EMC Aware Programming
Encyclopedia
Electromagnetic compatibility
(EMC)–aware programming involves writing software which is resilient to errors induced by electromagnetic fields.
Microcontrollers have low immunity tolerance resulting in a very high rate of transient errors and a potential for processor failure. To improve the immunity towards electromagnetic fields, extra hardware
devices are often used. Hardware protection requires additional circuitry which adds cost, weight and size to a device. Many hardware techniques (such as the ubiquitous ECC) focus only on the prevention of failures and have no means of recovering from these errors once they occur.
The software approach
consists in investigating the possibilities of using defensive software techniques as protection against electromagnetic
disturbances as it is an economically interesting solution. The same software mechanisms could be used for a wide range of applications and different platforms
. The figure to the right shows why a software approach is economically attractive. Adding hardware will add extra costs to each device while appropriate software is developed only once and then replicated.
Electromagnetic compatibility
Electromagnetic compatibility is the branch of electrical sciences which studies the unintentional generation, propagation and reception of electromagnetic energy with reference to the unwanted effects that such energy may induce...
(EMC)–aware programming involves writing software which is resilient to errors induced by electromagnetic fields.
Motivation
Hardware
Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....
devices are often used. Hardware protection requires additional circuitry which adds cost, weight and size to a device. Many hardware techniques (such as the ubiquitous ECC) focus only on the prevention of failures and have no means of recovering from these errors once they occur.
The software approach
Software engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
consists in investigating the possibilities of using defensive software techniques as protection against electromagnetic
Electromagnetism
Electromagnetism is one of the four fundamental interactions in nature. The other three are the strong interaction, the weak interaction and gravitation...
disturbances as it is an economically interesting solution. The same software mechanisms could be used for a wide range of applications and different platforms
Platform (computing)
A computing platform includes some sort of hardware architecture and a software framework , where the combination allows software, particularly application software, to run...
. The figure to the right shows why a software approach is economically attractive. Adding hardware will add extra costs to each device while appropriate software is developed only once and then replicated.
See also
- EMC Fundamentals
- Emission Aware ProgrammingEmission Aware ProgrammingEmission-aware programming is a design philosophy aiming to reduce the amount of electromagnetic radiation emitted by electronic devices through proper design of the software executed by the device, rather than changing the hardware.-Emission Sources:...
- Immunity Aware ProgrammingImmunity Aware ProgrammingWhen writing firmware for an embedded system, immunity-aware programming refers to programming techniques which improve the tolerance of transient errors in the program counter or other modules of a program that would otherwise lead to failure...
- List of EMC directives
- Electromagnetic compatibilityElectromagnetic compatibilityElectromagnetic compatibility is the branch of electrical sciences which studies the unintentional generation, propagation and reception of electromagnetic energy with reference to the unwanted effects that such energy may induce...