Meaning
The rate at which radio frequency energy is absorbed by human tissue during the use of a wireless transmitter provides a metric for assessing user safety. This parameter, known as rf exposure sar, is measured in watts per kilogram and is subject to strict regulatory limits for body-worn and head-adjacent devices. It is calculated by averaging the absorbed power over a specific mass of tissue, typically one gram or ten grams.
Certification of mobile phones and wireless wearables requires demonstrating that the device operates below these safety thresholds.
Compliance Limit
Regulators such as the Federal Communications Commission enforce maximum allowable exposure limits for consumer wireless devices. To achieve compliance for rf exposure sar, devices must operate below the specified limit under worst-case exposure conditions. This testing is crucial for devices that are used within twenty centimeters of the body.
Evaluation Method
Laboratory measurements utilize a simulated human model filled with tissue-equivalent liquid and an automated probe to scan the electric field strength.
Device Optimization
Reducing the transmitted power or relocating the antenna away from the user housing are common strategies for meeting safety standards. In these designs, managing rf exposure sar involves implementing proximity sensors that dynamically reduce transmit power when the device is close to human skin.