Chapter 14

Configuration

Software configuration

In the main menu, under the configuration pull down menu, a number of standard configurations can be made. The selected and / or entered configurations will be used as default.

The next paragraphs will explain all required configurations.

    Configuration

       Configuration

Warning:

Password To prevent unauthorised persons to change system configurations, a password protection can be used. The password is standard on with the default password: “Radimation”. This password protection can be switched off, changed and configured under:     Configuration        Password

Test engineers

For each test, the name of the test engineer performing the current test can be entered.

To add, modify or delete the names of test engineers, select the:

    Configuration

       Test engineers

In this window, test engineer information can be changed.

Default address information configuration

When a new EUT file is made the name and address information of the producer, test house and client can be entered separately. In many situations one or more of these will be the same for every EUT (i.e.: when a test house owns the software, the test house data will always be the same). In order to prevent retyping of often-used information RadiMation® allows entering the default address information for:

• The default client
• The default manufacturer
• The default test site

Data entered under “default address information”, will automatically be entered in the EUT window and must therefore only be entered once.

To add, modify or delete the default address information, select the:

    Configuration

       Default address information

Default Units

RadiMation® allows the user to define the default units. These units are used throughout the package although they can be changed at any time during measurements and viewing.

The units for the following parameters can be defined:

• Power : dBuW, dBm, dBmW, dBW, uW, mW and W
• Field Strength : dBuV/m, dBmV/m, dBV/m, uV/m, mV/m and V/m
• Voltage : dBuVrms, dBmVrms, dBVrms, uVrms, mVrms and Vrms
• Current : dBuA, dBmA, dBA, uA, mA and A
• Emission : dBuV, dBmv, dBV, V, W, dBuV/m, dBmV/m and V/m
• And many more

Default directories configuration

The RadiMation® software can use different directories to store test data (*.EUT files). The following file types are used:

• Equipment Under Test Data files (*.EUT files),
• Correction files (*.COR files)
• Calibration files (*.CAL files),
• Configuration files (*.TSF files),
• Sequence files (*.SEQ files)
• Limit line files (*.LLF files).

Under “RadiMation® file types and locations” the different file types are described. For each data type the default path name can be entered through the configuration, directories pull down menu.

The path name can be either a local directory or a directory on a network drive. The second makes it possible to store EUT data central on a computer network.

To modify the path name select the:

    Configuration

       Configuration

And select the “Directories” TAB.

Configuring the Report Generator

The report generator must be configured for the type of word processor you are using. To configure the report generator please select:

    Configuration

       Configuration

Now select the “Report Generator” TAB and make all required selections. RadiMation® is able to check the file extension. This feature can be switched on or off by selecting the Check Extension Check box.

Device driver configuration

Device drivers are used to let your software know which equipment has to be used during EMC tests.

In RadiMation®, the device drivers must be configured to customer requirements once. During the configuration of the device driver, information as the IEEE address or com-port must be entered.

Configuration of device drivers can be carried out by selecting:

    Configuration

       Configuration

          Equipment type

Virtual device drivers

For testing and demonstration purposes, virtual device drivers are added as well. These virtual device drivers act as a normal device but do not control real hardware.

Virtual device drivers do not have limitations like normal device drivers (freq. Band, max power, etc.)

Graphics configuration

RadiMation® allows you to customise the way graphics are displayed on your screen.

The following configurations can be made:

• Background colour
• Grid colour
• Text colour
• Grid style (solid line or dashed)
• Default linear or log scale (during each test the user is able to switch between linear log scales).

To configure the graphical interface please select:

    Configuration

       Configuration

Now select the “Graphics” TAB and make all required selections.

Database Configuration

Introduction

RadiMation® allows interfacing to different standard database structures. The use of this interface is to have easy access to the customer database already in use in your company. This will reduce the need for retyping customer information in RadiMation®. A number of drivers are available for the most commonly used databases. Please contact your local reseller for the availability of the device driver for the database you use in your company.

Changing the database driver

To configure RadiMation® to support your database, please select

    Configuration

       Configuration

Under the Database “Tab” the Database driver can be selected. When the correct database type is selected, please press the “Configuration” button under the database type selection box.

When the database configuration button is pressed, the Database driver configuration window will appear. The picture below shows this configuration window.

