As technology advances, the need to place larger numbers of electrical and electronic systems into automobiles has dramatically increased. To name a few, these systems include Control Area Networks (CAN), safety systems, communications, mobile media, infotainment systems including wireless headsets, DC motors and controllers. The physical size of these systems is greatly reduced because of the size and weight constraints involved with automotive design. These systems may be small, but it does not necessarily mean their electromagnetic emissions are too. As the electronics systems become more complex, the wiring systems turn out to be a major cost in the manufacturing process. They turn out to be a major failure point also. The current trend is to make as many systems as possible wireless, lowering the manufacturing cost and improving the reliability of the systems by eliminating the wiring.
Placing a large amount of electrical and electronic systems into a very confined space poses the problem of keeping the Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) of these systems from interfering with each other through radiated and conducted emissions, sometimes referred to as crosstalk. If not properly controlled, the interference can cause each system to malfunction, and even fail. With most systems now fully electronic, the need to contain EMI is more vital than ever.
This White Paper discusses the various electronic systems found on automobiles, and addresses the need of containing and suppressing their EMI potential with each other through EMI shielding and ferrite solutions.