Made for iPhone (MFi) developers now have a streamlined RF safety testing solution.
Software company Ansys announced that it partnered with Apple to develop a cloud-based RF safety testing simulation for MagSafe module developers. The goal of the new solution is to reduce testing costs and accelerate the certification process for Made for iPhone (MFi) accessories.
RF or radio frequency energy is widely used in telecommunications, including cellphone devices. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission sets exposure guidelines limiting the amount of RF emissions acceptable from devices. The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) measures the rate of absorption of RF energy by the body. For cellphones, the limit is 1.6 W/kg SAR.
As software used by device developers to test the SAR for certification can be costly and requires creating physical prototypes of the device, Ansys and Apple sought a quicker, less expensive solution for MagSafe MFi devices. Apple’s MagSafe technology uses specialized magnets inside the iPhones 12 and 13 that enable the devices to work with various chargers and other accessories without interference from non-MagSafe magnets.
According to MagSafe charger and accessory developer Belkin, its MFi products marked as “Made for Magsafe” are optimized for faster charging speeds and convenient snap-on attachments. Such products are developed through Apple’s MFi Program, which provides developers with the technical specifications and resources for creating MagSafe accessories compatible with Apple devices.
Belkin is an example of an MFi developer that can benefit from the new cloud-based, streamlined RF safety certification solution. With its engineering simulation software applied to RF safety for MagSafe products, Ansys aims to help developers design and market safe and reliable products more quickly.
“This is a scalable, cloud-based solution that leverages Ansys’ gold-standard HFSS electromagnetic solver to support developers with streamlined certification for SAR, peak average e-file and magnetic field distribution,” said Shane Emswiler, senior vice president of products at Ansys. “The solution uses a simple, intuitive interface and automation to reduce complexity and speed results, delivering detailed feedback at every step of the process and standards-conforming, SAR certified data reports for FCC and ICN submissions.”
Ansys has several simulation tools that help engineers visualize how their products will function through testing in realistic virtual environments, such as maintaining a specific temperature, vibration challenges or electromagnetic interferences.
In addition to simulation software geared for a wide range of IoT devices, the new RF safety simulation tool for MagSafe MFi products could help solve the time-consuming aspect of creating a physical prototype that could end up failing the safety test. The tool builds on Ansys’ existing HFSS Mesh Fusion technology, allowing developers to select some or all the product’s components to simulate the entire complex system with “gold standard accuracy.”
The streamlined RF safety certification process via simulation is anticipated to help expand the repertoire of products available to Apple device users. Ansys states that its simulation tools offer push-button functionality enabling a simple and intuitive developer experience that enhances the developer experience, reduces cost and time to market.
