SPRACP3D November   2019  – August 2026 AWR6843 , AWR6843AOP , IWR1443 , IWR1642 , IWR6443 , IWR6843 , IWR6843AOP

 

  1.   1
  2.   Trademarks
  3. 1Introduction
  4. 2Typical Certification Procedure
  5. 3Regulatory Compliance Overview
    1. 3.1 European Union Regulations: Radio Equipment Directive (RED)
      1. 3.1.1 Short Range Radar (EN 305 550)
      2. 3.1.2 Short Range Level Probing Radar (EN 302 729)
        1. 3.1.2.1 Permitted Frequency Ranges and Operating Bandwidth
        2. 3.1.2.2 Antenna Requirements
      3. 3.1.3 RF Exposure Limit - EN 62311
      4. 3.1.4 Electrical Safety - EN 62368
      5. 3.1.5 Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) - EN 301 489
    2. 3.2 Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
      1. 3.2.1 End Equipment and FCC Clause
      2. 3.2.2 60GHz Radar Operation (47 CFR § 15.255)
        1. 3.2.2.1 Fundamental Emission Levels, BWs, and Max Duty Cycle
        2. 3.2.2.2 Spurious Emissions
        3. 3.2.2.3 Frequency Stability
        4. 3.2.2.4 FCC Waiver and Other Relevant Information
      3. 3.2.3 Level Probing Radar (47 CFR § 15.256)
        1. 3.2.3.1 Usage Limitations
        2. 3.2.3.2 Fundamental Emissions, BWs
        3. 3.2.3.3 Antenna Restrictions
        4. 3.2.3.4 Unwanted Emissions
      4. 3.2.4 Modular Approval (47 CFR § 15.212)
      5. 3.2.5 Radiation Exposure Requirement
    3. 3.3 Japan Radio Law
      1. 3.3.1 BW, Designated Frequency, and Tolerances
      2. 3.3.2 Out of Band and Spurious Emissions
      3. 3.3.3 Controller Functions
    4. 3.4 Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing (WPC)
      1. 3.4.1 Permitted Frequency of Operations and Approval
      2. 3.4.2 Equipment Type Authorization
    5. 3.5 Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT)
      1. 3.5.1 Fundamental Emission Levels and BWs
    6. 3.6 National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL)
      1. 3.6.1 Fundamental Emissions Levels, BWs, and Max Duty Cycle
      2. 3.6.2 Licenses
    7. 3.7 Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC)
    8. 3.8 National Communications Entity (ENACOM)
  6. 4Applicable Terms and Equations
    1. 4.1 Duty Cycle Factor
    2. 4.2 Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP)
    3. 4.3 Friis Equation
    4. 4.4 Far-Field Boundary
  7. 5Tools and Setup
    1. 5.1 Hardware Setup
    2. 5.2 Internal Laboratory Test Setup
      1. 5.2.1 Near-Field Circuit Probing
      2. 5.2.2 Occupied Bandwidth Testing
      3. 5.2.3 Radiation Pattern Measurement
    3. 5.3 MMWAVESTUDIO
      1. 5.3.1 Running LUA Scripts
    4. 5.4 mmWave Visualizer
    5. 5.5 IWR6843ISK-ODS Test Case
  8. 6Common Issues and Resolutions
    1. 6.1 Peak Power
    2. 6.2 Occupied Bandwidth
    3. 6.3 Spurious Emissions
      1. 6.3.1 14.4GHz Harmonics
      2. 6.3.2 Suggested Resolution
        1. 6.3.2.1 Hardware Measures
        2. 6.3.2.2 Software Measures
          1. 6.3.2.2.1 APLL Duty Cycling
          2. 6.3.2.2.2 APLL VCO RTRIM Setting in BSS Firmware
    4. 6.4 Overshoot
    5. 6.5 Frequency Stability
      1. 6.5.1 Generating CW Signal
      2. 6.5.2 Frequency Stability Over Temperature and Voltage Range
    6. 6.6 EIRP Spiking and Spectrum Analyzer BW
  9. 7References
  10. 8Revision History

3.2.4 Modular Approval (47 CFR § 15.212)

For some radar users, it can be advantageous to create a radar module that can be certified once, and then integrated into multiple different host systems without the need for each end product to undergo in-band (§ 15.255) testing. This solution is called a "modularly approved" radar. This radar consists of a single PCB which contains the radar chip, crystal oscillator, and power supplies, all of which must be covered under a shield. This modular approval process is covered in 47 CFR §15.212 and detailed in KDB 44637. The major benefits of this are that a company or its customers can save both time and money by reducing the overall test burden.

This is the same process that is used to create Bluetooth® and WiFi® modules, amongst others. This process is flexible to create both modules for use within one company and its products, or for sales to other businesses for inclusion in their final products.

There are key filings that must be made as part of a modularly approved radar, namely in terms of documentation for customers. Customers need to be made aware of exactly how to integrate the module into their host system, as well as what tests are recommended to make sure there are no unexpected emissions. This requirement is more relaxed for internal modules only. It is important to note however, that this process only removes the need for the final integrated system to perform inband testing. This process does not waive any safety or EMC testing requirements.

As with other FCC filings, you need to establish an FCC Registration Code to identify the contact person for your filings, as well as an FCC ID. The FCC ID consists of a prefix of three to five characters, followed by up to 15 characters selected by the manufacturer. The first three to five characters are assigned to by the FCC and is known as the Grantee Code. You need to apply for a Grantee code and paying the associated fees prior to filing for a modular grant. This is the same as for other FCC equipment approvals.

Unfortunately, modular approval for radars is only permitted by the FCC and not other regulatory agencies. However, within other regulatory environments, (like ETSI or JRL), it is be possible to perform inband tests on the module one time and then leverage them with future host integrations to lower the overall testing burden. Consult your test house or legal adviser for the most up to date interpretations of these regulations.