interface (HMI) systems conforming to a series of Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC (News - Alert)) standards and certifications. The EMC standards and approvals that AIS's HMIs and operator interface terminals now test and certify for the following requirements: FCC (News - Alert) Part15 Subpart B, ICES 003, CISPR 22, and IEC EN 61000 series (IEC 61000-3-3, IEC 61000-4-2, IEC 61000-4-3, IEC 61000-4-4, IEC 61000-4-5, IEC 61000-4-6, IEC (News - Alert) 61000-4-11, and IEC 61000-6-4) Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Requirements and Standards.

Operator Interface Panels, HMI Panel PCs, FCC and CE Certified, EMC/EMI/ESD Standards and Certifications (Photo: Business Wire)

The purpose of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is to keep all electromagnetic disturbances and side effects under reasonable control. EMC designates all the existing and future techniques and technologies for reducing disturbance and enhancing immunity to the associated problems of electronics in close proximity. HMI systems are naturally dependent on electronics to perform its various processes and functions. When the equipment associated with these processes are damaged or have a malfunction due to electromagnetic disturbances, there can be substantial risks related to safety, downtime and costs. The proper operation of HMI systems are directly related to the integrity of the equipment and signals and is characterized by the term EMC. This can be defined as the ability of a device or system to function satisfactorily in its electromagnetic environment without introducing itself intolerable electromagnetic disturbances. AIS has added this new repertoire of comprehensive EMC testing and certifications to satisfy the needs of customers developing control systems and equipment serving industries and applications using industrial automation and process control solutions.

AIS Incorporates EMC Testing to Their Regiment of Standards and Certifications Testing Capabilities for Open Platform HMIs and Panel PCs

In the coming years it is expected additional testing for electrical and operator safety and overall compliance to standards and certifications to continue to expand, making it more challenging for industrial automation machinery and equipment makers and end-users to meet the requirements of their customers. In an effort to develop new HMI and operator interface solutions that continue to meet and exceed the demands of an extensive range of testing requirements for their broad customer base, AIS is continuously investing in their in-house, Design for Manufacturability Services (DMS) by adding new testing methods, procedures and capabilities. To this end, the company just recently announced new testing capabilities added for Hazards-based safety engineering (HBSE) for IEC 62368-1 and also testing for UL61010-1 and CAN/CSA-C22.2 safety requirements and standards. Nelson Tsay, AIS President, comments, "Adding comprehensive EMC testing to AIS's DMS capabilities demonstrates our never ending commitment to satisfy the changing standards and certifications requirements for our customers in industrial automation and process control businesses."

AIS's Open Platform HMIs Satisfy EMC Requirements, Improving ROI & Operator Safety for Customers

All electric devices or installations influence each other whn interconnected or are close to each other. The most common situation most everyone has experienced at one time or another is electromagnetic interference on their cellular handsets and devices when in close proximity to other electronic products. The same issues can also occur with electronics in industrial and process automation control applications, however, the risks can be costly if the industrial machinery or equipment malfunctions due to it, or is then damaged by electromagnetic interference. Proper EMC improvements and considerations in the installation of automation and control systems ensure a significant reduction of the risks and costs associated with failure of equipment, whose consequences can be disastrous financially for the user. Again, the purpose of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is to keep all the side effects under reasonable control.

AIS Adheres to Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) New 2014/30/EU Directive

HMI systems are often interconnected or close to other equipment such as, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) and Distributed Control System (DCS) components. The close proximity of all this electronic equipment can pose electromagnetic interference issues. Realizing the importance EMC design and engineering, AIS goes to great measure to design and manufacturer HMI solutions with superior shielding, immunity and grounding and adheres to the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 2014/30/EU.

The European Union has published the new EMC Directive 2014/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 February 2014 on the harmonization of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility. The new directive serves as an update to the EMC Directive 2004/108/EC and will be applicable starting April 20, 2016. The primary objective of the Directive 2004/108/EC and now, the Directive 2014/30/EU, is to regulate the compatibility of equipment regarding EMC equipment needs to comply with EMC requirements when it is placed on the market and/or taken into service. The application of good engineering practice is required for fixed installations, with the possibility for the competent authorities of Member States to impose measures if non-compliance is established.

The EMC Directive first limits electromagnetic emissions of equipment in order to ensure that when used as intended, such equipment does not disturb radio and telecommunication as well as other equipment. The Directive also governs the immunity of such equipment to interference and seeks to ensure that this equipment is not disturbed by radio emissions when used as intended.

AIS's HMI Systems are Engineered to Handle Emissions & Interference Caused by Wireless Communications

EMC measurements are required by many different governments throughout the world. EMC is an important compliance issue for industrial automation and process control equipment manufacturers. With the increased use of wireless communications, the potential for interference is also increasing. AIS DMS performs both emission and immunity measurements in accordance to a wide range of international and domestic standards.

• United States: FCC Part 15
• Canada: ICES 003
• Europe: EN 55022, EN 61326-1, CISPR 22, CISPR 11, CISPR 13, CISPR 20, and IEC EN 61000 series
• New Zealand: Ministry of Commerce - CISPR 22
• Australia: AS 3548
• Japan: VCCI - V series

AIS HMI System Standards and Certifications for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)

• FCC Part 15 Subpart B: US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) -Title 47, Part 15, Radio Frequency Devices, Subpart B
• ICES-003: Information Technology Equipment (ITE) - Limits and methods of measurement
• CISPR 22:2008: Information technology equipment - Radio disturbance characteristics - Limits and methods of measurement
• IEC EN 61000-3-3:2013: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 3-3: Limits - Limitation of voltage changes, voltage fluctuations and flicker in public low-voltage supply systems, for equipment with rated current <= 16 A per phase and not subject to conditional connection
• 61000-4-2:2009: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 4-2: Testing and measurement techniques - Electrostatic discharge immunity test
• IEC EN 61000-4-3:2006+A1:2007+A2:2010: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 4-3: Testing and measurement techniques - Radiated, radio-frequency, electromagnetic field immunity test
• IEC EN 61000-4-4:2012: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 4-4: Testing and measurement techniques - Electrical fast transient/burst immunity test
• IEC EN 61000-4-5:2009: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 4-5: Testing and measurement techniques - Surge immunity test
• IEC EN 61000-4-6:2013: Electromagnetic compatibility EMC Part 4-6 Testing and measurement techniques Immunity to conducted disturbances induced by radio frequency fields
• IEC EN 61000-4-11:2004: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 4-11: Testing and measurement techniques - Voltage dips, short interruptions and voltage variations immunity tests
• IEC EN 61000-6-4:2007/A1:2011: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 6-4: Generic standards - Emission standard for industrial environments

About AIS

Headquartered in Irvine, California, USA, American Industrial Systems, Inc. (AIS) offers in-house electronic and mechanical design, software development, Manufacturing, Production and Quality Control Services. Offering one of the widest ranges of Industrial Computing solutions, AIS solutions are available in a multitude of configurations for Industrial, Oil & Gas, Military and Marine applications.

The company is fully committed to empowering, improving and delivering turnkey HMI, monitoring and display solutions for OEM, ODM and end-user customers. AIS is an ISO 9001:2008 certified supplier and manufacturer of rugged computers and displays, and received completion of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) registration from the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). For more information, visit: www.aispro.com, email: sales@aispro.com or contact: 1-888-485-6688.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140512005042/en/

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