[Editor's Note] The EMC Technology Research Group of the Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science, comprised of experts in EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and SI/PI, exchanges EMC technology every year and contributes to the spread of technology. With the recent trend of electrification of automobiles and the increase in miniaturization, high integration, and high power products, the number of problems that need to be solved in terms of EMI and EMC is gradually increasing. As such, EMC KOREA 2023, the annual event of the EMC Technology Research Association, is about to be held.

Here, we met with Kim Jong-hoon, CEO of EMC Doctors Co., Ltd. and chairman of the EMC Technology Research Group of the Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science, and talked about EMC countermeasure design and research group activities.
■ You are working as an EMC expert. Please briefly introduce your career history.

I have been researching EMI/EMC/SI/PI technologies since 1996. At the time, there were very few people doing master's/doctoral research on EMI/EMC, but it seemed like a very interesting technology to me, so I started researching in this field for the first time.

After receiving his doctorate, he worked on the development and standardization of memory modules at Samsung Electronics and as a research professor in the Department of Future Automotive Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

In 2017, he founded EMC Doctors Co., Ltd., which is currently in operation, and is working to develop and expand EMI/EMC/SI/PI technologies.

■ Why is EMI/EMC design becoming more complex and important in product development?

Consumers increasingly want multi-functional and high-performance products, and the implementation of these products inevitably requires increased computational power and operating speed of semiconductors. The increase in operating frequency due to the increase in operating speed of electronic products increases the importance of EMI/EMC. This is because electromagnetic radiation and immunity increase in proportion to frequency.

Recently, the issue of low-frequency magnetic fields has been receiving a lot of attention, and this is often due to the miniaturization and high-power of products. Next-generation standards such as USB 3.0 and USB-C type are coming out, and many EMI/EMC problems are occurring in such high-power, high-integration products.

In particular, cases that are highlighted in the process of developing wireless power transfer (WPT) technology have been appearing recently. As the WPT field is highlighted, the EMF field is also receiving more attention. Professor Kim Jeong-ho of KAIST conducted a lot of early research, and recently, Professor Ahn Seung-young of KAIST has been actively conducting domestic and international research and development and academic activities.

In the short term, EMI/EMC design is seeing a surge in demand in the automotive electrical module industry. This is because there are many types of products, many designers, and EMC certification is not easy.

■ You must be facing various EMI/EMC problems in the field through education and solution support. What type of cases are the most common?

We encounter a variety of cases. They include automotive battlefield components, semiconductor test equipment, general white goods, aviation/space/defense, etc. In general, many of them are high-reliability/high-performance products or products that require ultra-high-speed signal transmission.

In the case of developing low-cost general electronic products, it is burdensome to apply expensive EMI/EMC technology because new development tasks must be performed at relatively low costs in the field. Accordingly, we are supporting the enhancement of EMI/EMC capabilities of developers working in the field through EMC design technology training.

■ What are the key management variables for RE occurrence and reduction technology in EMC countermeasure design?

The three key management variables are: reducing loop area, eliminating or reducing conductor length, and avoiding resonance.

Loop area refers to the loop formed by the current by the signal line or power line and its return path. It is not often seen these days, but it is very similar to the round UHF antenna attached to the television in the past. The area of such a round antenna is called the loop area. If you choose in the direction of reducing the loop area in the design stage, it can be said to be the direction of EMI reduction.

The conductor length refers to the length of the V-shaped dipole antenna in the shape of a bar that hangs behind the TV. If the bar-shaped conductor is removed or reduced as much as possible, an EMI reduction design is possible. It is recommended that you proceed with the design work while checking whether the conductor length is reduced due to the selection made during the design stage.

Resonance avoidance can be predicted to some extent during the design phase and can be simulated through electromagnetic simulations, but it is generally not an easy skill for general designers to judge.

Therefore, after designing the initial product (prototype), if the resonance phenomenon is observed, it is realistic to approach it in the direction of eliminating the resonance phenomenon.
■ You have been leading the EMC Technology Research Group of the Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science since this year. Please introduce the Technology Research Group and its achievements.

The history of the EMC Technology Research Society can be said to be the same as that of the Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science (KIEES) founded in 1989. The core area of interest of the KIEES was EMI/EMC, and the papers in the first to third issues of the journal also dealt with topics related to EMI/EMC.

Since then, the size of the society has increased with the addition of electromagnetic wave technology, and it started in 2006 under the name of EMC Technology Research Society, and this year marks its 17th year.

The most important achievement of the EMC Technology Research Association is the exchange of technology. Due to the closed nature of the industry, it is difficult for technology exchange to occur without a focal point. However, I believe that technology and industry can develop together when we share technical insights and seek solutions together, limited to areas that can be disclosed.

Accordingly, the EMC Technology Research Association hosts EMC Korea and holds EMC seminars and exhibitions on a scale that goes beyond the level of the research association, thereby supporting the development of related academia and industry.

In addition, we are interested in fostering next-generation talents related to EMI/EMC/SI/PI and are operating support programs such as EMC scholarships. We are working to foster and recruit new EMC researchers.

■ EMC KOREA 2023 will be held on July 13th. If you were to recommend notable sessions and agendas,

The notable presentation topics this time are semiconductors and aerospace/defense. In particular, EMC countermeasure design technology is emphasized, so I am sure it will be a useful time for product designers.

Recently, as semiconductor packaging has become an issue, we invited Kang Sa-yoon, the president of the Korea Microelectronics and Packaging Society (KMEPS), to a lecture session. Packaging in the existing process and material areas has recently begun to interlock with the design process. Accordingly, we have also joined KMEPS to seek collaboration.

There are many areas in the aerospace/defense/space industry that cannot be announced publicly due to security issues. We have prepared a space to announce only the parts of the technology that can be disclosed among the veiled technologies, and to promote the development of related technologies and provide insights through this.

■ Please give a final word to e4ds news readers.

EMI/EMC technology will continue to be necessary as long as electronic products exist. We hope that through EMC Design technology, you will be able to differentiate the electronic products you develop.

thank you

Meanwhile, EMC KOREA 2023, hosted by the EMC Technology Research Association, will be held on July 13th at the Korea Science and Technology Center Building 1 in Gangnam Station. In addition to the invited lecture by KMEPS President Kang Sa-yoon, technology sessions on semiconductors, space and defense, home appliances/mobile, and automobiles/industry will be held. EMC experts from across industry, academia, and research, including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, LIG Nex1, LG Electronics, Hyundai Motor Company, Korea Automotive Research Institute, and UNIST, will gather to give EMI/EMC presentations by application.