Full wave simulation of an electrostatic discharge generator discharging in air discharge mode into a product and quantify channel performance utilizing novel time domain convolution method

In the first section, it introduces a methodology to simulate the currents and fields during an air discharge ESD into a product by combining a linear description of the behavior of the DUT with a non-linear arc resistance equation. The most commonly used test standard IEC 61000-4-2 requires using contact mode discharges to metallic surfaces and air discharge mode to non-conducting surfaces. In contact mode, an Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) generator is a linear system. In air discharge mode, a highly non-linear arc is part of the current loop. This paper proposes a method that combines the linear ESD generator full wave model and the non-linear arc model to simulate currents and fields in air discharge mode. Measurements are presented comparing discharge currents and fields for two cases: ESD generator discharges into a ground plane and ESD generator discharges into a small product. In the second section, it presents a novel time domain convolution based methodology to quantify channel performance by calculating difference waveform distortion penalty (dWDP). Instead of using frequency based methodology as indicated in the SFF-8431 standard, the pulse response can be used in convolution to obtain the channel output when a NRZ sequence is transmitted through a channel. However, the proposed method utilizing the step response can significantly reduce the convolution time --Abstract, page iii