As power conversion systems evolve to leverage higher voltages and wide bandgap semiconductors like silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), system designers face new challenges in managing the electromagnetic interference (EMI) frequency landscape.

To understand what an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter is, and what it does, we need to first know what EMI is and why it needs to be filtered.

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Since a lot of electronic component manufacturers are now focusing production efforts on high-volume commodity applications, as their specialty component production equipment ages, many companies are electing to divest in this type of production.

In an AC/DC converter, power factor correction (PFC) circuits are required to ensure the input current is in phase with and proportional to the input voltage, improving power quality and efficiency. But the high-frequency switching that occurs in the PFC circuit can generate significant electromagnetic interference (EMI).