SPATIAL LOCATION OF ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE EVENTS WITHIN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT

• Main Author: Oglesbee, Robert A.
• Format: Others
• Published: UKnowledge 2007
• Subjects: Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)|Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)|Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA)|Spatial Location|FCC
• Online Access: http://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_theses/490; http://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1493&context=gradschool_theses

In this thesis, a system to locate an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event within an electronic device has been developed. ESD can cause a device to fail legally required radiated emissions limits as well as disrupt intended operation. The system used a fast oscilloscope with four channels, each channel attached to a high frequency near-field antenna. These antennas were placed at known locations in three dimensional space to measure the fields radiated from the ESD event. A Time-Difference-of-Arrival technique was used to calculate the location of the ESD event. Quick determination of the ESD event location provides developers with a tool that saves them time and money by eliminating the time-consuming and tedious method of general ESD mitigation within a product.