Electronics are everywhere and almost all the modern conveniences that are used by people today are because of the very complex electronics that power them. From the mobile phone that people carry with them all the time to advanced modern medical diagnosis machines and defense equipment that is keeping everyone safe, electronics are the very foundation on which the modern lifestyle is built. However, like any other significantly advanced system, the problem is that most modern electronics are vulnerable to a number of external factors and the more sophisticated any electronic equipment is, the stronger protection it needs. Electromagnetic interference is one area which can create significant risk for modern electronics and thus EMI shielding becomes very important to ensure reliable and resilient performance by modern electronics especially if they are operating in conditions where EMI interference is a significant concern. The following are some of the reasons why proper protection against EMI is needed.
Performance related reasons.
The biggest reason why EMI shielding is needed is to prevent any kind of signal degradation and ensure signal and packet integrity. Too much electromagnetic disturbance can degrade the signals being sent and received by the device. Even within the same machine there will be certain components and subsystems which may need more protection from EMI problems as compared to others. These can be given special shielding like those that have undergone physical vapor deposition. Along with signal degradation, there is also the problem of both signals and packet integrity issues. In case a data packet gets damaged because of EMI noise, the data being carried by the packet will get damaged beyond recovery and will need to be retransmitted. Another reason why proper shielding is needed is because if there is too much EMI interference, it can lead to problems like crosstalk especially where there are multiple sub-systems in the same device and they need a carrying degree of EMI radiation management. In case crosstalk occurs, it can not only impact the performance of the device overall but also impact the lifetime of the machine. In addition to this, many government and regulatory requirements also require that devices which tend to emit or receive EM signals be properly shielded for people who are going to be around the machine.
Equipment lifestyle related reasons.
A very underappreciated aspect of the reasons why equipment needs to be protected from EMI interference is that prolonged exposure to high levels of electromagnetic radiation in an unmanaged fashion can lead to significant impact on its overall lifetime. Many electronic components are highly sensitive to electromagnetic fields. For example, sensors, amplifiers, and precision measuring devices can be adversely affected by external interference. EM shielding acts as a protective barrier, safeguarding these components from unwanted electromagnetic influences. For further protection, there is also the factor that EMI interference can also damage products because of electrostatic discharge. Shielding materials are generally built with conductive properties that can dissipate electrostatic charges. This helps prevent damage from electrostatic discharge, which can occur during handling or operation, particularly in environments with low humidity.
Proper EMI shielding is a very important aspect not only of the manufacturing of modern electronics but also of their proper upkeep and maintenance. The manufacturer may deliver you machines with properly shielded components. On your part, you should be very careful that if and when any device undergoes any kind of repair or maintenance work, proper shielding is restored to it. This is because even though the original equipment manufacturer may have placed shielding but repair workers may mishandle it or not install it back properly which creates a lot of risk for your equipment.