Configuration of the database driver

Database window

In this field, the location of the database must be entered.

Login window

In the login window, a valid login name and password for the database must be entered in order to allow RadiMation® to login to your customer database.

Fields window

The following selections must be made:

From table

The table to be used

Company

Name of “company” field

Contact

Name of “Contact” field

Street

Name of “Street” field

Zip	Name of “Zip code” field

City	Name of “City” field

State

Name of “State” field

Country

Name of “Country” field

Phone #

Name of “Phone number” field

Fax #

Name of “Fax number” field

Email address

Name of “E-mail address” field

After changing the database setting, RadiMation® must be restarted in order to make the changes effective.

Additional Setup for text and CSV files

Text and CSV files need some additional setup before they can be used. The reason for this is that Radimation uses ODBC to connect and read out the databases. This additional setup must be performed before configuring the database driver in Radimation. After performing these steps a file will be saved in the same directory as the database. Please make sure that Radimation is not running when performing these steps.

Select

    Start

       Settings

          Control Panel

             ODBC Data Sources (32 Bit)

Now Select Add and the window below will appear.

Select the Microsoft Text Driver (*.txt,*.csv) and press finish.

In this window we need to set several items:

1. Data Source Name, This just a name for the setup you are making, name this Radimation, or another descriptive name for the used database
2. Uncheck “Use Current Directory” and press "Select Directory..." to set the directory that holds your database file.
3. Remove *.asc and *.tab from the extentions list
4. Press "Define Format..."

Select the file you want to use, check the "Column Name Header" checkbox and select the format. Press "Guess" to see if the column headers from your database are set correctly. In the picture above the columns are not set correctly. The .csv file format is different, to solve this press the "Format" combobox and select "Custom Delimited". Insert “;” in the delimiter textbox and press "Guess" again.

Now everything is set correctly, close all windows by pressing "Ok" on every window. You can now setup the Radimation driver.

Language Selection

RadiMation supports multi-language operation. This means that the software package can be operated in any language. Further more, the multi- language support allows easy translation from English to virtually every other language. Please contact your local reseller for the availability of the language driver you require.

The default language of RadiMation® is English. If you want to change the language it must be selected from the list of available languages. To configure the language, please select:

    Configuration

       Configuration

Now select the “Language” TAB and make all required selections. The selected language is only active after the RadiMation® package is restarted.

Please note that not all languages are available. Please contact your local reseller for language availability.

Measurement Settings

The measurement settings are settings to assist the test engineer with the measurement. With “Starting Level Signal Generator” the engineer can determine the starting level of the signal generator. For example increase the starting level so the test is starting just above the noise level.

Warning:

It is the responsibility of the test engineer that the “Starting Level Signal Generator” is set correctly. RadiMation® nor its producers can not be held responsible for setting this value wrong, and any damages / injuries resulting from setting this value wrong. The most optimal setting is just below the noise level of the power meters. Please contact your contact person when in doubt about the correct setting of this value.

If “Perform Power delivery test after pause” is checked, RadiMation® performs a power delivery test after leaving manual mode during immunity testing.

RadiMation® can warn or even stop a measurement when a used device is out of calibration. In the top combo box you can select if RadiMation® only warns you that a device is out of calibration or, if it should stop the measurement. With the second combo you can specify the amount days RadiMation® should warn you before the calibration expires. Please note that you type in the value yourself or select one of the predefined periods.

With the checkboxes in the “Required environment settings” you can define the environment settings that need to be set for every measurement. For sequences the engineer only has to set the selected values once.

Test equipment list configuration

The test equipment configuration contains a list of all test equipment, used during a test. From this list, the software knows which device drivers to use to control the test equipment. RadiMation® allows you to configure different test equipment lists for each type of test or even different sets of test equipment for the same kind of tests. (This will be useful if you have, for example, more than one signal generator to perform conducted immunity tests). In the test configuration window, one can select which set of test equipment will be used. During the generation of a calibration file, the software records the test equipment configuration together with the calibration data. When a substitution test is started, the software checks the currently selected equipment (from the selected test equipment list) with the test equipment used during calibration. If the equipment does not match an error message will be displayed.

