The goal of the thesis was to explore possible solutions for the development of a down converter switch for use in the automotive industry. Switching converters can be very problematic in terms of electromagnetic emissions, as rapid changes in current and voltage during their operation can induce strong electromagnetic fields. This is particularly problematic because devices in this industry must comply with very demanding EMC standards, which are dictated by both customers and legal directives and regulations. The basic standard that describes the required measurement methods and different limit classes for electromagnetic emissions for devices located in automobiles, ships, and other internal combustion engine vehicles is CISPR 25, developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission.
In the company, we solved problems with electromagnetic emissions by using metal shields, but this is no longer feasible for many new products due to the lack of space. One possible solution was to use switch inductors with integrated metal shields. During the thesis, I designed three circuits. The first circuit was implemented on a double-layer PCB and was equipped with a metal shield. This proven solution will serve as a reference. The second circuit was also implemented on a double-layer PCB, but instead of a metal shield, it was equipped with a inductor with an integrated shield. The third circuit was similar to the second circuit but was implemented on a 4-layer PCB.
I evaluated the designed circuits in the company's internal EMC laboratory. I measured radiation emissions in the frequency range between 150 kHz and 960 MHz and conducted emissions between 150 kHz and 108 MHz. The circuit with the metal cover fully complied with the strictest limit class prescribed by CISPR 25. However, the four-layer circuit with the metal casing mostly complied with these limits as well. Although this solution did not fully meet the requirements, it proved to be sufficient and will likely be used in future projects.
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