Conformity Magazine- May 2008

As consumers demand and are granted more features, manufacturers must adapt to handling increased ESD susceptibility in their parts. This task will become even more challenging as the technology progresses. In 2005, the ESD Association released an “ESD Technology Road Map” in an effort to create awareness within the global electronics industry of some remarkable changes that were then right around the corner. The “Road Map” pointed out that numerous mainstream electronic parts and components would reach assembly factories without the same level of ESD protection that had been routinely installed just a few years ago. This prediction has indeed come true, as consumers demand more features, and manufacturers must adapt to handling increased ESD susceptibility in their parts. The ESD Association Standards Committee is “charged” with keeping pace with the industry demands for increased performance. The existing standards, standard test methods, standard practices and technical reports assist in the design and monitoring of the electrostatic protected area (EPA) and also assist in the testing of ESD sensitive electronic components. Many of the existing documents relate to controlling electrostatic charge on personnel and stationary work areas. However, with the ever increasing shift to automated handling, the need to evaluate and monitor what is going on inside of process equipment is growing daily. A shift is being made from Human Body Model device susceptibility as the major concern, to Charge Device Model considerations in the typical factory. There is absolutely no question that the existing ESD Association standards such as ANSI/ESD S20.20 (Program Development) and ANSI/ESD S541 (Packaging for Shipment) are important to industry. These documents are downloaded from www.esda.org in excess of 2,500 times per month on average. The ESD Technology Road Map had over 7,000 downloads during 2007. These are sure signs that industry is paying attention. The factory Certification Registrars report strong interest in Certification to S20.20, and the world of consultants in this area report that inquiries for assistance remain at an unprecedented level. And individual education also seems of interest once again, as 23 professionals have obtained Certified ESD Program Manager status, and many more are attempting to qualify as Certified ESD Control Program Managers. A recently introduced educational opportunity is the ESD Device Design Professional Certification program. Similar to the ESD Program Manager Certification in concept, candidates take a required number of tutorials related to electronic device and testing technologies, and successfully complete an exam. In 2007, two professionals achieved Device Design Certification status. For details on this program and the Program Manager Certification program, see the ESD Association website, www.esda.org. A large percentage of the certification program requirements are based on standards and the other related documents 1 Conformity mAy 2008 produced by the ESD Association Standards Committee. Standard Test Method ANSI/ESD STM5.1-2007, Human Body Model (HBM) – Component Level was recently revised and released, and the following documents were recently reaffirmed and re-released: • ANSI/ESD SP10.1-2007, Automated Handling Equipment (AHE) • ANSI/ESD STM11.12-2007, Volume Resistance Measurement of Static Dissipative Planar Materials Documents that have been revised and were recently released as drafts include: • ESD DSTM5.5.1-2007, Transmission Line Pulse (TLP) – Component Level • ESD DS5.2-2007, Machine Model (MM) – Component Level • ESD DS5.3.1-2007, Charged Device Model (CDM) – Component Level Documents that are scheduled for release in 2008 include: • ANSI/ESD SP5.5.2-2007, Very Fast Transmission Line Pulse (VF-TLP) – Component Level • ANSI/ESD S8.1-2007, Symbols – ESD Awareness Recent guidance and informational Technical Reports are also available covering the many subjects. The ESD Association issues four distinct types of standards documents: • Standard (S): A precise statement of a set of requirements to be satisfied by a material, product, system or process that also specifies the procedures for determining whether each of the requirements is satisfied. Standard Test Method (STM): A definitive procedure for the identification, measurement, and evaluation of one or more qualities, characteristics, or properties of a material, product, system or process that yields a reproducible test result. Standard Practice (SP): A procedure for performing one or more operations or functions that may or may not yield a test result. Note: if a test result is obtained, it may not be reproducible between labs. Technical Report (TR): A collection of technical data or test results published as an informational reference on a specific material, product, system, or process. • • • Table 1: Types of ESD Association Documents http://www.esda.org http://www.esda.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Conformity Magazine- May 2008

Conformity Magazine - May 2008 Contents Editor's Note FCC Revises Hearing Aid Compatibility Rules Commission Grants HAC Waivers for Some Carriers, Denies Waivers for Others Company Incurs Fine for Failing to Comply with HAC Requirements FCC Seeks Increased Funding for FY 2009 FCC Releases Report on Numbering Resource Utilization ESD Standards: An Annual Progress Report ESD Open Forum Emerging Issues in Standards - Panel Shop Approvals and Machinery: An Inadequate Basis for Approval iNARTE Informer Challenges in Testing - Voltage Polarity Effects on Polymeric PTC Current Limiting Devices Challenges in Testing - New Technology Drives Avionic Lightning Test Standards Focus On...Shielding Buyer's Guide Commission Issues Report on Telephone Subscribership Standards Lists For The EU's Directive on Measuring Insturments Updated Standards List for EU Directive on Active Implantable, In Vitro Medical Devices FDA Propses Reclassification of Medical Device Data Systems FDA Updates Guidance on its Product Review Process CPSC Actions in the News IEC Standards Update Product Reviews UL Standards Update Telcordia Standards Update From Our "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" Department Looking Back: Items from Past Issues of Conformity Advertisers

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.