ESD characteristics of a three body system including a ground plane

Capacitance coefficients are measured for a system of three conductors positioned above a horizontal ground plane. The system is used to model the approach of a charged floating conductor (the human body) to a two-conductor system (the electronic system under test) in which either both conductors are floating or one is grounded. Body potentials and energies are calculated for various source/sink geometries and ground plane separations; both primary and secondary discharge conditions are analyzed. The results, based on the measurement of system capacitance coefficients, provide a better understanding of the basic ESD (electrostatic discharge) characteristics of the three-body problem. The information can be applied in the design of electronic systems and is of use in the simulation and analysis of the ESD event.<>