Construction of Large Anechoic Chamber

Atsuhiro KAWANO* Wataru KATSUNO*

Abstract
In recent years, with the growth in the number of electrical/electronic components installed in
vehicles and the degradation of the electromagnetic environment surrounding vehicles, regulatory
requirements relating to the vehicle’s electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) are becoming increas-
ingly stringent worldwide.
To comply with future regulatory requirements and to accommodate the electromagnetic envi-
ronment caused by the rapid increase of wireless systems such as mobile phones and digital ter-
restrial broadcasting, in August 2006 we constructed a large anechoic chamber and other facilities
and equipment to improve and upgrade the EMC tests.

Key word: EMC

1. Introduction
Main building housing
The Commission Directive 2006/28/EC of January the large anechoic chamber
2006, the first major amendment in approximately ten Entrance
Work shop
years, demands more stringent methods for testing a
vehicle’s immunity against incoming electromagnetic
interference and for measuring electromagnetic emis-
sion from the vehicle. Because our previous anechoic
chamber was too small and the related test facilities and
equipment were not expected to meet the requirements
Photo 1 Electromagnetic wave testing laboratory
of the new directive, we constructed a large anechoic
(seen from the west)
chamber and installed upgraded facilities (Photo 1 and
Photo 2).
These facilities enable us to carry out efficient and
comprehensive tests including homologation test for
Directive 2006/28/EC and development test, in addition
to the tests for Directive 95/54/EC.
For not only more high-frequency, complicated and
powerful electrical/electronic components installed in
vehicles but also for the EMC environment of the vehi-
cle including the high-frequency radio emission from
medical equipment like CT systems and cellular phone,
complicated modulation radio emission from cellular
phone and internet security system, and intense radio
emission from air traffic control radar, we installed the
facilities to upgrade accuracy and functions for EMC
tests. Another anechoic chamber in function testing
laboratory, approximately 1/6 the size of the
large chamber
2. Overview of the large anechoic chamber
Photo 2 Large anechoic chamber
2.1 Test items
The large anechoic chamber is applied to two types
of testing: immunity tests and emission tests for vehi-
cles. form the vehicle test for electrical disturbance from off-
The immunity test checks whether the components vehicle radiation source conforming to ISO standards in
of the vehicle relating to driving, turning and stopping the large anechoic chamber.
function normally when the vehicle is exposed to The emission test checks whether the electromag-
intense radio waves such as from the antenna of a netic energy emitted from the vehicle causes interfer-
broadcasting station while driving nearby. We can per- ence to radio or TV reception in the residential environ-

* Electronics Engineering Dept., Development Engineering Office

136
 Construction of Large Anechoic Chamber

Table 1 Shielding performance Table 2 Field distribution uniformity performance

Room Frequency range Component Attenuation (dB) Applicable standard Measuring method
Anechoic chamber 14 kHz – 30 MHz Magnetic field 80 or more IEC61000-4-3 20 MHz – 2 GHz
Within 0 – 4 dB at 12 of 16 points tested by the IEC standard
Measuring room 14 kHz – 30 MHz Electric field 100 or more
ISO11451-2 In the frequency from 20 MHz – 2 GHz, at frequency points of
Amplifier room 20 MHz – 1 GHz Plane wave 100 or more
(2006/28/EC) more than 80 % of the total, within –6 – 0 dB in 0.5 m horizontally
C/D control room 1 – 18 GHz Plane wave 100 or more to each side from the base point.

Fig. 1 Site attenuation performance

room, the amplifier room and the chassis dynamome-

ter (C/D) control room are also shielded in a similar
manner.
To minimize the reflection of radio waves within the
large anechoic chamber, the ceiling and walls are cov-
ered with ferrite hybrid absorbers, while the floor is cov-
ered with ferrite tiles. The chamber has site attenuation
performance conforming to JASO D002-2004 standard
and field uniformity performance conforming to ISO
standard (Table 2 and Fig. 1).

