Electrostatic discharge event detector
First Claim
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1. A device for detecting an electrostatic discharge event by an object, the device comprising:
- a receiver for forming a first capacitive coupling with the object and a second capacitive coupling with a ground;
a first discharge path for discharging the second capacitive coupling to the ground, such that an electrostatic discharge event by the object charges the second capacitive coupling by an amount in a first time interval Δ
t1 that is substantially less than a second time interval Δ
t2 that it takes for the second capacitive coupling to discharge by the same amount through the first discharge path; and
a second discharge path for discharging the second capacitive coupling to the ground, the device adapted to choose between the first and second discharge paths.
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Abstract
A device for detecting an electrostatic discharge event by an object, the device comprising: a receiver for forming a first capacitive coupling with the object and a second capacitive coupling with a ground; and a first discharge path for discharging the second capacitive coupling to the ground, such that an electrostatic discharge event by the object charges the second capacitive coupling by an amount in a first time interval Δt1 that is substantially less than a second time interval Δt2 that it takes for the second capacitive coupling to discharge by the same amount through the first discharge path.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A device for detecting an electrostatic discharge event by an object, the device comprising:
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a receiver for forming a first capacitive coupling with the object and a second capacitive coupling with a ground; a first discharge path for discharging the second capacitive coupling to the ground, such that an electrostatic discharge event by the object charges the second capacitive coupling by an amount in a first time interval Δ
t1 that is substantially less than a second time interval Δ
t2 that it takes for the second capacitive coupling to discharge by the same amount through the first discharge path; anda second discharge path for discharging the second capacitive coupling to the ground, the device adapted to choose between the first and second discharge paths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of detecting an electrostatic discharge event by an object, the method comprising:
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forming a first capacitive coupling between a receiver and the object, the receiver also forming a second capacitive coupling with a ground; charging the second capacitive coupling by an amount in a first time interval Δ
t1 due to an electrostatic discharge event by the object;discharging the second capacitive coupling by the same amount in a second time interval Δ
t2 via a first discharge path to the ground, wherein the first time interval Δ
t1 is substantially less than the time interval Δ
t2; andswitching between the first discharge path and a second discharge path for discharging the second capacitive coupling to the ground. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) event detector comprising
a receiver for receiving electromagnetic emission generated by an object and for forming a first capacitive coupling with the object; -
a second capacitive coupling between the receiver and ground for creating a capacitive divider with the first capacitive coupling, the capacitive divider arranged to produce an output voltage signal across the second capacitive coupling as a function of a charge voltage of the electromagnetic emission, the output voltage signal being used to determine a magnitude of the ESD event; a first discharge path arranged in parallel electrically with the second capacitive coupling to enable the second capacitive coupling to discharge; and a commutation device for selectively switching between the first discharge path and a second discharge path which allows the second capacitive coupling to discharge faster than via the primary discharge path.
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30. A method of detecting an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event, the method comprising
(i) receiving electromagnetic emission from an object by a receiver, the receiver forming a first capacitive coupling with the object; -
(ii) obtaining an output voltage signal across a second capacitive coupling as a function of a charge voltage of the electromagnetic emission, the second capacitive coupling creating a capacitive divider with the first capacitive coupling, (iii) determining a magnitude of the ESD event based on the output voltage signal; (iv) discharging the second capacitive coupling through a first discharge path arranged in parallel electrically with the second capacitive coupling; and (v) upon determining the magnitude, switching from the first discharge path to a second discharge path to allow the second capacitive coupling to discharge faster than via the primary discharge path.
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Specification