ESD Stress Tests

ESD stress tests are primarily run to verify and validate the ESD robustness (ger.: ESD-Festigkeit) of protection elements, components and systems. They are typically used for ESD qualification of these devices. Apart from the given discharge model and its field of application, ESD stress tests are also categorized in "1-terminal" and "2-terminal" test methods depending on the number of terminals that are contacted.

TestModelApplicationContact
HBM HBM Protection element, component „2-terminal“
„MM“ „MM“ Protection element, component „2-terminal“
CDM CDM Protection element, component „1-terminal“
SDM CDM Protection element, component „2-terminal“
HMM, IEC, ISO HMM Protection element, component, system „2-terminal“

The test equipment used for ESD stress testing replicates real electrostatic discharges of highly charged objects. Consequently, the electrical stress generated this way is subject to relatively large tolerances (≥10%). For this reason, the accuracy of ESD stress tests is far lower than the accuracy of measurement instruments.