A Comprehensive Approach to System-Level ESD

The performance and reliability of an electronics system largely depend on the system’s immunity from an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event. Because the components, custom chips and package come from various sources — and often from different companies — they are usually designed by separate teams working in silos and in accordance with predefined margins. The ESD Association estimates that damage from electrostatic discharge may range from $500 million to about $5 billion for ruined devices alone. This does not count indirect economic damage, such as system degradation that can negatively impact efficiency and operational issues that can affect customer relationships long-term.

To protect against ESD in complex, high-speed technologies requiring careful signal path design, simulation has become essential in electronics system development. A holistic methodology effectively and efficiently locates and mitigates ESD risks well before hardware prototypes are available, saving teams time, effort and money. This approach can lead to more reliable and efficient systems in crucial applications such as automotive, avionics, 5G and, yes, in-flight entertainment systems. Learn more about the challenges and solutions for addressing system-level ESD in this white paper.