Title: ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE – Understand, Simulate, and Fix ESD Problems. Third Edition
Author: Michel Mardiguian
Publisher: John Wiley, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-470-39704-6

This book has reached its third edition. The first and second editions have been out of print since the year 2000 and only a few lucky readers can benefit from their contents. The third edition, now published by a major publisher, makes the book available to a larger number of readers who will appreciate this methodic step-by-step attack of electrostatic discharge (ESD) problems.
     The book has been defined as “the most thorough and concise treatment of the broad ESD continuum that is available” and, after a careful reading, I cannot disagree; in less than 300 pages the author delivers a trusted coverage of the ESD phenomenon also incorporating recent technological advances that have taken place in recent years in the engineering community.
     As needed, formulas and equivalent circuits help to quantify the values of voltages and currents involved in ESD. At the same time, to help with troubleshooting, many ESD case histories are provided.
     The book is divided into six chapters and eight appendices.
     Chapter 1 is my favorite. It discusses the physics of the discharge phenomenon. It describes ESD starting from its influencing parameters and how humans and furniture play a significant role in determining the electromagnetic characteristics of the ESD waveform.
     Chapter 2 addresses the analysis of the effects of ESD on electronics. It starts with looking at the generation of direct and indirect discharges on electronic components. Then the analysis of the coupling mechanisms of ESD as pulsed into the victim’s circuitry is developed with the aim to identify the response of the victim circuit and the possible types of errors. This is a mandatory previous step. It will be the base of the diagnostic techniques discussed in chapter 4.
     Chapter 3 illustrates the relevant ESD specifications: from IEC 61000-4-2 to MIL STD 1541. In this chapter the author discusses their contents and applicability. A specific paragraph is dedicated to the EIA/JEDEC test methods and to the immunity requirements for space systems and automobile electronics.
     Chapter 4 reviews diagnostics and testing. The industrial experience of the author takes the reader by the hand through three important topics:

1. how the ESD simulators work and how to use and interpret their results
   
2. the fundamentals of ESD test setup and test routine
   
3. the diagnostics’ concepts (such as the Error per Discharge concept and the Forced Crash method) and their use during design and development
   

     Chapter 5 offers a thorough discussion on the design strategies for a robust and reliable ESD immunity. Although not openly declared, the author uses a bottom-up logical approach. He starts by discussing ESD protection at the component level, then passing to the PCB level, up to the internal wiring and mechanical packaging level. The discussion then addresses the ESD protection by box shielding and envelope design, taking into account the presence of the external cables. The paragraph on non-metalized plastic boxes is very factual and useful.
     The last chapter (chapter 6) is a collection of seven ESD case studies. Each one is presented and well conceptualized. Then the solution (the fix of the problem) is presented and discussed.
     Eight appendixes enrich the book. They deal with some very specific and actual ESD related issues such as the ESD protection of chips and microcontrollers, the prediction of ESD damage at the semiconductor junction level, the fatigue phenomenon during repeated ESD testing, as well as examples of SPICE modeling of ESD coupling effects and time-to-frequency domain conversion formulas for single transient ESD waveforms.
     As I mentioned at the beginning, one of the strong points of this book is its conciseness; a few well written sentences, with the help of clear pictures, are very effective in transferring the relevant concepts.
     In my opinion Electrostatic Discharge is essential reading for all EMC engineers and electronic designers who want to avoid component failures, no trouble found incidents, and random errors. I would also recommend the reading of chapters 1, 2 and 6 to students and instructors of EMC courses at the graduate level.                              EMC