System Level ESD/EMI: Testing to IEC and Other Standards

This tutorial is intended to help those tasked with testing products to IEC and other system level ESD standards by providing detailed information on IEC 61000-4-2, the most widely used standard, and highlighting the harmonization and differences between IEC, ANSI, Telcordia, and some automotive ESD standards. We will answer common questions regarding test setups, test points and procedures. Key issues will be addressed, including

• Differences between “verification” and “calibration” and when is each required, the influence of ESDA WG14.1 (TR) on IEC and how it affects the calibration and verification procedures

• Test set-up requirements, the test environment, ground connections and return paths and ground plane effects

• Testing procedures with demonstration on actual products, how the tester affects test results, problems with test result variations due to simulator influences

• What points need to be tested and why, guidance on determining "operator accessible" points and ports, exempted points and ports and what to do around connectors and connector pins

• ANSI and other ESD Standards, the drive toward harmonization with IEC, why standards will probably never be the same as IEC, the scope of different standards. The system level ESD tutorial will cover several facets of ESD as applied to electronic systems

It is recommended that those attending this tutorial section have at least one year of a college level electronic circuits course. Knowledge of common circuit analysis techniques will be assumed.