The error message window will ask you to abort the test or to ignore the error message and continue the test with different test equipment. Of course, to achieve maximum accuracy, one should use the same test equipment during the calibration and during the substitution tests. However, in some circumstances, changing test equipment between calibration and test will not have any influence on test results. This is for example true when a RI substitution list is made using the forward power calibration file. Changing the amplifier won’t change test results as long as the new amplifier covers the required frequency range and can deliver the required output power.

To add, modify or delete test equipment lists, select the:

    Configuration

       Test equipment

Password protection

RadiMation® allows you to protect a number of configurations through a password protection.

To activate, modify or de-activate passwords, select the:

    Configuration

       Passwords

In the password window, the password can be enabled, disabled and changed (to disable or change the password, the current password is required). Furthermore, in the password window, for the following items, the protection can be enabled or disabled:

Test equipment list, prevents unauthorised changes to test equipment configuration Test engineers, prevents unauthorised changes to test engineers configuration Technical Setup Files (TSF files), prevents unauthorised changes tot TSF files.

Correction files

Correction files can be used to correct the frequency response of cables, generators, clamps, antenna’s, couplers etc. When the frequency response of a device is known, the operator can create a new correction file and assign it to the device.

Creating correction files

To create a correction file, select

    File

       New

          Correction file

The window below will be displayed.

The first step is to define the columns in the table by pushing the Columns/Units button. A selection box appears and columns can be added or removed. Based on the use of the correction file the proper columns should be selected. For example an amplifier correction file will have two columns one frequency column and one power column. In the case of a radiated emission test three columns are required specifying frequency, correction, angle and height. For most columns, a unit can be specified. Values that are specified in this column will be interpreted as being values in the selected unit.

Entering data points

To enter data points, press the “Add row" button. A new line will appear and you can enter values in the columns.

When a data point is incorrect, it can be removed by selecting the data point and pressing the “Remove row” button.

Linear/Logarithmic interpolation

The user can select either linear or logarithmic frequency interpolation. This choice is dependent on the applicable standard.

Saving correction files

To save the new correction file please select:

    File

       Save correction file

RadiMation® will prompt you to enter a filename for the correction file.

Attaching a correction files

Most correction files are used for correcting a measured value of a device driver. The made correction file should therefor be 'attached' to the correct device driver.

You can attach a correction file to a device driver in the configuration screen. You can access the configuration screen by selecting

    Configuration

       configuration

in the main menu. The window shown below will appear.

You can select the type of device you want in the box that is situated top right. The big window will display all currently configured device drivers, like in the picture all configured AD Converters. To edit the configuration of a device, select the device in the list and press Edit.

Now you get the configuration window of the device driver.

In the lower part of this window, the made correction files can be selected, for one of the specified uses. The RadiMation software will use the specified correction files, every time when the device driver is used during a test. Depending on the type of the device driver, different uses of the correction files are available.

Correction file uses

Correction files can be used in many situations. The type and number of columns that should be used in the correction file is depending on the situation.

Signal Generator Output Correction

The output level of a signal generator can be corrected. A correction file with the correction should be attached to the device driver of the signal generator. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

The values in the correction column should be expressed in dBm. The value specified in the correction column is added to the desired carrier level and then send to the signal generator. For example: a signal generator that outputs 0.2 dB more than is specified on its display, can be corrected with a value of: -0.2

Amplifier Input Protection Level

The input level of an amplifier can be protected to never be above a certain power level. A correction file with the maximum input level should be attached to the device driver of the amplifier. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

Or

• Frequency
• Power

The values in the correction column should be expressed in dBm. The value specified in the correction or power column is the maximum power that will be inputed to the amplifier.

Amplifier Forward Protection Level

The forward power level of an amplifier can be protected to never be above a certain power level. A correction file with the maximum forward power level should be attached to the device driver of the amplifier. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

Or

• Frequency
• Power

The values in the correction column should be expressed in dBm. The value specified in the correction or power column is the maximum forward power that will be outputted by the amplifier.

Amplifier Reflected Protection Level

The reflected power level of an amplifier can be protected to never be above a certain power level. A correction file with the maximum reflected power level should be attached to the device driver of the amplifier. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

Or

• Frequency
• Power

The values in the correction column should be expressed in dBm. The value specified in the correction or power column is the maximum reflected power. During the regulation of the test-level is this maximum reflected power monitored.

