In this paper a new electromagnetic (EM) interference analysis is proposed using the total harmonic distortion (THD) measurement of the audio signal by the 900 MHz cordless telephones. The cordless telephone network in 900 MHz was built up to be weak in EM interference. 400 and 800 Hz of the sine-wave signal were used in transmitter (TX) system, and the receiver (RX) system was exposed to the EM interference. The THD value varies as the level of the exposed EM interference changes. The model of the cordless telephone also affects the THD value. By using fluctuation of the THD value depending on the amount of the exposure, the threshold value of the interference electric field strength was derived. Based on the derived threshold value of the electric field strength, validity of the regulation value for low power radio devices by CISPR 22 [CLASS B] and FCC is discussed.

We investigated the accuracy of nickel-cadmium (Ni/Cd) battery degradation estimation by measuring the capacity of over 400 used cordless-telephone batteries using a discharge-current-pulse technique. The capacity is calculated from the change in battery voltage after the current pulse is applied, using an equation that we developed. Battery degradation is represented by a percentage of the capacity based on the nominal one. To estimate the accuracy of the degradation estimation, we compare capacity Qe estimated from the current pulse with the capacity Qa measured by discharging the batteries. The Qe estimated from the current pulse was within a range of 20% of error indicated by (Qe-Qa) for 47% of the tested batteries. The Qe of 51% of the batteries, however, was underestimated and exceeded lower limit (-20%) of the error. One reason for the discrepancy could be that the equation is inadequate for estimating the capacity from the current pulse. On the other hand, the capacity Qe of 1% of the batteries was overestimated and exceeded upper limit (+20%) of the error. An internal short is probably the main reason for this.