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An ESD simulator, also known as an ESD gun, is a handheld unit used to test the immunity of devices to
An ESD simulator, also known as an ESD gun, is a handheld unit used to test the immunity of devices to electrostatic discharge
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a sudden and momentary flow of electric current between two electrically charged objects caused by contact, an electrical short or dielectric breakdown. A buildup of static electricity can be caused by tribochar ...
(ESD). These simulators are used in special electromagnetic compatibility
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is the ability of electrical equipment and systems to function acceptably in their electromagnetic environment, by limiting the unintentional generation, propagation and reception of electromagnetic energy whic ...
(EMC) laboratories. ESD pulses are fast, high-voltage pulses created when two objects with different electrical charges come into close proximity or contact. Recreating them in a test environment helps to verify that the device under test A device under test (DUT), also known as equipment under test (EUT) and unit under test (UUT), is a manufactured product undergoing testing, either at first manufacture or later during its life cycle as part of ongoing functional testing and calibra ...
is immune to static electricity
Static electricity is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material or between materials. The charge remains until it is able to move away by means of an electric current or electrical discharge. Static electricity is n ...
discharges.
ESD testing is necessary to receive a CE mark
On commercial products, the letters CE (as the logo ) mean that the manufacturer or importer affirms the good's conformity with European health, safety, and environmental protection standards. It is not a quality indicator or a certification ...
, and for most suppliers of components for motor vehicles as part of required electromagnetic compatibility
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is the ability of electrical equipment and systems to function acceptably in their electromagnetic environment, by limiting the unintentional generation, propagation and reception of electromagnetic energy whic ...
testing. It is often useful to automate these tests to eliminate the human factor.
There are three distinct test models for electrostatic discharge: human-body, machine, and charged-devices models. The human-body model emulates the action of a human body discharging static electricity, the machine model simulates static discharge from a machine, and the charged-device model simulates the charging and discharging events that occur in production processes and equipment.
Many ESD guns have interchangeable modules containing different discharge Networks or RC Modules (Specific resistance and capacitance
Capacitance is the capability of a material object or device to store electric charge. It is measured by the change in charge in response to a difference in electric potential, expressed as the ratio of those quantities. Commonly recognized a ...
values) to simulate different discharges. These modules typically slide into the handle of the pistol portion of the ESD simulator, much like loading some handguns. They change the characteristics of the waveshape discharged from the pistol and are called out in general standards like IEC 61000-4-2
IEC 61000-4-2 is the International Electrotechnical Commission's immunity standard on electrostatic discharge (ESD). The publication is one of the basic EMC standards of the IEC 61000–4 series. The European equivalent of the standard is called ...
, SAE J113 and industry specific standards like ISO 10605. Resistance is referred to in ohms (Ω), capacitance is referred to in picofarad
The farad (symbol: F) is the unit of electrical capacitance, the ability of a body to store an electrical charge, in the International System of Units (SI). It is named after the English physicist Michael Faraday (1791–1867). In SI base uni ...
(pF or "puff"). The most commonly used discharge network is for IEC 61000-4-2 and ISO 10605, expressed as 150pF/330Ω. There are over 50 combinations of resistance and capacitance depending on the standards and the applicable electronics.
Test standards
Standards that require ESD testing include: * ISO 10605 * Ford EMC * ISO/EN 61000-4-2 needed for the CE mark *IEC 61000-4-2 *ISO TR10605 *MIL-STD-883 *MIL-STD-1512 *GR-78-CORE *RTCA/DO 160References