Fast Fourier transform analysis of published ESD waveforms and narrowband frequency domain measurement of human ESD events

This work describes two case studies including (a) two exponential ESD waveforms and (b) two well known ESD waveforms specified in the IEC 801-2 1984 and IEC 801-2 1991 now renamed IEC 1000-4-2 using the Fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis, as well as experimental results of narrowband frequency domain measurement of human ESD events. Spectral components of human ESD measured by spectrum analyzer are analyzed in the frequency domain from 1 MHZ to 1 GHz. Analytical results show that ESD spectral components do not always increase directly with discharge voltage and that current slew rate is not sufficient to accurately predict failure caused by ESD, and also that narrowband frequency domain measurement can reveal discrepancies in ESD events that the time domain measurements can not.