Updated Requirements Mean Speedier Approval for Spread-Spectrum Products in Asia-Pacific

Recent updates to type-approval requirements in Japan, New Zealand, and Singapore for spread-spectrum products operating in the 2.4 GHz ISM band will help to expedite the products' approval for use there, according to David Case, senior compliance and reliability engineer for Aironet Wireless Communications (Fairlawn, OH).

Spread-spectrum products like these from Aironet Wireless Communications (Fairlawn, OH) may gain approval for use more quickly in Asia-Pacific due to new rules.

The type-approval changes in Japan are not only the greatest in number, but also the most significant. Under the new rules, the band of operation expands from 2471–2497 MHz at 10 mW/MHz power output to 2400–2500 MHz at 10mW/MHz power output (for direct sequence radios) in two segments. Frequency-hopping systems or hybrids have restricted power outputs in some of the band (see Table). The new regulations allow the use of either the current band (2471–2497 MHz) or the 2400–2483.5 MHz band currently used by most countries. However, Japan has limited the power for frequency-hopping devices operating in the 2427–2471 MHz part of the spectrum. This is to avoid interference issues with other devices operating in this band.

Radio type	2400–2427 MHz	2427–2470 MHz	2471–2497 MHz
DHSS	10 mW/MHz	10 mW/MHz	10 mW/MHz
FHSS	10 mW/MHz	3 mW/MHz	10 mW/MHz
Hybrid	10 mW/MHz	3 mW/MHz	10 mW/MHz

Japan's spread-spectrum requirements.

Another positive change for Japan, says Case, is the elimination of the radio call ID for each individual radio. The country will replace the call ID with the MAC address of the device.

Other modifications for Japan include a reorganization of the MKK, the agency responsible for radio type approvals, and its renaming to TELEC, as well as an impending update to spread-spectrum radio standard STD 33. Modifications to the standard are now in effect; additional information can be referenced in Consultation 57: Technical Requirements of Wireless LAN Devices. Some of the modifications are the result of changes in spread-spectrum technology and allow the use of higher data rate spread-spectrum radios operating in the 2.4 GHz band.

Changes in New Zealand and Singapore are less extensive. A general class license for all spread-spectrum devices that meet RFS-29, which was issued by New Zealand's secretary of commerce on February 4, 1999, remains valid in that country until 2004. This license covers all spread-spectrum products operating in the various ISM bands. The Ministry of Commerce, Radio Spectrum Division, requires only that the radio manufacturer file a declaration of conformity for the radio device.

The Telecommunication Authority Singapore (TAS) has updated its spread-spectrum standard (TAS TS SSS, Issue I, Revision V), trimming the band from its original 2400–2483.5 MHz range to 2445–2483.5 MHz.

SEMI Standard E43-95 Up for Review

The ESD Task Force of global trade organization SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment & Materials International; Mountain View, CA) has launched a five-year review of E43-95, the electrostatic field meter measurement document. The review is in accordance with SEMI's bylaws, which call for the periodic review of standards documents.

Arnie Steinman

The ESD Task Force has decided to increase the document's scope, says Arnie Steinman, chief technology officer of Ion Systems (Berkeley, CA) and leader of the ESD Task Force. "Originally, the document covered only a method to take electrostatic measurements using a field meter," he notes. "The ESD Task Force decided to add measurement methods using a Faraday cup, an electrostatic voltmeter, and an electrometer."

This was done to supplement the measurement recommendations contained in SEMI E78-0998, The Electrostatic Compatibility Guide for Equipment, Steinman says. "This document proposed acceptable static charge levels in equipment, and methods to measure them using the Faraday cup and field meter," he says. The goal of E78 was to prevent static charge from continuing to be a hazard to product, reticles, and equipment operation.

Another reason for expanding E43 is to anticipate the types of in-situ static measurements that will be needed in the future to ensure ongoing compliance with E78. Electrostatic voltmeter and electrometer measurements can be used for this purpose, Steinman says.

An appendix will contain a selection matrix for measurement methods to help users select a process that provides meaningful information for their particular applications, Steinman says. Other electrostatic measurement methods may be described in a related information section.

ESD Task Force members are encouraged to assist in the expansion of E43-95 in their fields of interest. The standard will be balloted for the informational and approval input of SEMI members worldwide following SEMICON West 2000 in July.

TUV Rheinland and EMC Int'l. Team Up

TUV Rheinland of North America Inc. has formed a partnership with EMC International Inc. to expand the capabilities of its southeastern region. The two companies have established a new joint office in Youngsville, NC.

The alliance is designed to help better serve TUV's existing client base in the region and offer a local alternative for product safety and EMC testing. The expansion of services will include CE marking compliance, NRTL (United States), NOM (Mexico), and CSA (Canada) certifications, and auditing of various management systems, including ISO 9000, QS-9000, and ISO 14001.

"By continually growing our southeastern capabilities, we are demonstrating our commitment to provide a more responsible, cost-effective service for our clients from Virginia to Florida," says Kevin Mullaney, vice president of operations, TUV Rheinland of North America Inc.

