Evaluation of a Non-Intrusive SDR-Based in-situ Shielding Effectiveness Measurement Technique

An assessment of the instrumentation to be employed for in-situ shielding effectiveness (SE) measurements in 3D complex structures is carried out in this paper. The proposed methodology, based on an inside-out technique, makes use of non-intrusive and portable instruments, with a small foot-print. The limitations of the SDR-based instruments used is evaluated and their impact on the final measured value is discussed. A closed-loop measuring setup was proposed to make a preliminary investigation of the instruments performance in a highly controlled environment. This is supplemented by an examination of an averaging post-processing technique and its influence on the measured SE value. Although inside-out testing is not generally employed, it may be used as the basis for a unsophisticated SE evaluation technique.