SLAA932 December   2019 MSP430AFE221 , MSP430AFE222 , MSP430AFE223 , MSP430AFE231 , MSP430AFE232 , MSP430AFE233 , MSP430AFE251 , MSP430AFE252 , MSP430AFE253 , MSP430BT5190 , MSP430F1101 , MSP430F1101A , MSP430F1111A , MSP430F112 , MSP430F1121 , MSP430F1121A , MSP430F1122 , MSP430F1132 , MSP430F122 , MSP430F1222 , MSP430F123 , MSP430F1232 , MSP430F133 , MSP430F135 , MSP430F147 , MSP430F1471 , MSP430F148 , MSP430F1481 , MSP430F149 , MSP430F1491 , MSP430F155 , MSP430F156 , MSP430F157 , MSP430F1610 , MSP430F1611 , MSP430F1612 , MSP430F167 , MSP430F168 , MSP430F169 , MSP430F2001 , MSP430F2002 , MSP430F2003 , MSP430F2011 , MSP430F2012 , MSP430F2013 , MSP430F2013-EP , MSP430F2101 , MSP430F2111 , MSP430F2112 , MSP430F2121 , MSP430F2122 , MSP430F2131 , MSP430F2132 , MSP430F2132-EP , MSP430F2232 , MSP430F2234 , MSP430F2252 , MSP430F2252-Q1 , MSP430F2254 , MSP430F2272 , MSP430F2272-Q1 , MSP430F2274 , MSP430F2274-EP , MSP430F233 , MSP430F2330 , MSP430F235 , MSP430F2350 , MSP430F2370 , MSP430F2410 , MSP430F2416 , MSP430F2417 , MSP430F2418 , MSP430F2419 , MSP430F247 , MSP430F2471 , MSP430F248 , MSP430F2481 , MSP430F249 , MSP430F249-EP , MSP430F2491 , MSP430F2616 , MSP430F2617 , MSP430F2618 , MSP430F2619 , MSP430F2619S-HT , MSP430F412 , MSP430F413 , MSP430F4132 , MSP430F415 , MSP430F4152 , MSP430F417 , MSP430F423 , MSP430F423A , MSP430F425 , MSP430F4250 , MSP430F425A , MSP430F4260 , MSP430F427 , MSP430F4270 , MSP430F427A , MSP430F435 , MSP430F4351 , MSP430F436 , MSP430F4361 , MSP430F437 , MSP430F4371 , MSP430F438 , MSP430F439 , MSP430F447 , MSP430F448 , MSP430F4481 , MSP430F449 , MSP430F4491 , MSP430F4616 , MSP430F46161 , MSP430F4617 , MSP430F46171 , MSP430F4618 , MSP430F46181 , MSP430F4619 , MSP430F46191 , MSP430F47126 , MSP430F47127 , MSP430F47163 , MSP430F47166 , MSP430F47167 , MSP430F47173 , MSP430F47176 , MSP430F47177 , MSP430F47183 , MSP430F47186 , MSP430F47187 , MSP430F47193 , MSP430F47196 , MSP430F47197 , MSP430F477 , MSP430F478 , MSP430F4783 , MSP430F4784 , MSP430F479 , MSP430F4793 , MSP430F4794 , MSP430F5131 , MSP430F5132 , MSP430F5151 , MSP430F5152 , MSP430F5171 , MSP430F5172 , MSP430F5212 , MSP430F5214 , MSP430F5217 , MSP430F5219 , MSP430F5222 , MSP430F5224 , MSP430F5229 , MSP430F5232 , MSP430F5234 , MSP430F5237 , MSP430F5239 , MSP430F5242 , MSP430F5244 , MSP430F5247 , MSP430F5249 , MSP430F5252 , MSP430F5253 , MSP430F5254 , MSP430F5255 , MSP430F5256 , MSP430F5257 , MSP430F5258 , MSP430F5259 , MSP430F5304 , MSP430F5308 , MSP430F5309 , MSP430F5310 , MSP430F5324 , MSP430F5325 , MSP430F5326 , MSP430F5327 , MSP430F5328 , MSP430F5328-EP , MSP430F5329 , MSP430F5333 , MSP430F5335 , MSP430F5336 , MSP430F5338 , MSP430F5340 , MSP430F5341 , MSP430F5342 , MSP430F5358 , MSP430F5359 , MSP430F5418 , MSP430F5418A , MSP430F5419 , MSP430F5419A , MSP430F5435 , MSP430F5435A , MSP430F5436 , MSP430F5436A , MSP430F5437 , MSP430F5437A , MSP430F5438 , MSP430F5438A , MSP430F5438A-EP , MSP430F5438A-ET , MSP430F5500 , MSP430F5501 , MSP430F5502 , MSP430F5503 , MSP430F5504 , MSP430F5505 , MSP430F5506 , MSP430F5507 , MSP430F5508 , MSP430F5509 , MSP430F5510 , MSP430F5513 , MSP430F5514 , MSP430F5515 , MSP430F5517 , MSP430F5519 , MSP430F5521 , MSP430F5522 , MSP430F5524 , MSP430F5525 , MSP430F5526 , MSP430F5527 , MSP430F5528 , MSP430F5529 , MSP430F5630 , MSP430F5631 , MSP430F5632 , MSP430F5633 , MSP430F5634 , MSP430F5635 , MSP430F5636 , MSP430F5637 , MSP430F5638 , MSP430F5658 , MSP430F5659 , MSP430F6433 , MSP430F6435 , MSP430F6436 , MSP430F6438 , MSP430F6458 , MSP430F6459 , MSP430F6459-HIREL , MSP430F6630 , MSP430F6631 , MSP430F6632 , MSP430F6633 , MSP430F6634 , MSP430F6635 , MSP430F6636 , MSP430F6637 , MSP430F6638 , MSP430F6658 , MSP430F6659 , MSP430F6720 , MSP430F6720A , MSP430F6721 , MSP430F6721A , MSP430F6723 , MSP430F6723A , MSP430F6724 , MSP430F6724A , MSP430F6725 , MSP430F6725A , MSP430F6726 , MSP430F6726A , MSP430F6730 , MSP430F6730A , MSP430F6731 , MSP430F6731A , MSP430F6733 , MSP430F6733A , MSP430F6734 , MSP430F6734A , MSP430F6735 , MSP430F6735A , MSP430F6736 , MSP430F6736A , MSP430F6745 , MSP430F67451 , MSP430F67451A , MSP430F6745A , MSP430F6746 , MSP430F67461 , MSP430F67461A , MSP430F6746A , MSP430F6747 , MSP430F67471 , MSP430F67471A , MSP430F6747A , MSP430F6748 , MSP430F67481 , MSP430F67481A , MSP430F6748A , MSP430F6749 , MSP430F67491 , MSP430F67491A , MSP430F6749A , MSP430F67621 , MSP430F67621A , MSP430F67641 , MSP430F67641A , MSP430F6765 , MSP430F67651 , MSP430F67651A , MSP430F6765A , MSP430F6766 , MSP430F67661 , MSP430F67661A , MSP430F6766A , MSP430F6767 , MSP430F67671 , MSP430F67671A , MSP430F6767A , MSP430F6768 , MSP430F67681 , MSP430F67681A , MSP430F6768A , MSP430F6769 , MSP430F67691 , MSP430F67691A , MSP430F6769A , MSP430F6775 , MSP430F67751 , MSP430F67751A , MSP430F6775A , MSP430F6776 , MSP430F67761 , MSP430F67761A , MSP430F6776A , MSP430F6777 , MSP430F67771 , MSP430F67771A , MSP430F6777A , MSP430F6778 , MSP430F67781 , MSP430F67781A , MSP430F6778A , MSP430F6779 , MSP430F67791 , MSP430F67791A , MSP430F6779A , MSP430FE423 , MSP430FE4232 , MSP430FE423A , MSP430FE4242 , MSP430FE425 , MSP430FE4252 , MSP430FE425A , MSP430FE427 , MSP430FE4272 , MSP430FE427A , MSP430FG4250 , MSP430FG4260 , MSP430FG4270 , MSP430FG437 , MSP430FG438 , MSP430FG439 , MSP430FG4616 , MSP430FG4617 , MSP430FG4618 , MSP430FG4619 , MSP430FG477 , MSP430FG478 , MSP430FG479 , MSP430FG6425 , MSP430FG6426 , MSP430FG6625 , MSP430FG6626 , MSP430FR2000 , MSP430FR2032 , MSP430FR2033 , MSP430FR2100 , MSP430FR2110 , MSP430FR2111 , MSP430FR2153 , MSP430FR2155 , MSP430FR2310 , MSP430FR2311 , MSP430FR2353 , MSP430FR2355 , MSP430FR2422 , MSP430FR2433 , MSP430FR2475 , MSP430FR2476 , MSP430FR2512 , MSP430FR2522 , MSP430FR2532 , MSP430FR2533 , MSP430FR2632 , MSP430FR2633 , MSP430FR2672 , MSP430FR2673 , MSP430FR2675 , MSP430FR2676 , MSP430FR4131 , MSP430FR4132 , MSP430FR4133 , MSP430FR5041 , MSP430FR5043 , MSP430FR50431 , MSP430FR5720 , MSP430FR5721 , MSP430FR5722 , MSP430FR5723 , MSP430FR5724 , MSP430FR5725 , MSP430FR5726 , MSP430FR5727 , MSP430FR5728 , MSP430FR5729 , MSP430FR5730 , MSP430FR5731 , MSP430FR5732 , MSP430FR5733 , MSP430FR5734 , MSP430FR5735 , MSP430FR5736 , MSP430FR5737 , MSP430FR5738 , MSP430FR5739 , MSP430FR5739-EP , MSP430FR5847 , MSP430FR58471 , MSP430FR5848 , MSP430FR5849 , MSP430FR5857 , MSP430FR5858 , MSP430FR5859 , MSP430FR5867 , MSP430FR58671 , MSP430FR5868 , MSP430FR5869 , MSP430FR5870 , MSP430FR5872 , MSP430FR58721 , MSP430FR5887 , MSP430FR5888 , MSP430FR5889 , MSP430FR58891 , MSP430FR5922 , MSP430FR59221 , MSP430FR5947 , MSP430FR59471 , MSP430FR5948 , MSP430FR5949 , MSP430FR5957 , MSP430FR5958 , MSP430FR5959 , MSP430FR5962 , MSP430FR5964 , MSP430FR5967 , MSP430FR5968 , MSP430FR5969 , MSP430FR5969-SP , MSP430FR59691 , MSP430FR5970 , MSP430FR5972 , MSP430FR59721 , MSP430FR5986 , MSP430FR5987 , MSP430FR5988 , MSP430FR5989 , MSP430FR5989-EP , MSP430FR59891 , MSP430FR5992 , MSP430FR5994 , MSP430FR59941 , MSP430FR6005 , MSP430FR6007 , MSP430FR6035 , MSP430FR6037 , MSP430FR60371 , MSP430FR6041 , MSP430FR6043 , MSP430FR60431 , MSP430FR6045 , MSP430FR6047 , MSP430FR60471 , MSP430FR6820 , MSP430FR6822 , MSP430FR68221 , MSP430FR6870 , MSP430FR6872 , MSP430FR68721 , MSP430FR6877 , MSP430FR6879 , MSP430FR68791 , MSP430FR6887 , MSP430FR6888 , MSP430FR6889 , MSP430FR68891 , MSP430FR6920 , MSP430FR6922 , MSP430FR69221 , MSP430FR6927 , MSP430FR69271 , MSP430FR6928 , MSP430FR6970 , MSP430FR6972 , MSP430FR69721 , MSP430FR6977 , MSP430FR6979 , MSP430FR69791 , MSP430FR6987 , MSP430FR6988 , MSP430FR6989 , MSP430FR69891 , MSP430FW423 , MSP430FW425 , MSP430FW427 , MSP430FW428 , MSP430FW429 , MSP430G2001 , MSP430G2101 , MSP430G2102 , MSP430G2111 , MSP430G2112 , MSP430G2121 , MSP430G2131 , MSP430G2132 , MSP430G2152 , MSP430G2153 , MSP430G2201 , MSP430G2201-Q1 , MSP430G2202 , MSP430G2203 , MSP430G2210 , MSP430G2211 , MSP430G2212 , MSP430G2213 , MSP430G2221 , MSP430G2230 , MSP430G2230-EP , MSP430G2231 , MSP430G2231-EP , MSP430G2231-Q1 , MSP430G2232 , MSP430G2233 , MSP430G2252 , MSP430G2253 , MSP430G2302 , MSP430G2302-EP , MSP430G2303 , MSP430G2312 , MSP430G2313 , MSP430G2332 , MSP430G2332-EP , MSP430G2333 , MSP430G2352 , MSP430G2353 , MSP430G2402 , MSP430G2403 , MSP430G2412 , MSP430G2413 , MSP430G2432 , MSP430G2433 , MSP430G2444 , MSP430G2452 , MSP430G2453 , MSP430G2453-Q1 , MSP430G2513 , MSP430G2533 , MSP430G2544 , MSP430G2553 , MSP430G2553-Q1 , MSP430G2744 , MSP430G2755 , MSP430G2855 , MSP430G2955 , MSP430I2020 , MSP430I2021 , MSP430I2030 , MSP430I2031 , MSP430I2040 , MSP430I2041 , MSP430L092 , MSP430TCH5E