2.3 Test equipment

2.3.1 Intense electric field generator
Photo 3 RF immunity test The generator installed in the large anechoic cham-
ber consists of four antennas and three amplifiers, and
the intense electric field of 200 V/m from 100 kHz to 2
GHz (not all frequencies in the range available) is gen-
ment. In the large anechoic chamber, we can perform erated onto the vehicle (Photo 3).
the 10-m test of CISPR (Comité international spécial des To help improve the efficiency of testing, the follow-
perturbations radioélectriques) and the initial step of ing can be remotely performed from the measuring
Directive 2006/28/EC ANNEX V. room: switching between the amplifiers/antennas;
adjustment of the antennas’ height and angle; and
2.2 Shielded rooms (Table 1) selection of polarization.
The large anechoic chamber has enough space to 2.3.2 Emission measuring device
carry out 10-m test. All six sides (the floor, walls and The emission measuring device installed in the large
ceiling) of the chamber is covered with steel plates to anechoic chamber consists of a bilog antenna for mea-
prevent radio waves from leaking out. The measuring suring broadband noise and a pneumatically driven

137
Construction of Large Anechoic Chamber

Photo 4 Chassis dynamometer

Photo 6 Actuators for accelerator, brake and clutch pedal

Photo 5 Actuators Photo 7 Ignition switch actuator

antenna mast. This eliminates antenna replacement • Actuators for foot-operated controls (Photo 6)
and polarization selection. By operating the turntable The accelerator pedal actuator can control vehicle
in a coordinated manner with the measuring device, it speed. A displacement sensor is installed at the end of
is possible to continuously measure broadband noise the actuator cylinder and the vehicle speed data is tak-
emitted from both sides of the vehicle, thus improving en from the chassis dynamometer. Based on these
efficiency. data, the actuator cylinder is extended or retracted to
2.3.3 Chassis dynamometer (Photo 4) obtain the required vehicle speed.
Using the chassis dynamometer installed in the The brake pedal actuator can control the pedal step-
large anechoic chamber, it is possible to continuously ping force at a high or low level, and it can operate ABS
run the vehicle at up to 100 km/h or to carry out test on system. The clutch pedal actuator can release the clutch
ABS system under low µ condition. The chassis pedal at 10 different speeds.
dynamometer can be operated using either the con- • Actuators for hand-operated controls
troller in the large anechoic chamber or remotely on a The ignition switch actuator can operate the switch
PC in the measuring room. This improves test efficien- through the entire sequence from engine start to stop:
cy. OFF → START → IG → ACC → PUSH → STOP (Photo 7).
2.3.4 Vehicle operation actuators (Photo 5) The column switch (straight line) actuator can move
In the anechoic chamber, an intense electric field is a column switch between three positions, i.e. up, neu-
generated onto the vehicle, so actuators are used to tral and down, or forward, middle and rearward. This
operate the vehicle on behalf of humans. Besides the can be used, for instance, to operate the turn signal
actuators for the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals, (right → cancel → left) or flash the headlamp main
we developed actuators for the ignition key switch, col- beams.
umn switch and other switches for the new facilities. The column switch (rotational) actuator can rotate a
These improve test efficiency and expand the scope of switch between two positions such as ON and OFF. It
tested components. can, for example, turn on and off the headlights. The

138
 Construction of Large Anechoic Chamber

immobilizer to malfunction. Our new facilities are

expected to eliminate such malfunctions.