Coupler Forward Power Attenuation Correction

The forward power attenuation of a coupler can be corrected by a correction file. A correction file with the correction should be attached to the device driver of the coupler. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

Or

• Frequency
• Attenuation

Or

• Frequency
• Gain

The values in the correction column should be expressed in dB. The value specified in the gain column is subtracted from the typical attenuation of the coupler. The values in the correction or attenuation column is added to the typical attenuation of the coupler. For example: A coupler is used with a typical forward attenuation of 60 dB. A correction file with a frequency and attenuation column is connected to the device driver. The value specified in the attenuation column for 100 MHz. Is 1.3 dB. Then the software will use a value of 61.3 dB for the total attenuation of the coupler.

Coupler Reflected Power Attenuation Correction

The reflected power attenuation of a coupler can be corrected by a correction file. A correction file with the correction should be attached to the device driver of the coupler. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

Or

• Frequency
• Attenuation

Or

• Frequency
• Gain

The value specified in the gain column is substracted from the typical attenuation of the coupler. The values in the correction or attenuation column is added to the typical attenuation of the coupler. For example: A coupler is used with a typical reflected attenuation of 40 dB. A correction file with a frequency and attenuation column is connected to the device driver. The value specified in the attenuation column for 130 kHz. is 0.13 dB. Then the software will use a value of 40.13 dB for the total attenuation of the coupler.

Powermeter correction

The measured power level of a power meter can be corrected with a certain value. A correction file with the correction should be attached to the device driver of the powermeter. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

Or

• Frequency
• Attenuation

Or

• Frequency
• Gain

The values in the correction column should be expressed in dB. The value specified in the attenuation column is subtracted from the measured power level. The values in the correction or gain column is added to the measured power level. For example: A power level of -14.58 dBm is measured with a power-meter. A correction file with a frequency and attenuation column is connected to the device driver. The value specified in the attenuation column for 81.7 MHz. is 0.27 dB. Then the software will use a value of -14.85 dBm as the value that was measured with the power-meter.

Cable loss correction

The power loss inside a cable can be corrected inside the software. A correction file with the cable loss should be attached to the device driver of the cable. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

Or

• Frequency
• Attenuation

Or

• Frequency
• Gain

The values in the correction column should be expressed in dB. Cable device drivers can be used in different parts of a test-site setup. But they all have in common that an 'interesting' power-level is attenuated by the cable before it is measured by a measuring device (most of the time a powermeter, reciever or an analyzer). The values of the correction and attenuation column, are therefor added to the measured powerlevel. The values in the gain column are inverted before they are added to the measured powerlevel.

Absorbing clamp loss correction

The power loss inside an absorbing clamp can be corrected inside the software. A correction file with the loss should be attached to the device driver of the absorbing clamp. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

Or

• Frequency
• Attenuation

Or

• Frequency
• Gain

The values in the correction column should be expressed in dB. The values of the correction and attenuation column, are added to the measured emission level. The values in the gain column are subtracted from the measured emission level. In this way the real emission level can be calculated.

Antenna Gain

The gain of an antenna can be corrected inside the software. A correction file with the antenna gain should be attached to the device driver of the antenna. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

Or

• Frequency
• Attenuation

Or

• Frequency
• Gain

Or

• Frequency
• Antenna Gain

The values in the correction column should be expressed in dB. The values of the correction and attenuation column, are added to the measured emission level. The values in the gain and antenna gain column are subtracted from the measured emission level. In this way the real emission level can be calculated.

GPSHeight till AntennaHeight Correction

This correction is only available when the Antenna Diagram module is activated. The height distance between the GPS receiver and the Antenna can be corrected by a correction file. A correction file with the height distance should be attached to the device driver of the antenna. The correction file should contain the column:

• Height

Only one row should be present in the correction file. If multiple rows are available, only the height value of the first row will be used. The value of the height column, is subtracted from the height received by the GPS receiver. The result is the exact height of the receiving antenna for the antenna diagram measurements.

AntennaGain versus Angle Correction

This correction is only available when the Antenna Diagram module is activated. The antenna gain is depend on the measuring angle during antenna diagram measurements. A correction file can be used to specify the AntennaGain depending on the receiving angle. This correction file should be attached to the device driver of the antenna. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Angle
• Attenuation

The value of the attenuation column is added to the measured radiated power.

