Enhancing Today’s ESD-Control Efforts

No longer is a workstation monitor considered a gadget but rather an essential component of ESD management. That statement by Vladimir Kraz, president of Credence Technologies, could just as easily refer to any other static-control product on the market today.

ï¿½The increased sensitivity of todayï¿½s electronic components modifies the financial model of justification,ï¿½ said Mr. Kraz. ï¿½With manufacturers demanding tighter control over ESD and the lower damage-threshold of components, no single ESD parameter can be left unknown.ï¿½

But even with more attention on the importance of ESD-control products, according to Bill Pellegrin, division training manager at 3M, the pressure still exists to keep costs down. The ESD industry now is becoming more aware of the financial benefits of an effective static-control process. ï¿½ANSI/ESD S20.20 along with the IEC standards are helping drive companies toward ESD compliance. For example, OEMs are pushing their EMS providers to adopt S20.20 and have their facilities certified.ï¿½

Several other ESD-control companies agreed with Mr. Pellegrin about influence of the ESD standards. Perhaps the thoughts of the industry were best summed up by Mr. Kraz: ï¿½ESD standards such as S20.20 and others increase awareness of the manufacturers who never used ESD protection before but are forced to implement it now. They also bring some ï¿½orderï¿½ into management of the ESD environment.ï¿½

Whether itï¿½s more complex technology, the economy, or more effective standards, the resulting awareness continues to create demand for ESD-control products. This yearï¿½s ESD Product Showcase features many new product developments. To obtain more information on the products that follow, enter the rsleads URL at the end of each product description.

Personnel Grounding Verification

The Smartlogï¿½ Data Acquisition System automatically logs ESD results from wrist-strap and foot-grounder tests. Thirty-two units may be linked at a time to one computer, and data can be retrieved at selectable time intervals. Auto archiving and network data posting are standard. The grounding-verification system features advanced password protection and comes in models with a magstripe and scanner or a proximity reader. Accessories include a hand-held scanner and employee cards.
Desco EMIT, www.rsleads.com/405ee-194ESD Protection Arrays

The CSPESD301/302/303 family of one-, two-, and three-channel ESD protection arrays integrates two, three, and four identical avalanche-style diodes. One of these diodes connects to ground, and the other diodes provide ESD protection for up to three lines depending upon configuration. Back-to-back diode connections provide ESD protection for nodes with AC signals up to 5.9-V peak. The CSPESD301/302/303 dissipate ESD strikes of ï¿½15 kV, protect against contact discharges >ï¿½30 kV, and come in a low-profile, chip-scale package with an optional lead-free finish. California Micro Devices, www.rsleads.com/405ee-192Ergonomic Chairs

Virtually every part of an MM Series Chair has a static drain route to the floor or a floor mat. The static-control features include upholstery, optional armrests grounded through the arm bracket, a spring-loaded assembly that ensures continuity through the pneumatic mechanism, a seat-and-backrest support bracket providing metal-to-metal conductive contact, conductive covering on the seat bottom, conductive glides or casters, and a drag chain to ensure floor contact. The chairs feature a taller and wider backrest (19″ ï¿½ 18″) plus a wider and deeper seat (21″ ï¿½ 19″ ï¿½ 3″) with four-way contouring and a waterfall front. The backrest conforms to the natural curves of the spine.
BioFit Engineered Products, www.rsleads.com/405ee-191Ionizer Controller

The microprocessor-controlled CTC037 Equilibrion^ï¿½ Ionizer Controller maintains the balance of an ionizer within ï¿½1 V and integrates seamlessly with most single- or multiple-fan DC ionizers equipped with a BNC or RJ11 control jack. Built-in indication of balance and decay allows the unit to monitor ionization performance even if the ionizer does not have control capability. The matchbox-sized controller is powered by the ionizer, fits on a workbench or inside a tool, and does not require any additional antennae or control unit. Credence Technologies, www.rsleads.com/405ee-193Production Turntable

Turntables with surface resistivity of 5 ï¿½ 10⁶ W⁷ W assist in handling heavy, awkward objects. The turntables have a ï¿½” profile and are equipped with a precision bearing assembly to facilitate rotation. The base is conductive plastic, and the top surface is a rubberized conductive material to keep the work from slipping. The turntables come in three sizes (12″, 15″ and 20″ dia), each capable of holding up to 200 lb. Fancort PC Products Division, www.rsleads.com/405ee-196 and volume resistivity of 1 ï¿½ 10Workbench and Accessories

