Exar Corporation 48720 Kato Road, Fremont CA, 94538 50-668-707 www.exar.com
SP207E_0_052
0
ESD TOLERANCE
The SP207E Family incorporates rug-
gedized ESD cells on all driver output
and receiver input pins. The ESD struc-
ture is improved over our previous fam-
ily for more rugged applications and
environments sensitive to electro-static
discharges and associated transients. The
improved ESD tolerance is at least +5kV
without damage nor latch-up.
There are different methods of ESD testing
applied:
a)MIL-STD-883,Method3015.7
b)IEC61000-4-2Air-Discharge
c)IEC61000-4-2DirectContact
The Human Body Model has been the
generally accepted ESD testing method
for semiconductors. This method is also
specifiedinMIL-STD-883,Method3015.7
for ESD testing. The premise of this ESD
testisto simulate the human body’spotential
to store electro-static energy and discharge
it to an integrated circuit. The simulation is
performed by using a test model as shown
in Figure 7. This method will test the IC’s
capability to withstand an ESD transient
during normal handling such as in manu-
facturing areas where the ICs tend to be
handled frequently.
The IEC-6000-4-2, formerly IEC80-2, is
generallyusedfortestingESDonequipment
and systems. For system manufacturers,
RC
Device
Under
Test
DC Power
Source
CS
RS
SW1
SW2
theymustguaranteeacertainamountofESD
protection since the system itself is exposed
to the outside environment and human pres-
ence. ThepremisewithIEC6000-4-2isthat
thesystemisrequiredtowithstandanamount
of static electricity when ESD is applied to
points and surfaces of the equipment that
are accessible to personnel during normal
usage. The transceiver IC receives most
of the ESD current when the ESD source
is applied to the connector pins. The test
circuitforIEC6000-4-2isshownonFigure8.
TherearetwomethodswithinIEC6000-4-2,
the Air Discharge method and the Contact
Discharge method.
With the Air Discharge Method, an ESD
voltage is applied to the equipment under
test(EUT)throughair.Thissimulatesan
electrically charged person ready to connect
a cable onto the rear of the system only to
findanunpleasantzapjustbeforetheperson
touches the back panel. The high energy
potential on the person discharges through
an arcing path to the rear panel of the system
before he or she even touches the system.
This energy, whether discharged directly or
throughair,ispredominantlyafunctionofthe
discharge current rather than the discharge
voltage. Variableswithanairdischargesuch
asapproachspeedoftheobjectcarryingthe
ESD potential to the system and humidity
will tend to change the discharge current.
For example, the rise time of the discharge
current varies with the approach speed.
Figure 7. ESD Test Circuit for Human Body Model