Deployable Shielded Lab Modules for Rapid EMC Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complexity of building and maintaining specialized laboratory environments for EMC testing, TEMPEST facilities, and other industry-specific enclosures make them inaccessible to smaller institutions, leading to delays and inefficiencies in product development and testing.
Innovation Solution
A deployable laboratory environment consisting of modular components that can be easily transported and assembled, providing a shielded and standardized testing space that meets EMC standards, thus reducing the need for expensive and permanent facilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional permanent EMC testing facilities are built, then testing capability and reliability are improved, but construction cost and maintenance expense increase to millions of dollars
Solution Approach 1:
The permanent facility is segmented into modular components that can be independently manufactured, transported, and assembled. Each module contains specific shielding and testing equipment, allowing the system to be built in parts rather than requiring construction of a complete facility at once, thereby reducing initial complexity and cost while maintaining full testing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The facility transitions from a static permanent structure to a dynamic deployable system that can be quickly assembled and disassembled. The modular design with standardized interfaces enables rapid deployment of testing capability when needed and easy storage or relocation when not in use, reducing ongoing maintenance expenses and construction complexity.
2Productivity
If on-site testing facilities are constructed, then testing speed and iteration efficiency are improved, but construction time and initial expense increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The modular testing facility components are pre-manufactured and prepared in advance at a fabrication facility, with all shielding, equipment, and infrastructure pre-installed and tested. When deployment is needed, the pre-prepared modules are simply transported and assembled on-site, eliminating the time-consuming construction phase and enabling rapid initiation of testing operations.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If specialized shielded enclosures are built for TEMPEST facilities, then security and emission protection are improved, but design complexity and ongoing testing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring complex shielding throughout an entire facility, the modular design applies high-quality electromagnetic shielding only to the specific compartments and pathways where emission protection is critical. Other areas use standard construction, reducing overall design complexity while maintaining necessary protection levels for sensitive operations.
4Reliability
If permanent sterile laboratories are constructed, then environmental control and certification are improved, but construction time and certification process duration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile laboratory is divided into modular environmental zones that can be independently controlled and certified. Each module maintains specific environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, sterility) through dedicated control systems, allowing for targeted certification of individual units rather than requiring certification of a large integrated facility, thereby reducing overall certification time while maintaining reliable environmental control.
Data Source
AI summary
A deployable laboratory environment is disclosed, including a foundation having a movement corridor, and a first and second module that each have a longitudinal axis and a junction side, the junction sides each having at least one opening framed by an interface. The modules are rotatably coupled to the foundation through swivel joints, at least one of which is able to translate along the movement corridor. The modules are movable between travel, intermediate, and deployed configurations. The travel configuration includes the longitudinal axes and the movement corridor being substantially parallel, and the openings being covered. The intermediate configuration includes the longitudinal axes being substantially perpendicular to the movement corridor, the junction sides facing each other, and the openings uncovered. The deployed configuration includes the modules coupled to each other with the interfaces joined and the module interiors combined into compartments which are shielded sufficient to meet an EMC testing standard.