Integrated circuits and ESD

Integrated circuits
• An integrated circuit, or IC, is small chip that can function as an amplifier,
oscillator, timer, microprocessor, or even computer memory. An IC is a small
wafer, usually made of silicon, that can hold anywhere from hundreds to millions
of transistors, resistors, and capacitors.
• General types of integrated circuits(ICs) include the following:
• Logic Circuits. These ICs are designed using logic gates-that work with binary
input and output (0 or 1). ...
• Comparators. X. ...
• Switching ICs. ...
• Audio amplifiers. ...
• Operational amplifiers. ...
• Timer ICs.
Why are integrated circuits are important?
• Basically and integrated circuit as the name implies, is one (or many) circuit(s)
within a circuit. Because we can include Millions and Billions of transistors into
one Germanium and silicon chip, we can now reduce the size of our electronic
devices.
 POLL
An IC has …………….. size
1.Very large
2.Large
3.Extremely small
4.None of the above
Advantages of IC
• The entire physical size of IC is extremely small than that of discrete
circuit.
• The weight of an IC is very less as compared entire discrete circuits.
• It’s more reliable.
• Because of their smaller size it has lower power consumption.
• It can easily replace but it can hardly be repaired, in case of failure.
• Temperature differences between components of a circuit are small.
• It has suitable for small signal operation.
• The reduction in power consumption is achieved due to extremely
small size of IC.
Disadvantages of IC
• Coils or indicators cannot be fabricated.
• It can be handle only limited amount of power.
• It is difficult to be achieved low temperature coefficient.
• The power dissipation is limited to 10 watts.
• Low noise and high voltage operation are not easily obtained.
• Inductors and transformers are needed connecting to exterior to the semiconductor
chip as it is not possible to fabricate inductor and transformers on the
semiconductor chip surface.
• Inductors cannot be fabricated directly.
 ESD
• Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is the sudden flow of electricity between two
electrically charged objects caused by contact, an electrical short, or dielectric
breakdown. A build up of static electricity can be caused by electrostatic
induction.
• ESD (electrostatic discharge) is defined as the transfer of electric charge, which
takes place when two objects which have been charged to different electric
potentials are brought in contact with one another or when two objects which have
different electric potentials due to static induction are brought in contact .
 POLL

……………. cannot be fabricated on an IC

1.Transistors
2.Diodes
3.Resistors
4.Large inductors and transformers
 ESD
• We experience occurrences of static electricity everyday. For example,
walking along a carpeted floor in a heated room during winter
generates sufficient static electricity to give us a rather shocking
experience when we touch the door knob. While this sudden
discharge of static electricity does not result in any harm to the
human body, it can be very damaging to electronic devices which are
sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD). It is possible for electronic
devices to be damaged by ESD that is imperceptible to the human
body.
 ESD Definition
ESD – Electrostatic Discharge: The transfer of an electrostatic
.

charge between bodies at different electrical potentials.

◼ Alsoreferred to as static electricity

◼ Electrostatic charge is most commonly created by the contact and
separation of two materials.
 Sources of ESD
The following items are examples of materials that
generate and hold electrostatic charge.
◼ Paper, schematics, etc.
◼ Equipment covers ◼ Plastic work travelers
◼ Plastic document ◼ Plastic spray bottles
holders/sheet protectors
◼ Personal items
◼ Plastic pens –Purses
◼ Bubble wrap –Sweaters/jackets
◼ Plastic housings on –Insulated lunch totes
equipment –Combs/brushes
–Lotion bottles
What are the common sources of static electricity?
The following table shows a sample list of sources of static
electricity
What type of Materials are ESD
Sensitive?
ESDS – Electrostatic Discharge Sensitive
Integrated Circuits (DIPs, QFP, BGA, SOT,
etc.)
◼ Crystals and oscillators
◼ Printed Circuit Board Assemblies
◼When in doubt, treat it
as ESDS!
 Common Causes of ESD
◼ Opening a common plastic bag
◼ Removing adhesive tape from a roll or
container

◼ Walkingacross a floor and grabbing the

door knob
◼ Transporting
computer boards or
components around in their trays on non-
ESD carts

◼ Sliding circuit boards on a work bench

 ESD Protection
• The first step in ESD control is to train all personnel who
may come in contact with static sensitive materials

▪Proper use of personal grounding equipment such as heel

grounders or wrist straps
▪ Personnel should understand ESD equipment test
methods and documentation

▪Understanding of other ESD control methods

such as ionization
 ESD Ptrotection
• Any area where unprotected ESD sensitive parts and
assemblies may be handled shall be designated an ESD
Control Area, and must meet the following requirements;
▪All personnel must be grounded and grounding
• equipment must be tested daily
▪All movable carts, racks, etc. are grounded
▪The area is labelled as an ESD control
area, and the boundaries are
• clearly marked
 Why is ESD Important?
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) can damage
sensitive electronic devices, resulting in:
◼ Higher manufacturing costs
◼ Rework
◼ Repair
◼ Scrap

◼ Lower production yields

◼ Unhappy customers
◼ Shorter product life
◼ Reduce product reliability

Estimates of actual cost of ESD damage to the

electronics industry = Billions annually
Electrostatic sensitive device is a component which can be
damaged by common _________
a) Dynamic charges
b) Static charges
c) Electric charges
d) Electronic charges
 Personal Grounding
Wrist Straps and Coil Cords
◼ Wrist Straps ground personnel at
workstations

Heel Grounders
◼ Ground mobile personnel in areas where
there are ESD floors

All Personal Grounding Equipment

Should be Tested or Monitored Daily
◼ Wrist Strap and Footwear Testing
Stations
◼ ESD ground monitoring
 Ionization
Many times, equipment or objects(insulators) are
unable to be grounded in which case air ionizers
should be used.

What is Ionization?
Air Ionizers use a process called "neutralization" to
remove static charge from insulators that cannot be
grounded.

◼ Ionizers produce positively and negatively charged ions

and floods ESD area with Ions.
◼ Ions are charged particles that are present in the air, and as
opposites
attract, charges will be neutralized over time.
ESD Protected Area
ESD protective devices such as an ESD work surface or ESD
wrist straps use very low resistance (0 ohm) to quickly
discharge ESD charge to ground.

a. True
b. b. False
Types of Air Ionizers

◼ Bench Top

◼ Ionizing Nozzles

◼ Air Guns

◼ Overhead Ionizers
Static dissipative materials will allow a charge to be
drained to ground,
A. Rapidly, creating an ESD event
B. Too slowly to be effective for ESD control
C. Only when the relative humidity is below 30 percent
D. In a slow, controlled manner
Most people feel ESD above:

A. 2,000 volts
B. 20.000 volts
C. 20 volts
D. 200 volts