The research objective of this award is to create new computer aided design (CAD) methodologies for modeling and design of electronic systems exposed to electromagnetic interference (EMI). EMI continues to be a key design challenge as it could lead to severe reliability issues in modern electronic products. The methodologies offer a generalized perspective in terms of analyzing EMI coupling scenarios faced by electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) design engineers. The underlying framework is broad-based and can be applied to the EMC design of a wide range of electronic systems. The research formulates system-level modeling approaches, which allow optimized selection of different CAD models for different sub-systems, e.g. batteries, cables, and large enclosures. Circuits and structures representing typical EMI scenarios will be designed, fabricated, and tested, to validate the CAD methodologies, identify limitations and demonstrate reliable EMC solutions. Deliverables include system-level CAD methodologies, subsystem-level neural network and statistical models, well-documented research results, a project website, and state-of-the-art curriculum for industry engineers and university students.
If successful, the results of this research will have both scientific and educational impact. The research advances the fundamental design practices, e.g. design of highly-overmoded aircraft and automotive structures, with a potential for breaking the barriers in terms of simulation accuracies, speeds, and other capabilities. CAD techniques enabled by this research will offer significant cost and time reduction in engineering innovative and reliable electronic products. The research outcomes will lead to industry-oriented curriculum components at The University of Toledo and at Oklahoma State University. Engineering students and postdoctoral fellows will benefit through classroom instruction and involvement in research. Through a constantly updated website, efforts will be made to offer equal opportunities to students belonging to minority and underrepresented groups. The website will also enhance the public awareness on various aspects of EMI/EMC.
Many commercial microwave and sensor systems are vulnerable to serious harming levels of electromagnetic (EM) radiation from intentional attackers (e.g., jammers launching interference signals) or even "friendly" high-power microwave (HPM) sources, due to the inadequate consideration of innovational techniques that help opposing similar situations. Such attacks – if left without being properly mitigated and tackled – may result in significantly undesired consequences as in damaging expensive equipments, threatening public/private communications, and blocking sensitive information. To this end, the ultimate target of this project was to address such common yet overlooked challenges that render conventional printed circuit board (PCB) interconnections and front-end microwave components (e.g., antennas, filters, dividers, etc.) from delivering the optimum performance by proposing newly engineered preventive methodologies without compromising physical/electrical characteristics and manufacturing cost. As such, our design concepts applied to the traditional designs were actually "defensive" mechanisms against "vandalizing" entities and personnel. Simulation results of the designed components were obtained by professional EM simulators and were further justified by means of fabrication and measurements. Approaching social demands was of utmost importance to this project. In this regard, major findings were presented in specialized conferences/workshops, and received encouraging feedback from both scholars and industry in the same field. Additionally, the novel scientific contributions were submitted/published in well-recognized scientific journals, and can serve as references to other interested researchers. Moreover, conducting a robust market analysis to each and every involved component in this research showed that RF/microwave industry is in a crucial need to a "scalable solution" in terms of reliability, repeatability, manufacturing cost, and ease of production. This project strived to address and optimize such critical factors by providing step-by-step systematic designs justified by the means of simulation, fabrication, and testing. During the progression of this project, graduate students from all levels were exposed to different training aspects. Besides being familiar with professional commercial electromagnetic simulators, students were continuously examining the latest achievements in the field of electromagnetic compatibility. In addition, fabricating nearly all proposed schematics delivered an initial insight to future similar or more sophisticated modules. The obtained scientific outcomes, equipped with the applied mathematical representation, engineering sense, and self-experience, will be part of the students’ theses and dissertations.
