NAME: RAHUL ANAND K M

CLASS: ECE B
REG NO: 963321106076
SUBJECT: ELECTROMAGNETIC FILEDS
SUBJECT CODE: EC3452
TITLE: CASE STUDY ON ELECTROSTATIC
DISCHARGE
Aim:
To analyse the characteristics of Electrostatic Discharge and impact of
Electrostatic Discharge to the performance of equipment.

Objectives:
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is the release of static electricity when two objects come
into contact. Familiar examples of ESD include the shock we receive when we walk
across a carpet and touch a metal doorknob and the static electricity we feel after
drying clothes in a clothes dryer.

Sources of ESD:
1. Placing static sensitive components on work surfaces that are not ESD-safe.
2. Waxed surfaces or those made from plastic.
3. Waxed floors, vinyl tiled floors.
4. Using plastic bags for storing devices.
5. Using packaging materials that have lost their anti-static properties over
time.
Characteristics of ESD:
ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) is a sudden and momentary electric current that
flows between two objects at different electrical potentials caused by direct
contact or induced by an electrostatic field. ESD can occur when two objects
with different electrical charges come into contact or when there is a buildup of
static electricity on an object.
The characteristics of ESD include its high voltage, short duration, and rapid rise
time. The voltage levels associated with ESD can range from a few hundred volts
to several thousand volts, and the discharge can occur in less than a
nanosecond. The discharge current can also be very high, reaching several
amperes.
Impact of ESD:
ESD can have a significant impact on electronic devices. There are two
categories of damage that can occur from ESD: catastrophic damage and latent
damage. Catastrophic damage occurs when the electronic device is rendered
inoperable immediately after the ESD event, while latent damage occurs when
the device appears to be working fine following the ESD event but its sensitive
circuitry has been damaged and could fail to operate properly at some time in
the future.
Catastrophic Damage:
Catastrophic damage is a type of damage that can occur to electronic devices as a
result of electrostatic discharge (ESD). It refers to a situation where the electronic
device is rendered inoperable immediately after the ESD event. This type of damage
can occur when a semiconductor junction or a connecting metallization is damaged by
the electrostatic discharge.

Latent Damage:
Latent damage is a type of damage that can occur to electronic devices as a result of
electrostatic discharge (ESD). It refers to a situation where the electronic device
appears to be working fine following the ESD event, but its sensitive circuitry has been
damaged and could fail to operate properly at some time in the future. This type of
damage can be difficult to detect and may not become apparent until later in the life
of the device.
Occurances of ESD:
ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) can occur when two objects with different electrical
charges come into contact or when there is a buildup of static electricity on an object.
When a statically-charged person or object touches an electrostatic discharge sensitive
(ESDS) device, there is a possibility that the electrostatic charge could be drained
through sensitive circuitry in the device. If the electrostatic discharge possesses
sufficient energy, damage could occur in the device due to localized overheating.
Generally, devices with finer geometries are more susceptible to damage from ESD.
The modes in which ESD damage occurs are:
(a) Discharge to the device
(b) Discharge from the device
(c) Field-induced discharge.
How to analyse ESD:
ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) is commonly analyzed
through the use of electrostatic field meters and
audits on the production floor. The electrostatic
field meter is an effective tool for detecting the
presence and magnitude of static charges, but it has
to be calibrated to specific distances from the
measuring plane. Regular audits can help support
an ESD program and identify areas that need
improvement. Education and training on ESD
preventive measures is also valuable for preventing
ESD damage. Common sources of static electricity
should be identified and controlled, and ESDS
devices should be handled at static-safe
workstations, contained in static protective bags or
containers during storage and transportation, and
classified according to their ESD sensitivity. It is also
important to use antistatic wrist-straps or air
ionizers and apply topical antistats when handling
insulative materials at a static-safe workstation.
Prevention:
Preventing ESD is crucial to protect electronic devices from damage. Here are some
guidelines on how to prevent ESD:
1. Use static-safe workbenches and other equipment designed to prevent ESD.
2. Avoid bringing sources of static electricity within 1 meter of a static-safe
workbench.
3. Use special models of air guns that do not generate static charges in the air
stream.
4. Discharge any accumulated charge on the body of the human operator before
opening the protective container with ESDS devices inside by putting a hand on a
grounded surface or wearing a grounded antistatic wrist-strap.
5. Wear an antistatic smock when working with electronic components.
6. Educate and train workers on ESD preventive measures.
7. Conduct regular audits to support an ESD program.
REFERENCE:
ANSI/ESD S20.20
“ESD Association Standard for the Development of an Electrostatic Discharge
Control Program”
ESD STM5.1-2001
“Electrostatic Discharge Sensitivity Testing -- Human Body Model (HBM)
Component Level”
MIL-HDBK-263
“Electrostatic Discharge Control Handbook for Protection of Electrical and
Electronic Parts, Assemblies and Equipment (excluding electrically-initiated
explosive devices)”

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