Esd Testing And Protection

By Author: Glane Harris
Total Articles: 1
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Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) is a rapid transfer of electrostatic (unwanted) charge between two objects. It can major and minor problems such as damage electronic component, equipment failure, system breakdown and other safety hazards to human or machines in contact which can result in major loss of physical damage to human and machines as well as a huge amount of money. Some of the major causes of ESD are Static Electricity which is often generated by tribocharging and Electrostatic Induction.

The best to prevent such damages to human and machines is to test the ESDs of the electronic parts rather than preventing them. For testing the pushover of electronic parts from human communion, an ESD Simulator with the special output circuit, called as the Human Body Model is used. These ESD Testing devices otherwise known as the HBM are made up of a series of capacitors and a resistor. Ground rules and specifications are provided for the test cell geometries, generator specifications, test levels, discharge rate and waveform, types and points of discharge on the "victim" product, and functional guidelinesfor ESD Testing devices.

ESD ...
... testing is generally done in two ways. One is known as the MIL-STD-883 Method and the other is known as the IC-121. In the first method the packages of each pin is made different from other and the equipment is classified by its lowest failure voltage. This method is generally used in packaging and handling of ICs. The IC-121 ESD testing varies from the previous method in the value of its capacitance and resistance. Both the ESD testing methods are complimentary to each other and you can choose any of the two.

Even if the ESD testing devices pass the equipment its always advisable to have the preventions from the electrostatic charge. The easiest and static way to prevent human damage is to use personnel wear wrist straps. However an effective workstation ESD monitor will help you diagnose the issue at various locations in your workstation. Since ESD generally happens to electronic circuits its always advisable to include a ESD protecting device in the circuit. Also the use of anti-static packaging bags to protect the circuit boards is now considered one of the best way to prevent the boards from getting mucked up.

For more information about ESD testing kindly visit http://equip-test.com/