Protecting CE devices in hostile environments

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

The research I have done on what to do to ensure that a Windows-CE based
device I am using to monitor various sensors and send me back information
about their status over a GSM/GPRS connection has highlighted the need to
ensure that my device is properly shielded from Electromagnetic, Radio
frequency and Voltage spikes.

Has anyone had direct experience of putting a similar device into hostile
environments where this sort of protection needs to be provided? What did you
do to shield your device to ensure no such interference?

Also, do you know of any other sites where such issues are discussed?

Thanks

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

The way you describe it I see the PPC being held close to plasma cutters
and contact welder robots, a place where a normal cellphone would probably
not even be able to get a decent signal for operation.
I think a PPC itself is fairly decently protected, most internals are
protected with metal shields and/or grounding, plus the device runs
off of it's own internal battery which effectively shields it from any
external power sources. That is, unless you stick it under a welding arc.
Remember the PPC itself is a computer that produces RF interference as
well and is protected (up to a point) against undesirable RF interference.
If your sensors aren't properly electrically shielded then those
would be where disaster can strike, from say high voltage interference
or sparks flying over from one surface to another, inductance, etc.
Keep the PPC in a thick rubber protector (http://www.otterbox.com) and use
properly shielded (galvanic separated, if I spelled that right) sensors.
Depending on the severity of the RF interference however, maybe you're
better off looking into Rugged PC's made specifically for the job.
Wireless communication may be your next problem as well like Hopkins
stated, since shielding RF interference will undoubtedly heavily interfere
with the effective range of the wireless technology you'll be using.

$0.02


~S.






"Chance Hopkins" <chance_hopkins@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:eYvvvK$xEHA.3120@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl:

> If you sheild the device from Radio frequencies, how will the GSM/GPRS
> work?
>
> Voltage spikes? You mean from the battery?
>
> I don't know what you are doing, but you'll probably have to sheild your
> sensors themselves and not the actual CE device.
>





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