Radial planar current detection device having an extended frequency range of response

Abstract

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensing apparatus for testing and displaying extremely high frequency discharges. The apparatus incorporates a surface mounted current shunt in the form of a thin foil or film of less than one skin depth thickness at the frequency of interest. This is sandwiched between a coaxial connector base plate and a ground plane mounting plate. The foil or film is symmetrically oriented about the axis of the connector at a central opening in the mounting plate. A discharge path is provided through the opening to the foil and, on the other side, through a small resistor to the central conductor of the coaxial connector which may be connected to a measuring or display apparatus for a complete test system. A calibration unit includes a plurality of sensing devices configured for different cutoff frequencies and levels of discharge pulses.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.