NIST Guidelines for Conformity Assessment

NIST is proposing conformity assessment guidelines to help federal agencies improve management and coordination of testing, inspection, certification, and other activities to determine whether products or services meet regulatory or procurement requirements.

Under the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995, Congress assigned NIST responsibility for coordinating efforts to improve the federal standards and conformity assessment activities. According to NIST, about 80 agencies and other federal units have regulatory or procurement responsibilities. Many have developed their own systems for evaluating processes, products, and services against their requirements. The proposed guidelines focus on federal agencies' eliminating unnecessary duplication and complexity in their conformity assessment activities and making greater use of private-sector and state programs in this area.

The guidelines call for more systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of conformity assessment practices, mutual recognition of the results of other agencies' testing procedures, and harmonization of requirements for quality and environmental management systems, according to NIST. Broader, more-effective sharing of audit results and related information is among other recommendations that NIST proposes.

In addition to saving time and money, NIST says this less-complicated system would likely benefit trade negotiations and respond to industry's call for streamlining testing requirements in the United States and other countries.

Comments on the proposed guidelines are being accepted until Jan. 18, 2000. Published in the Nov. 3, 1999, Federal Register, the four-page document can be downloaded from NIST's conformity assessment Web site at http://www.ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/216/216.htm. For more information on NIST's Proposed Guidance on Federal Conformity Assessment Activities, contact Maureen Breitenberg, Global Standards Program, 301/975-4031 or maureen.breitenberg@nist.gov.

Joint Venture to Speed Delivery of UMTS Systems

Siemens AG (Berlin/Munich) and NEC Corp. (Tokyo) have formed a joint venture for the third generation of mobile communications, the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS).

The joint venture, Mobisphere Ltd., a Siemens and NEC company, will be headquartered in Reading, UK. Siemens will hold 51% of the shares, NEC, 49%.

Sales of the UMTS radio systems are expected to begin in 2001 in Japan and go worldwide in 2002, reaching a volume of approximately 1.5 billion units in 2004. In total Siemens and NEC will invest more than $1 billion in UMTS research and development during the next decade. Mobisphere is focused on radio infrastructure and will not include mobile terminals. Both companies will continue developing and marketing the terminals separately.

The joint venture will combine the two dominant UMTS modes, frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD), making NEC and Siemens the only companies in the world able to support both modes from the commercial launch. The combination of both modes will allow for a wide range of services, such as mobile Internet access, telebanking, and electronic newspapers.

By the end of 2000, products such as base transceiver stations, radio network controllers, and operations and maintenance centers will be available for both the FDD and TDD modes. Products will be marketed using a common product name under the brands of the parent companies.

ESCO Announces Intent to Acquire Lindgren

Manufacturer of filtration, fluid flow, and communications and test products ESCO Electronics Corp. (St. Louis) has announced its intent to acquire the stock of Lindgren RF Enclosures (Chicago) and Lindgren-Rayproof, a provider of RF shielding products and components.

According to ESCO chairman and CEO Dennis J. Moore, "the complementary skills of [ESCO's] ETS subsidiary and Lindgren will allow [the company] to better serve its RF shielding and test customers and to increase participation in high-growth markets." Lindgren reportedly will add more than $40 million in revenue annually to ESCO's RF shielding and test business.

The transaction is expected to close during ESCO's second quarter.

High-Power RF Measurement System Developed

To meet the demand for higher power calibrations, NIST has developed a new system for measuring up to 1 kW of radio-frequency power in the range of 2–1000 MHz. The technique uses calibrated low-power sensors called bolometers and a calibrated chain of up to five 10-dB couplers.

The couplers reduce the high power level to be measured down to the 1–10-mW level of the sensors. According to NIST, a comparison of results from the new system with those of its older low-frequency measurement system shows good agreement in the area of overlap, up to 30 MHz. NIST's analysis indicates that overall the typical uncertainty is between 1 and 2%, with a small increase above 850 MHz.

The new system and a mathematical analysis of its operation and uncertainties are described in Technical Note 1510, Switched-Coupler Measurements for High-Power RF Calibrations. For a copy of the technical note (paper no. 47-99), contact Sarabeth Harris, MC 104, NIST, Boulder, CO 80303-3328; 303/497-3237; sarabeth@boulder.nist.gov.

The New Look of CE

As you have probably noticed, Compliance Engineering has had a make-over. The changes are subtle in some ways and dramatic in others, but all have one thing in common—they've been implemented with you, the reader, in mind.

The CE logo is now more prominent on the cover and throughout the magazine to provide continuity, and the revamped table of contents helps you identify articles relevant to your particular discipline more easily. We have expanded coverage of the industry with two new columns that will run semiregularly. The "Guest Editorial" opens up the pages of the magazine to the voices of readers on important issues. Next month we'll introduce a Q&A interview with an industry newsmaker. We have fine-tuned our news coverage with Newsline to give you more updates on standards and regulations, business concerns, and technological advances. And when it comes to finding the right products and services, look no further than Resources, our restyled products-and-services section.

We would like to hear your comments and suggestions. You can help us maximize the magazine's responsiveness to your needs by e-mailing the CE staff at ce@cancom.com. —The Editors

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