New ESD standard and influence on test equipment requirements

The IEC61000-4, series of standards form a basic framework for fire immunity and emissions testing of electrical and electronic equipment. They are lite basis for EN standards used to test CE compliance of electrical and electronic products sold within the European Union. After a period, of relative stability, changes are being introduced, designed to improve reliable application of lite basic standards (and ensure that the same results are obtained no matter where the tests are perforated. Many changes relate to lite calibration procedures for the test equipment. The surge standard, IEC61000-4-5, was revised at Edition 2 to (Intend impulse performance when applied through Coupling Decoupling Networks (CDNs) of varying current ratings. The Electric Fast Transient (EFT) standard, IEC61000-4-4 is also currently being studied with a view to changing the calibration requirements when used with CDNs and the Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) standard IEC61000-4-2, is spearheading lite application of measurement uncertainties and receiving failure criteria. While these changes do not directly influence lite test procedure or methodology, lite test equipment used is being subjected to much lighter scrutiny. ESD phenomenon. is possibly lite most complex EMC event to characterise or model. The IEC has accumulated experience over many years with. ESD and is now updating lite standard to reflect current technology. In lite process of these changes, one aim is to improve the reliability of ESD tests A result of these improvements is an increase in generator calibration and test time.