Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) & Electrical Overstress (EOS) Resources

Please click to visit the Applied Electromagnetic Technology (AET) website

Electrostatic discharge is a primary concern for electronic assemblies from the integrated circuit level right up to the end product. Much science and engineering has gone into developing protection circuitry and handling techniques to reduce the likelihood of damage by ESD. A vital aspect of electrostatic discharge susceptibility is related to  shielding of the microcircuits that have increasingly small gate widths and dielectric thicknesses. Huge amounts of resources have been invested in mitigating the effects of ESD. One part of the solution is to adequately shied the circuitry that does not have direct exposure to the outside world. Part of the qualification for ESD ruggedness of a final product is to zap (that's actually a technical term) the chassis in multiple locations to be sure there are no breaches in shielding that will permit a discharge path inside.

Please see the EMC / EMI / RFI Resources page for more related links.

Battling a BattleBot ESD Issue

Amateur Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) & Electrical Overstress (EOS) Books

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) & Electrical Overstress (EOS) Manufacturers & Services

Basic Concepts in Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
401-433-7000 / Rhode Island

Article from Reade Advanced Materials.

Boedeker Plastics, Inc
800-444-3485 / Shiner, TX

Anti-Static and Conductive Plastics.

Botron Inc
888-257-3680 / Phoenix, AZ

ESD products manufacturer.

Electrostatic Discharge Association
315-339-6937 / Rome, NY

A professional voluntary association dedicated to advancing the theory and practice of electrostatic discharge (ESD) avoidance.

Electrostatics Society of America

A nonprofit professional society founded in 1970 that is devoted to the advancement and improved understanding of electrostatics. Publishes the Journal of Electrostatics.

ESD Journal

Online magazine featuring current news, articles, papers, and links related to ESD.

ESD plastics.com
408-778-5038 / Morgan Hill, CA

Provides product information links, articles on conductive plastics, ESD testing and processing as well as networking opportunities with other members and top suppliers in the ESD plastics industry.

ESD Prevention Procedures

Tech notes from the National Weather Service.

Failure Analysis Techniques for Semiconductors and Other Devices

From RF Design Magazine, by V. Lakshminarayanan.

HBM Issues

ESD Open Forum from Conformity.

Human Body Model (HBM) Testing Standard

This method establishes a standard procedure for testing and classifying microcircuits according to their susceptibility to damage or degradation by exposure to a defined electrostatic Human Body Model (HBM) discharge (ESD).

Journal of Electrostatics

The goal of the Journal of Electrostatics is the dissemination of knowledge relating to static electricity. The Journal addresses the interests of physicists, chemists, biologists, electrical, and aeronautical engineers, as well as those working in biotechnology, nanotechnology, and meteorology.

Machine Model (MM) Testing Standard

This method establishes a standard procedure for testing and classifying microcircuits according to their susceptibility to damage or degradation by exposure to a defined Machine Model (MM) electrostatic discharge (ESD).

National Association of Radio & Telecommunications Engineers (NARTE)
800-89-NARTE / Medway, MA

Worldwide, non-profit, professional telecommunications association which certifies qualified engineers and technicians in the fields of Telecommunications, Electromagnetic Compatibilty/Interference (EMC/EMI), Product Safety (PS), Electrostatic Discharge control (ESD) and Wireless Systems Installation.

Shocking Shampoo Bottle

This article describes the physics and solutions to a severe consumer relations problem, from ESD Journal, by Dave Swenson - 3M, reprinted from the EOS/ESD Symposium 1997 proceedings.

Silicon Valley EOS/ESD Society
888-436-7373 / Sunnyvale, CA

Dedicated to understanding and improving ESD (Electro-Static Discharge) protection procedures. Our Education Committee organizes Tutorials periodically to present scientific, technical and ESD educational materials to those working in the semiconductor, electronic, magnetic recording & other related areas.