WHAT is sar?

Specific absorption rate (SAR)

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) enables to quantify Human exposure to electromagnetic fields radiated by wireless devices held in close proximity to the user.

Part of the energy transported by electromagnetic fields radiated by a wireless device for example is absorbed by the human body. International guidelines define limits and measurement standards describe protocols for assessing SAR.

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SAR vocabulary

"FULL SAR" is a compliant system which meets the historical and/or recent measurements standards. "FULL SAR" meets the metrological requirements for measurement accuracy, allowing to perform complete certification tests.

"FAST SAR" is a process dedicated to IEC 62209-1 standard & IEC 62209-2 standard. The "FAST SAR" process aims at reducing the measurement period of historical FULL SAR systems. An historical FULL SAR systems performance avergaes 45 minutes for a single SAR measurement.

"REAL-TIME FULL SAR" is a synthesis of the industrial need. REAL-TIME FULL SAR meets the industrial needs to benefit from a real time measurement on a FULL SAR system. ART-MAN - ART-Fi's REAL-TIME FULL SAR system - is the first system fully compliant with the IEC 62209-3 standard able to perform a SAR measurement in real time, with an untouched precision level. The REAL-TIME FULL SAR system significantly reduces the costs of a measurement.

Human exposure limits

During a communication with a handheld or body-worn wireless device, biological tissues of the user are exposed to electromagnetic field energy. The frequencies used by a mobile phone or other commercial devices, radio frequency power absorbed by human tissues are usually quantified in terms of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR).

Limits of SAR averaged over the whole-body or locally over 1g or 10 g of tissue (peak spatial-average) are established in international exposure guidelines / standards. In order to ensure the protection of public health and safety, national regulators have widely adopted such limits and recognized the use of measurement standards for assessing the peak spatial-average SAR. Measuring a wireless device according to the adequate standard allows demonstrating the compliance with established limits.

Measurement standards specify the use of head and body mannequins or phantoms consisting of plastic shells filled with homogeneous tissue-simulating liquids. Test configurations, phantom shapes and dielectric properties of the liquids have been designed to ensure a conservative estimate (higher value) of measured SAR compared to the SAR in a person, for a large majority of exposure conditions.

SAR measurement methods

There are two different SAR calculation methods (human body tissue):
- Over 1g
- Over 10g

Example
SAR 10g is used in Europe (IEC) and SAR 1g in the US (FCC). Regions and countries among the world are generally referring to one of those two methods.

France
Please refer here

Illustration of SAR measurement performed with an ART-Fi’s SAR test equipment product

Wireless applications evolutions

Antennas are everywhere around us and 5G is even amplifying the trend. The tendency is leading to a huge multiplication of antennas in our daily life. More than ever, fast and accurate antenna radiation measurement is key.

This is even more strategic today, at a time when Human exposure to EMF is becoming a societal concern.

How to address this strategic topic?

To understand antenna radiations, measurement is key. The more accurate and complete physical informations are, the best understanding of the topic you get.

With regards to Human Exposure to EMF, issue is that 25-years old historical measurement technology is not able to accurately measure the new, complex and challenging radio signals such as 5G.

ADRESS THIS CHALLENGE WITH ART-FI'S TECHNOLOGY

The ART-Fi's patented D-Phase technology is designed to solve this issue. D-Phase is based on an brand-new concept merging hardware and software innovations, exclusively relying on the laws of physics. The law of physics are the most efficient way to address the new radio measurement challenges. The antenna testing market is moving forward and the industry is starting to benefit from this opportunity.

As the founder of the D-Phase technology and after 10 years of investments, ART-Fi furnishes a brand new range of industrial solutions allowing to test up to 100% of the devices directly in the production line.