Calibration Jig Transfer correction

The transfer factor of a calibration jig can be corrected inside the software. A correction file with the correction should be attached to the device driver of the calibration jig. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

The value specified in the correction column should be expressed in dB and the value is added to the typical transfer factor of a calibration jig. For example: A calibration jig is used with a typical transfer factor of 9.6 dB (correction for 150 Ω to 50 Ω). A correction file with a frequency and correction column is connected to the device driver. The value specified in the correction column for 1.23 MHz. is 0.3 dB. Then the software will use a total transfer factor for the calibration jig of 9.9 dB.

Current sensor impedance

The impedance of a current sensor is very important to calculate the correct measured current. The impedance is current sensor dependant. Before a current sensor can be used, an impedance correction file should be attached to the device driver of the current sensor. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

The values in the correction column should be expressed in Ohm (Ω). The value specified in the correction column is used to correctly calculate the current flowing through the current sensor.

Field sensor correction

The measured value of a field sensor, can be corrected by the software. The measured value can be corrected with an offset, or it can be corrected by a multiply factor. Both corrections can also be used together but the multiply correction will be performed first, and after that the offset correction will be added. The correction files with the correction should be attached to the device driver of the field sensor. The correction files should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

The values in the correction column of the offset correction should be expressed in V/m. The values in the correction column of the multiply factor should be expressed as x (multiplier).

LISN Amplitude correction

The power loss inside an LISN can be corrected inside the software. A correction file with the correction should be attached to the device driver of the LISN. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

The values in the correction column should be expressed in dB. The values of the correction column are added to the measured emission level. In this way the real emission level can be calculated.

Preamplifier Gain

The gain of an used preamplifier can be corrected inside the software. A correction file with the frequency dependant gain of the preamplifier should be attached to the device driver of the preamplifier. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

The values in the correction column should be expressed in dB. The values of the correction column are subtracted of the measured emission level. In this way the real emission level can be calculated.

Receiver loss correction

The power loss inside a receiver or a spectrum analyser can be corrected inside the software. A correction file with the loss should be attached to the device driver of receiver of spectrum analyser. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

The values in the correction column should be expressed in dB. The values of the correction column are added to the measured emission level. In this way the real emission level can be calculated.

Correction Factor (dBpT/uV) correction

During emission measurements when the measured emission values have to be shown in Ampere-units, the impedance correction factor should be configured in the software. A correction file with the impedance should be attached to the device driver of the receiver or spectrum analyser. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

The value specified in the correction column should be expressed in Ohm (Ω). The values in the correction column is used in the law of Ohm to calculate the correct to be displayed emission values in an Ampere unit.

During emission measurements when the measured emission values have to be shown in magnetic field (Tesla) units, the correction factor should be configured in the software. A correction file with the correction factor should be attached to the device driver of the receiver or spectrum analyser. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

The value specified in the correction column should be expressed in dB. The values in the correction column are added to the measured emission levels to calculate the correct to be displayed emission values in a Tesla unit.

Resistor Correction

The typical value of a used resistor can be corrected by a correction file. A correction file with the correction should be attached to the device driver of the resistor. The correction file should contain the columns:

• Frequency
• Correction

The value specified in the correction column should be expressed in Ohm (Ω). The values in the correction column is added to the typical resistance of the resistor. For example: A resistor of 0.5 Ω is used. A correction file with a frequency and correction column is connected to the device driver. The value specified in the correction column for 594 kHz. is 0.04 Ω. Then the software will use a value of 0.54 Ω for the exact value of its calculations with the resistor.

Equipment Under Test

Power expressed in milliWatt in dB values.

• 1 mW = 0 dBm

• 2 mW = 3 dBm

• 100 mW = 20 dBm

• 1 W = 30 dBm

• 100 W = 50 dBm

Correction

CALibration

Test Setup File

Sequence

Limit Line File

ElectroMagnetic Compatibility

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

The ability of an EUT to be immune to incoming electromagnetic interference. This is equivalent to the term susceptibility that is used by some standards.

Radiated Immunity

Analog to Digital

Decibel

Global Positioning System

Line Impedance Stabilisation Network