The Low Voltage Electrostatic Discharge on the Contacting Point

A very low voltage electrostatic discharge phenol-menon is analyzed by using a small storage capacitor of 2.2 pF and a small relay. The contact discharge current waveform is analyzed and equivalent parameters such as contact resistance, line inductance and total capacitance, are estimated. By changing the charging voltage of the capacitor, the contact electrostatic discharge is identified as gas-ionization discharge and tunnel current discharge, experimentally. The corrosion effect of the contact electrodes on the electrostatic discharge current and the optical emission are also examined.