Apple Files Patent for EMC Testing Chamber

One of the world’s most prolific developers of innovative technology products for consumers and businesses appears to be expanding its innovation efforts into the EMC testing space.

According to a recent article posted to the website “Patently Apple,” a patent application, titled “Electromagnetic Shielding Testing Chamber with Ventilation,” was published earlier this month by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. The patent application details a testing apparatus for electromagnetically sensitive equipment that includes housing designed to block the transmission of external electromagnetic waves while also reducing the reflection of electromagnetic waves within the testing chamber.

The testing apparatus design also includes tubing to provide airflow between the interior of the testing chamber and the external environment that is configured to block external electromagnetic waves from entering the chamber.

In addition to the EMC testing chamber application, Apple has also reportedly filed several additional patents related to various aspects of the graphics processors used in its devices.

EU Commission Proposes to Extend MDR/IVDR Deadlines

The Commission of the European Union (EU) has proposed extending the transition period for existing medical devices under its Medical Device Regulation (EU 2017/745, also known as the MDR) and the In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (EU 2017/746, also known as the IVDR).

The Commission is seeking to extend the validity of certificates issued between May 2017 and May 2021 under Directive 93/42/EEC for medical devices, Directive 90/385/EEC for active implantable medical devices, and Directive 98/79/EC for in vitro medical devices. According to the formal proposal issued in January, the Commission is proposing extending certificate validity for devices that have been placed on the market until the end of December 2027 for Class III and certain Class IIb implantable devices, and December 2028 for other Class IIb devices and for Class IIa and Class I devices.

The current transition deadline under the MDR is the end of May 2024, while the IVDR’s transition deadlines range from May 2025 to May 2027, depending on the class of the device.

The Commission’s proposed transition deadline extension is an effort to address the shortage of Notified Bodies authorized to qualify devices under the MDR and IVDR, leading to longer-than-anticipated wait times. According to the Commission, other factors, including the Covid Pandemic and the war in Ukraine, have constrained efforts to certify new devices and recertify legacy devices.

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up

Scientists Detect Radio Signal from 9 Billion Light Years Away

Between wars, political conflict, and the economy, you may feel some mornings like just staying in bed and pulling a blanket over your head. So here’s a bright spot to help you start your day.

Scientists working at the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in India have detected a radio signal emanating by one of the universe’s earliest atoms nearly 9 billion light years from earth! According to a recent posting to the LiveScience website, the radio signal was generated from neutral hydrogen atoms, one of the universe’s most primitive elements formed from the debris generated by the Big Bang 400,000 years after the birth of the universe.

According to the posting, a neutral hydrogen atom emits electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength of 21 centimeters, placing it in the category of radio waves. Prior to the GMRT discovery, the furthest such signal to be detected was from about 4.4 million light-years away, less than half the distance of the most recently detected signal.

The GMRT scientists were reportedly able to leverage an effect based on Einstein’s theory of relativity called “gravitational lensing,” in which a signal coming from a distant object is magnified. In this case, gravitational lensing magnified the signal by a factor of 30, allowing the GMRT telescopes to detect it.

5G RF Receiver Performance White Paper Released

The widespread adoption of the 5G spectrum for advanced wireless communications ultimately depends on the quality and the performance of the equipment required to support it. Toward that end, industry trade organization 5G Americas has just published its assessment of the factors essential to ensuring radio frequency receiver performance.

The white paper, titled “Radio Frequency Receiver Performance,” provides a comprehensive review of current receiver standards and other applicable studies and analyses on key receiver performance requirements. The paper also offers a deep dive into the specific technical aspects of RF receivers that must be addressed to fully support 5G wireless communications while also making the most efficient use of the available spectrum.

The paper concludes with a series of recommendations for regulators on how to formulate regulatory policy that upholds minimum performance standards without constraining industry innovation and independence.

AI Risk Management Framework Released by NIST

As artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology and systems are more widely deployed, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is taking steps to help organizations leverage the benefits of AI while minimizing the potential risks.

According to a press release, NIST has released “Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0),” a guidance document that maps out a flexible but structured and measurable framework to assess AI-related risks. The framework includes four specific processes (govern, map, measure, and manage) to address the practical risks associated with the use of AI systems.

The AI RMF is the product of 18 months of work by NIST in conjunction with partners from both the public and private sectors. The final guidance reflects nearly 400 contributions from more than 240 different organizations.

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