Feature: Software & Tools
Developing a practical and realistic SAR test programme
By Jon Kenny, technical director at TÜV SÜD, a global product testing and certification organisation.
S
pecific Absorption Rate (SAR) measures the rate at which the human body absorbs RF energy from a wireless device. Testing determines the
amount of RF energy absorbed by the body, particularly in areas where the absorption is highest, such as the head and torso. SAR testing is a regulatory
requirement in many countries to ensure that electronic devices comply
with established safety standards. Different regions have specific SAR limits that devices must adhere to be deemed safe for use. For example, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) in North America, and the European Union all have stringent SAR regulations. Typically, the SAR levels are averaged over a 10g mass for European regulatory requirements and a 1g mass for North America. The simplest way to decide if SAR
testing is required is to ask: ‘Is the device to be used within 20cm of a user?’ If the answer to that question is ‘yes,’ and the output power of the device is generally above 20mW (for Europe for example,) then you would most likely have to carry out some SAR testing.
20 September 2024
www.electronicsworld.co.uk
Mobile phones SAR testing is mandatory for mobile phones and smartphones. Given the proximity of these devices to the user's body, especially during calls, SAR testing ensures that the emitted RF energy is within safe limits. As mobile phones are typically used
against the head and the body, they must be considered for all their various use cases, and the regulatory requirement for these conditions may be different. Te devices may also operate at different output power levels for those use cases. Tis needs to be considered both during the testing and in defining a test plan, as testing may need to be repeated for each use case. Body testing has become every bit as
important as head testing, particularly following the introduction of ‘always on’
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