A workstation package features an IAC workbench equipped with several accessories to meet ANSI/ESD S20.20 recommendations. The 30″ ï¿½ 60″ bench has an adjustable height of 32″ to 36″, a drawer, an electrical strip, a footrest shelf, and Micastat dissipative laminate on both the bench and the instrument shelf. Other accessories include a Statfree dissipative rubber worksurface mat, a dual-operation continuous monitor, an overhead ionizer with lights and a heater, two Jewel wrist straps, a Statfree conductive vinyl floor mat, an ESD-control ID sign, grounds and ground cords, and a dissipative trash receptacle. ESD Systems.com, www.rsleads.com/405ee-195Styrenic Alloy

HMS-1000C is conductive sheeting with high-structure carbon powder incorporated into the styrenic alloy matrix, making it conductive in three dimensions. Because of the thermodynamics of polymeric materials, the outside surface has a conductive property of approximately 1 MW/sq. The skin of the plastic cools faster so it is more stressed than the core of the sheet. The inner core material cools slower which results in the inner core being the most conductive part of the sheet.
HMS Compounds, www.rsleads.com/405ee-197Static-Dissipative Compound

PRE-ELEC ESD 6110, an HIPS-based compound formulated into co-extruded sheeting, is used in thermoformed packaging applications. This inherently dissipative polymer material is colorable, washable, reusable, recyclable, low outgassing, and permanently dissipative even in low humidity (12%). Products made with the thermoformable sheet have a surface resistance between 1 ï¿½ 10⁸ and 5 ï¿½ 10⁹ W and a charge decay time of <2 s from 5,000 V to 50 V. Premix Thermoplastics, www.rsleads.com/405ee-201 Conductive Materials

New flexible, very light gray, uniformly conductive nonwoven materials possess surface resistivities as high as 10⁶ W/sq. The materials do not contain carbon or metal. The more highly resistive versions are suitable for static-dissipative laminates and static-control applications where abrasion is a concern. The materials range in thickness from 0.4 mm to 0.7 mm and are available in 5-ft-wide rolls of varying lengths and resistances.
Marktek,
www.rsleads.com/405ee-199

Ionizer Controller

The Series 3350 Ionizer Controller features digital output communications plus multiple digital I/O and auxiliary communications ports to report all alarm conditions directly to the companyï¿½s Process Environment Monitoring System (PEMS). It controls one, two, or three fans with the addition of the antenna assembly and can be powered by the ionizer it is interfaced to or an optional external power supply. This instrument addresses ionizer applications needing real-time closed-loop monitoring and control and provides balance control to better than ï¿½1 V, address identification, and programmable alarm-level setpoints.Novx, www.rsleads.com/405ee-200 Cleaner and Disinfectant

Ohm-Cide^ï¿½ cleans hard and soft ESD-control surfaces including floors, rubber and PVC mats, walls, tables, computers, telephones, and computer screens in manufacturing plants, clean rooms, pharmaceutical plants, hospitals, telecommunications centers, transportation terminals, and quality-control areas. Resistivity is 10⁴ to 10⁸ W/sq. The cleaner also works as a detergent, mildewstat, fungicide, disinfectant, sanitizer, virucide, and deodorizer.
Static Solutions,
www.rsleads.com/405ee-205

Walking Test Kit

The WT5000 Walking Test Kit allows a person to perform a voltage measurement of floor materials and footwear according to IEC 61340-4-5/CDV. The central instrument in the kit is a stand-alone electrometer with a test range of ï¿½5,000 V, input impedance of >10¹⁴ W, and accuracy of 5% of the measured value. The kit also includes an analog-to-digital converter with software, rechargeable batteries, a power supply, a hand-held electrode, connecting cables, and a conductive carrying case.
Wolfgang Warmbier,
http://www.rsleads.com/405ee-208

