ESD Systems - Questions And Answers

To measure current or calculate energy level of a discharge spark between 2 test electrodes, a high speed oscilloscope is needed (as referred to in one of your white papers titled "Discharge Times"). How high does the scope need to be set for a capacitor-stored energy level in the 100 mJ or higher range? Is 500 kHz fast enough to give accurate readings? - Abdallah, Queen Creek, AZ Answer

The response between two metal electrodes closely approximates the Charge Device Model (CDM), which has discharge rise times less than 200 ps. To accurately see this response as an electromagnetic pulse received on a dipole antenna attached to the input of your high speed oscilloscope, you would need at least 2 times the signal response or a 10 GHz scope.

Related Categories: