The ESD Handbook

12ESD Digital Design

12.1 Fundamental Concepts of ESD Design

Fundamental concepts and objectives exist in the electrostatic discharge (ESD) design of semiconductor devices, circuits, and systems [1–73]. A key question to ask about ESD design is the following:

• What is it that makes ESD design unique?
• How is it distinct from standard circuit design practices?

Another way of stating this is: How are ESD design practices different from all other design practices?

The first design objective is to prevent any physical element in the system from latent or permanent damage that impacts the functionality, reliability, or quality from ESD events. A corollary to this is to prevent latent or permanent damage below a desired current or voltage magnitude. This is the first objective of ESD design.

12.2 Concepts of ESD Digital Design

What else makes “ESD design” unique? Here are some of the distinctions and differences:

• Device Response to External Events: Design of devices and circuits to respond to (and not to respond to) unique current waveforms (e.g. current magnitude and time constants) associated with external environments.
• Alternate Current Loops: Establishment of alternative current loops or current paths which activate during high current or voltage events.
• Switches: Establishment of “switches” that initiate during high current or voltage events.
• Decoupling of Current Paths: Decoupling of sensitive current paths.
• Decoupling of Feedback Loops: De-couple of loops that initiate ...