An Interview with Henry Ott - Forced FCC Filtering

The Amp Hour · 2 Oct 2013 · 1h 31m · Episode 165

What this episode covers

Henry Ott, founder of Henry Ott Consultants, discusses his 60-year career in EMC, tracing his path from Bell Labs to independent consulting. He details the evolution of his seminal books, including 'Noise Reduction Techniques' and 'Electromagnetic Compatibility Engineering,' and offers practical advice on shielding, grounding, and pre-compliance testing. Ott emphasizes the importance of understanding return currents, proper filter mounting, and the shift from discrete components to system-level integration in modern electronics design.

Mentioned

Companies
Henry Ott Consultants, Bell Labs, Rigol, Apple, SpaceX
Products
Noise Reduction Techniques, Electronic Systems, Electromagnetic Compatibility Engineering, High Speed Digital Design, High-Speed Digital System Design, Rigol 815

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 20m

    379: Monstrous Cable Corporation

    Tom Anderson, an engineer at Keysight Technologies, discusses the practical realities of embedded hardware for new college graduates, focusing on the nuances of floating I/O pins, tri-state outputs, and latch-up failure modes. He explains the behavior of inductors in switching power supplies and relays, the importance of pull-up/pull-down resistors, and the differences between ADC types, sampling rates, and bandwidth. Anderson advocates for learning from vintage technical literature, such as TubeBooks.org and 'The Art of Electronics,' and shares his methodology for analog circuit design using symbolic algebra and system-level constraints.

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 10m

    398: Clocks Get Into Everything

    Tom Anderson, an engineer at Keysight Technologies who also consults for Alembic, explains the fundamentals of radio frequency (RF) electronics, clarifying that RF issues arise from voltage differentials on wires due to signal propagation delays. He demystifies RF jargon like dBm and Smith charts (which he calls 'dollhouses') and discusses practical design strategies, such as managing clock rise times, avoiding ground plane slots, and tuning antennas using varactors. The conversation also covers the specific electronic challenges of high-end bass guitars, including EMI shielding and signal-to-noise ratios.

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 09m

    151: Captain Stochastic

    Paul Sidenblad, an engineer at Nvidia, discusses his 40-year career spanning General Electric's declassified Gambit spy satellite, 3Com, and various other tech firms. He details his work on signal processing libraries, specifically Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs) and random number generators, and his transition from hardware drivers to high-level software optimization. Sidenblad emphasizes the importance of learning how to learn, using tools like Google Protobufs, and maintaining a passion for solving complex hardware-software interface problems without burning out.

  • OnTrack · 40m

    EMI Pitfalls, Tips and Careers with Joost Brilman

    Joost Brilman, an EMC consultant and creator of the EMI Buster newsletter, explains why pre-certified modules often fail in final systems due to lack of emission margin and discusses how mechanical factors like aluminum oxide layers and screw connections cause unexpected EMI issues. He details his work with specialized clients, such as electric bus manufacturers dealing with non-standardized charging interference, and outlines the transition from power electronics design to EMC consulting. Brilman emphasizes that EMC is fundamentally about containing electromagnetic fields through proper mechanical grounding and shielding, rather than just digital compliance testing.

  • OnTrack · 50m

    PCB Grounding Mistakes Your Datasheet Taught You

    Dan Beeker, president of System Solution Specialists and former Technical Director at NXP, explains why PCB grounding mistakes originate in datasheets and reference designs rather than the designer. He argues that the industry wastes hundreds of millions annually by blindly copying evaluation board shortcuts, such as split grounds and unnecessary ferrites, instead of applying field-based physics to manage energy in the dielectric. Beeker highlights critical missing data in datasheets, such as switching speeds and core geometry, and advocates for a shift from traditional circuit theory to 3D electromagnetic field analysis to achieve first-time compliance.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Amp Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.