Simulation for electrostatic discharges

The prime cause of breakdowns in electronic equipment today is still the effect of electrostatic discharges (ESD). The precise and reproducible simulation of such discharges using standardised and internationally recognised procedures is an indispensable tool for improving the quality of an electronic product by identifying potential weak spots during its development, production and/or installation. The requirements for reliable test rigs and the typical discharge waveforms obtained are discussed. Some details of today´s highly specialised test equipment are given to show how closely the various simulation models emulate the conditions met in practice