Improving the Accuracy of Exposure Assessment to Stochastic-like Radiofrequency Signals

• Published in: IEEE transactions on electromagnetic compatibility Vol. 54; no. 5; pp. 1169 - 1177
• Main Authors: Bechet, P., Miclaus, S., Bechet, A. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.10.2012; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Accuracy; Antenna measurements; Applied sciences; Assessments; Biological and medical sciences; Business and industry local networks; Effects of various physical factors on living matter (vibrations, electric field, ultrasound, sound...); Electromagnetic compatibility; Exact sciences and technology; Frequency-selective measurement; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Mathematical analysis; Measurements common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Metrology, measurements and laboratory procedures; Networks and services in france and abroad; Physics; Probability theory; radiofrequency field exposure; Randomness; Real time systems; Signal analyzers; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Teleprocessing networks. Isdn; Time and frequency; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics; Vectors; wideband channel; Wireless communication; Wireless LAN; wireless local area network (WLAN); Workstations; Averaging method; Wireless LAN; Radio wave; Refinement method; Wireless telecommunication; wireless local area network (WLAN); Instrumentation; Frequency measurement; Radiofrequency; Frequency selector; wideband channel; Frequency-selective measurement; Accuracy; Frequency selection; Spectral analyzer; Wide band; Biological effect; Measurement method; IEEE standards; Time signal; Stochastic signal; Personal communication networks; radiofrequency field exposure
• ISSN: 0018-9375; 1558-187X
• DOI: 10.1109/TEMC.2012.2191290

Assessment of human exposure to RF signals which are rapidly variable in time and wide-banded is not yet standardized. Signals in IEEE 802.11 standards are widespread among population use due to presence of wireless local area network in everyday life. Recently, with technological advancement of real-time vector signal analyzers, a more precise exposure evaluation became achievable. However, such instruments are prohibitive and not available for the majority of metrological laboratories. Therefore, it is of great value to improve accuracy obtained by using swept-spectrum analyzers through procedural adequacy. This paper contributes to the refinement of the measurement procedure of stochastic-like radio signals level by a solution of averaging which responds to the dual variability character of such signals: in time and in amplitude.