3.3 Brief description of the TLS antenna

The base, which is stowed just below the ceiling of
the anechoic chamber, is lowered to the work position
by four winches housed behind the ceiling. With the
base lowered, the elements are then installed in posi-
tion for testing. The elements can be moved horizon-
tally by the air pump mounted on the base. The anten-
na is operated on the controller installed in the anechoic
chamber. The winches and air pump are operated
through TLS antenna controller.
From a PC in the measuring room, GPIB signals are
Photo 8 TLS Antenna sent to the balun to switch the direction of electromag-
netic field (Vertical: E mode; Horizontal: H mode).
For safety, the base is equipped with four drop-pre-
vention belts in case the cable breaks. Three height lim-
actuator can also push a switch at the end of a column its for the base (lowest, highest with cables on, and
switch to inject windshield washer. highest) are programmed in the system. As the base is
The air conditioner / audio switch (straight line) actu- raised or lowered, the program works according to the
ator can push a switch ON and OFF, such as the switch operation of the rotary encoders, each of which is
of the air conditioner, audio or hazard warning lamp. installed on a winch. These encoders also monitor the
The air conditioner / audio switch (rotational) actua- inclination of the base. If the data difference between
tor can rotate a switch between two positions, such as the encoders exceeds the preset level, the limit function
ON and OFF. intervenes.
The power window switch actuator can move the
switch to open and close the power windows: open → 3.4 Mechanism of electric field generation
stop → close. Signals are generated by a signal generator, and are
then amplified to a maximum of 10 kW by the amplifier
2.4 Safety systems in the underground amplifier room. The amplified sig-
The large anechoic chamber is equipped with an nals are then sent to the balun where the signals are
interlock system that disables radio wave radiation divided to the core side and the ground side of the coax-
when the shielded door is open, and an emergency but- ial cables. The elements are on the core side while the
ton to stop radio wave radiation and chassis floor is on the ground side. This creates a potential dif-
dynamometer in emergencies. ference between the elements and the floor, generating
The chamber is also equipped with safety sensors vertical electric fields (E mode) (Fig. 2). With the newly
for fire, high CO concentration, fluid leakage and earth- installed TLS antenna, it is possible to connect the core
quake, and give optical and acoustic warnings. side of the coaxial cables to one element and the
ground side of the coaxial cables to the other element.
3. Technical features of the new TLS In this case, TLS antenna generates horizontal electric
antenna fields between the elements while also creating vertical
magnetic fields (H mode) (Fig. 3).
3.1 Overview
TLS (Transmission Line System) antennas can gen- 3.5 TLS antenna performance
erate electromagnetic field of relatively low frequency It has been verified that the TLS antenna can gener-
of 100 kHz – 30 MHz or so-called LF, MF and HF bands. ate 200 V/m in a 100 kHz – 30 MHz range when the ele-
The new TLS antenna consists of a base, a balun, radia- ments are arranged 2 m apart at a height of 2 m (E
tion elements, a load and cables that connect these mode).
components (Photo 8).
3.6 TLS summary
3.2 Background and purpose of the installation • The TLS antenna generates electric fields in low fre-
In the ISO11451-1 (3rd 2005) on immunity test, its quency bands.
required frequency ranges 0.01 – 18,000 MHz. Of that • Vertical (E mode) and horizontal (H mode) electric
range, this facility can cover 0.1 – 30 MHz frequency fields can be generated.
test. The installation is aimed at checking for electrical • This is the first large-scale electromagnetic field
disturbance from AM radio stations, motors, etc. One generation facility covering below 20 MHz frequen-
example of electrical disturbance with our retailed cars cy for vehicles in Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
is: an aftermarket product that the customer installed (MMC).
on his car generated noise in a band around 125 kHz, • Four anti-drop belts (similar to seat belts) are fitted
which was also used by the immobilizer, causing the for safety.

139
Construction of Large Anechoic Chamber

Fig. 2 E mode (vertical electric fields) Fig. 3 H mode (horizontal electric fields)

4. Conclusion

The new large anechoic chamber is constructed on

many years of experience of all those concerned. We
believe that full utilization of this state-of-the-art facility
will help us to develop even higher quality, higher per-
formance cars.
Finally, we sincerely thank everyone at and outside Atsuhiro KAWANO Wataru KATSUNO
MMC for helping to construct the anechoic chamber.

140