The Esd Control Program Handbook

Modern ESD standards require the user to define their own ESD control program according to the needs of their facility and the components they handle. The user must have a good understanding of how static electricity works and can lead to electrostatic discharges occurring, in order to develop and maintain a successful ESD control program. This book gives the knowledge and background needed to do this. It is likely to be read by technicians and engineers working in electronic system manufacturing processes, QA or related activities. They will usually have little or no knowledge of ESD control and will often have been tasked to take care of ESD control alongside their main job function in the company. The book presents a brief history of ESD control in electronics manufacture, and describes static electricity and ESD principles such as triboelectrification, electrostatic fields and induced voltages. There is a section on how to avoid ESD. This understanding is particularly important, for example, in automated systems and handling very sensitive devices, when application of standard ESD measures “by rote” is not sufficient. Readers must have the understanding to track down and recognize how ESD risks are arising in these situations, and be able to identify the most appropriate means of reducing or removing these risks. The next chapter is on ESD sensitive devices (ESDS), including susceptibility tests and on-chip protection and trends. The middle chapters discuss the seven habits of a highly effective ESD program. It demonstrates how to handle ESD sensitive components within an ESD Protected Area (EPA), protect devices outside the EPA using ESD packaging, and check and test to make sure everything’s working. The book also covers: automated systems; handling unusually sensitive components; clean manufacturing areas; common ESD program measurements; auditing and evaluating the ESD control program; and ESD control standards IEC61340-5-1 and ESD S20:20, including the key requirements of the standards and how to tailor the requirements of the ESD program.

Jeremy Smallwood, Electrostatic Solutions Ltd, UK
Jeremy spent 7 years as an electronics designer before changing direction to do a PhD researching measurement of electrostatic discharge (ESD) ignition sensitivity of pyrotechnic materials. He later worked at ERA Technology Ltd. on electrostatics R&D projects and consultancy. In 1998 he started Electrostatic Solutions Ltd, specialising in training, consultancy, test and R&D for the electronics industry, electrostatic hazards avoidance, and electrostatic materials, test and measurement and applications development. Jeremy has over 40 publications in the fields of electrostatics, ESD ignition hazards and ESD prevention. He contributes to British Standards panels on handling of?electrostatic sensitive devices and control of undesirable static electricity. Between 2000 and 2012 he was Chairman of International Electrotechnical Commission Technical Committee 101 (Electrostatics) responsible for world standards in electrostatics and ESD control for the electronics industry. He is a UK expert working on the IEC project team developing the 61340-5-1 standard for ESD control.