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Device ESD Sensitivity Testing

December 11th, 2019 No comments

Introduction

Semiconductor devices are susceptible to static discharges to varying degrees. These devices have been becoming more sensitive to Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) since the mid 1990’s. The ESD Association (ESDA) has published a Roadmap for semiconductor devices. Figure 1 shows the ESD sensitivity trend for Human Body Model (HBM) sensitive devices. The ESDA roadmap also contains trends for Charged Device Model (CDM). Read more…

The Case for using Dew Point for Testing ESD Control Materials

June 17th, 2014 No comments

All ESD Association (ESDA) standards that are used to evaluate the properties of ESD controlled materials require testing under defined temperature and relative humidity conditions. Although the exact values vary by standards document the typical environmental conditions are:

• Low Relative Humidity – 12% ± 3% RH and 230 C ± 30C

• Moderate Relative Humidity – 50% ± 5% and 230 C ± 30C

Read more…

ESD Control Materials and Electrical Safety Hazards

June 17th, 2014 No comments

For many years companies, that handle electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitive products, have asked if it is safe to connect their employees to ground when they are working with powered equipment.

The answer to this question is not a simple “yes” or “no”. The grounding methods required by ESD Control Programs such as ANSI/ESD S20.20 and IEC 61340-5-1 often conflict with the requirements for protecting personnel from hazardous electrical currents in some operations. Read more…

Compliance Verification Measurements for ESD Worksurfaces

April 14th, 2014 No comments

Here is a some guidelines on how to be in compliance for verification measurements for ESD Works surfaces.

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What is ESD Class Zero?

April 14th, 2014 No comments

What should you do when your customer tells you that their new product contains “Class Zero” parts? The wrong thing to do is panic. The right thing to do is ask a series of questions that will help to clarify the issue and assist in developing a course of action – if one is even needed. However, before we start asking questions let’s discuss the meaning of “Class Zero”. Read more…

Compliance Verification Training for Garment Resistance Point to Point

February 12th, 2014 No comments

ANSI/ESD S20.20 requires that the ESD controls used in a compliant program be periodically verified;

  • Frequency of verification is determined by the user
  • The technical limits for most items are defined in the various tables of the standard

The ESDA Technical Report-ESD TR53-01-06 Compliance Verification of ESD Protective Equipment and Materials describes each of the required compliance verification methods which can be reduced to (6) basic procedures. This article described the procedure for Garment Resistance Point to Point. Read more…

Compliance Verification Training for Resistance to Ground

February 12th, 2014 No comments

ANSI/ESD S20.20 requires that the ESD controls used in a compliant program be periodically verified;

  • Frequency of verification is determined by the user
  • The technical limits for most items are defined in the various tables of the standard

The ESDA Technical Report-ESD TR53-01-06 Compliance Verification of ESD Protective Equipment and Materials describes each of the required compliance verification methods which can be reduced to (6) basic procedures. This article described the procedure for Resistance to Ground. Read more…