Electrostatic discharge transient and frequency spectrum measurement of gap discharge
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorsVsevolod Ivanov, Steve L. Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrostatic discharge testing system includes a measurement chamber to hold a discharge electrode and a target electrode in separation from each other, a first conductive path to supply an ESD pulse to the discharge electrode, and a second conductive path to receive a discharge pulse from the target electrode. A transmission line, field-coupled to the second conductive path, generates a measurement signal in response to the discharge pulse.
Claims16
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) testing system comprising:
- a measurement chamber to hold a discharge electrode and a target electrode in separation from each other;
- a first conductive path to supply an ESD pulse to the discharge electrode;
- a second conductive path to receive a discharge pulse from the target electrode;
- a transmission line, field-coupled to the second conductive path, to generate a measurement signal in response to the discharge pulse;
- and
- means for varying the separation distance between the discharge electrode and the target electrode;
- wherein the means for varying the separation distance between the discharge electrode and the target electrode can vary the separation distance while the chamber is substantially sealed;
- and
- wherein the means for varying the separation distance between the discharge electrode and the target electrode comprises at least one threaded carrier to hold one of the electrodes, the threaded carrier threaded through a wall of the chamber.
A method of measuring an electrostatic discharge (ESD), the method comprising:
- relatively positioning a discharge electrode and a target electrode in a measurement chamber;
- supplying an ESD pulse to the discharge electrode;
- providing a current path to carry a discharge pulse from the target electrode;
- field-coupling a transmission line to the current path;
- measuring a signal induced on the transmission line by the discharge pulse;
- varying the relative positioning of the discharge electrode and the target electrode;
- supplying a second ESD pulse to the discharge electrode;
- and
- measuring a second signal induced on the transmission line.
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) testing device comprising:
- a substantially sealable measurement chamber;
- a discharge electrode and a target electrode relatively positioned in the chamber;
- means for supplying an ESD pulse to the discharge electrode;
- means for providing a current path to carry a discharge pulse from the target electrode;
- a transmission line field-coupled to the current path;
- means for measuring a signal induced on the transmission line by the discharge pulse;
- means for varying the relative positioning of the discharge and target electrodes;
- means for supplying a second ESD pulse to the discharge electrode;
- and
- means for measuring a second signal induced on the transmission line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.