Rohde & Schwarz confirms fourteen EMC sessions

Rohde & Schwarz has confirmed a fourteen-session technical programme for its Demystifying EMC event at Silverstone Circuit on 24 November 2026, covering electromagnetic interference measurements, compliance requirements, reverberation chambers and AI-assisted analysis. The event will operate across three parallel presentation streams, allowing different aspects of electromagnetic compatibility engineering to be examined during the day.

The programme was detailed on 21 October, providing additional technical information about an event promoted earlier in the year. Its forthcoming Silverstone meeting is distinct from the online Demystifying EMC conference held in February, with the November programme concentrating on face-to-face presentations and discussions.

Sessions will take place across Hall 4, Hall 5 and IMC 4 at the circuit, with speakers from Rohde & Schwarz and other industry organisations. Michael Derby, Secretary of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Test Laboratories Association, will deliver a keynote, while the programme will conclude with an interactive expert panel.

Electromagnetic compatibility concerns the ability of electrical and electronic equipment to operate correctly in its intended electromagnetic environment without causing unacceptable interference to other systems. The requirements include limiting unwanted emissions and maintaining appropriate immunity to disturbances arising from nearby equipment, electrical networks and radio signals.

Achieving satisfactory compatibility depends on the complete electronic design. Switching circuits, high-speed interfaces, power supplies, cables and enclosures can all contribute to the generation or coupling of unwanted electrical signals, while physical construction influences how those signals travel through the equipment.

Conducted interference follows electrical connections, including supply lines and communication cables. Radiated interference travels through electromagnetic fields, although the two mechanisms are connected because currents flowing through circuit structures can create fields that couple into other equipment.

A power converter provides one example of how unwanted signals can arise. Rapid switching transitions generate changing currents and voltages, while unintended capacitance and inductance within the circuit can create additional paths for high-frequency energy.

The resulting emissions depend on switching behaviour, component placement, conductor geometry and the arrangement of return-current paths. A converter using a particular semiconductor technology cannot be assumed to meet EMC requirements on the basis of its device specifications alone.

Measurement is needed to establish how the complete equipment behaves under relevant operating conditions. Conducted emissions testing examines disturbances associated with electrical connections, while radiated measurements evaluate the energy emitted into the surrounding environment.

Both require controlled test arrangements. Equipment operating state, cable routing, grounding and the surrounding measurement environment can affect the results, making repeatability important when comparing different design revisions or investigating a failed test.

The November programme includes electromagnetic interference troubleshooting techniques intended to help engineers distinguish the source of a disturbance from the path through which it reaches the measurement system. Spectrum analysis, current measurement and near-field investigation can provide different forms of evidence about the signal being examined.

A narrow frequency component associated with a switching converter may suggest a relationship with its operating frequency or harmonics. The result still requires investigation because resonances, coupling and unrelated equipment can alter the observed spectrum.

Measurements must also be interpreted against the limits and procedures applicable to the product. A signal exceeding a particular threshold under one test arrangement does not establish which individual circuit element caused it or which mitigation measure will be most effective.

Reverberation chamber techniques form another part of the technical programme. These chambers use conductive enclosures and controlled changes to the electromagnetic field distribution to expose equipment to varying conditions during defined measurements.

Depending on the method, mechanical or electronic stirring can change the field arrangement within the chamber. Suitable calibration and statistical treatment are needed to establish whether the resulting test conditions satisfy the requirements of the intended procedure.

The chamber’s operating frequency range, field behaviour and physical dimensions influence which equipment can be evaluated. A reverberation chamber is therefore not an automatic substitute for every conventional emissions or immunity test environment.

Rohde & Schwarz will also examine the use of artificial intelligence to support EMI system analysis and testing workflows. Potential applications include identifying patterns within measurement data, organising test results and assisting engineers with investigation of recurring interference conditions.

These approaches depend on the quality of the information used to develop and evaluate them. An algorithm may identify a correlation between a spectral feature and a circuit operating state, but determining the physical cause still requires suitable measurement and engineering verification.

AI-generated recommendations must also be checked against the circuit being investigated. Changes to filtering, shielding or grounding can influence other aspects of equipment behaviour, and an apparently effective modification may introduce a different electrical or thermal problem.

Formal compliance remains tied to the applicable standards, calibrated measurement equipment and recognised test procedures. The use of AI to assist with analysis does not independently establish a device’s conformity or remove the requirement for appropriate documentation.

The programme additionally covers EMC design practices intended for use before a product reaches final testing. PCB layer arrangement, component placement and the routing of high-frequency currents can influence unwanted emissions, while the selection of filters and shielding structures must be considered alongside mechanical and electrical requirements.

Early engineering measurements can help identify problems while the circuit and physical assembly can still be modified. Their effectiveness depends on whether the prototype represents the intended product closely enough to reveal relevant interference mechanisms.

Regulatory developments also form part of the Silverstone agenda. Requirements can differ according to product type, intended market, radio functions and operating environment, making the relationship between equipment design and applicable compliance procedures an important part of the programme.

The confirmed agenda establishes fourteen technical sessions and the principal subjects to be discussed. It does not establish that any proposed AI technique has already delivered a quantified reduction in test time, or that new test equipment will necessarily be introduced during the event.

Demystifying EMC is scheduled to run from 08:00 to 16:30 on 24 November at Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire. The published programme provides a current technical agenda, with the detailed measurement methods and practical findings to be presented during the November sessions.