ESD Systems - Questions And Answers

Can a latent failure occur on a VN10KM MOSFET which was subjected to a slight degradation of ESD in the shop floor during normal production process? If so let me know on the failure mode and the simulation technique for the same on a brand new sample. - Anonymous, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Yes, MOSFET are extremely sensitive to ESD. You need to get the specific sensitivity range from the manufacture of the device. If the MOSFET is subjected to an ESD event, there is a chance that latent or catastrophic damage will occur, depending on the devices ESD sensitivity level. The standards for testing and simulation ESD sensitivities for electronic devices are: ESD STM5.1-1998 Human Body Model (HBM) - Component Level STM Device & Program classification, Device sensitivity testing ANSI/ESD S5.2-1994 ESD DS5.2-1996 Machine Model (MM) - Component Level STM Device & Program classification, Device sensitivity testing ESD DS5.3.1-1996 Charged Device Model (CDM), Non-Socketed Mode, Component Level STM Device & Program classification, Device sensitivity testing There are test labs that can perform failure analysis on your devices too such as M/A-COM in Lowell, MA and IBM in Essex Junction, VT.

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