Cellulose Tape

Wescorp Cellulose Low-Charging Antistatic Tape is designed for container sealing, closing static-shielding bags, masking, conformal coating, holding DIP tubes, and general-purpose third-hand use. The tape will not damage ESD-sensitive components in manufacturing. It is available in clear, clear with ESD symbols, red, blue, and yellow with ESD symbols in widths from ï¿½” to 2″. Protective Pak,
www.rsleads.com/405ee-202Multilayer VaristorsThe low-capacitance USB Series Varistors protect high-speed data lines against ESD transients. The bidirectional ceramic semiconductor devices with nonlinear voltage-current characteristics are made of conductive ZnO grains surrounded by electrically insulating barriers. Response time is <1 ns. They meet IEC 61000-4-2 15-kV (air) and 8-kV (contact) testing criteria. AVX, www.rsleads.com/405ee-190 Mat and Tabletop Wipes

Premoistened, disposable wipes have been designed to clean and restore ESD-control mats and workstations. They do not leave a film and remove flux oil, finger marks, surface grease, nicotine, dirt, grime, and inorganic contaminants.
ACL Staticideï¿½,
www.rsleads.com/405ee-232

Static Monitors

Two monitors ground workers and record ESD events in real time, supplying documentation for compliance with ISO 9000 and ANSI/ESD S20.20 and data for tracking operator efficiency and product reliability. The 791W Voltage Wrist Strap Monitor accommodates two dual-conductor wrist straps that plug into two separate remotes. It provides simultaneous, continuous monitoring of two operators by comparing the voltage on them to one of four selected internal voltage levels. The 791E Equipment Ground Monitor has three channels to continuously measure the ground connections of manufacturing equipment and ESD worksurfaces. It monitors 1-W to 35-MW resistance. 3M Electronic and Interconnect Solutions Division, www.rsleads.com/405ee-206 Ion Balance Controller

The PM1180 controls the performance of air ionization systems used in critical operations such as hard disk drive and semiconductor manufacturing processes. It maintains ion balance at the worksurface to <ï¿½1 V with ï¿½2% accuracy. Plate capacitance is adjustable from 5 pF to 45 pF. The PM1180 has a noncharge-retaining enclosure and interfaces with many facility monitoring systems.
Trek,
www.rsleads.com/405ee-207

Clean-Room Ionizers

Centurion DC Ionizers use corona ion technology to eliminate static charges in clean-room work areas. The ionizers come in single-fan, two-fan, and three-fan models and feature a fan-speed control to adjust the amount of air delivered to the worksurface. The patent-pending ion emitter design maintains ï¿½3-V ion balance performance using eight emitters and a unique geometry. A built-in monitoring system assures compliant performance. External monitor/control capability interfaces are optional. Simco, www.rsleads.com/405ee-204 ESD and Latch-Up Simulator

The KeyTek ZapMASTERï¿½ Mk.2 ESD and Latch-Up Test System can be configured for testing up to 768 pins and is compatible with all test fixtures up to 256 pins and all Verifier DUT boards up to 512 pins. Software patterned on the KeyTek Paragon Windows-based program helps set up tests quickly and minimizes programmer training. An embedded VME controller handles a large amount of test program and results data.
Thermo Electron,
www.rsleads.com/405ee-233

Floor TilesLow-outgassing flooring available in Conductile^ï¿½ and Statmateï¿½ solid vinyl tile does not require special treatment or waxes to maintain appearance or conductive and dissipative properties and resists acids, alkalis, and other harsh solvents and chemicals. The tiles keep voltages on personnel <30 V and endure loads of up to 2,500 psi. They are manufactured in 0.125" and 0.080" thicknesses with Micro-Squaredï¿½ edges and come in 17 colors including safety colors of red, yellow, and blue, which meet OSHA standard 1910.144. Custom color matching also is available. VPI, www.rsleads.com/405ee-234 Ceramic Bonding Tools

A line of CERASTATï¿½ bonding tools is available in zirconia- or alumina/zirconia-based materials with matte or polish finish. Resistance can range from 10⁴ to 10⁶ W or 10⁷ to 10⁹ W. Features include 0.437″ and 0.829″ lengths; seven-, nine-, 12-, or 15-point single or cross-groove tip configurations; and tip diameters of 1/16″, 3/32″, and 1/8″.
Saint-Gobain Ceramics,
www.rsleads.com/405ee-203

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Published by EE-Evaluation Engineering

All contents ï¿½ 2004 Nelson Publishing Inc.
No reprint, distribution, or reuse in any medium is permitted
without the express written consent of the publisher.

May 2004

Enhancing Today’s ESD-Control Efforts

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