 

  1.   MSP430™ System-Level ESD Troubleshooting Guide
    1.     Trademarks
    2. 1 Overview of System-Level ESD and EMC Test Standards
    3. 2 System-Level ESD Failure Scenarios
    4. 3 System-Level ESD Soft Failure Troubleshooting Guidelines
      1. 3.1 Reproducibility of the Failure Case
      2. 3.2 Software Debug Guidelines
        1. 3.2.1 Reset Source Identification
        2. 3.2.2 Oscillator Fault Detection
        3. 3.2.3 Software Workaround
      3. 3.3 Hardware Troubleshooting Guidelines
      4. 3.4 Real Case for Troubleshooting a System-Level ESD Issue
    5. 4 System-Level ESD Failure Analysis Procedure
      1. 4.1 Failure Analysis Role and Procedure
      2. 4.2 Real Case Scenario of System-Level ESD Failure Analysis
    6. 5 References

3.4 Real Case for Troubleshooting a System-Level ESD Issue

In the post design phase of the meter product shown in Figure 3, it was reported that system-level ESD test cannot pass the defined standard level air-discharge at 15 kV. The meter product with MSP430 device always reset during the ESD test. This was indicated by the LED panel initializing.

system-level-esd-real-test-case.pngFigure 3. System-Level ESD Real Test Case – Metal Strip on the Enclosure

The following steps were conducted to resolve the issue.

  1. Reproduce the failure case reliably

    2. There was a long metal strip around the upper edge of the LED panel of enclosure. When the ESD simulator discharged directly on the metal strip, the system reset.

  2. Read the SYSRSTIV register

    3. The value was 0x02 for most times and 0x04 for several times. That means the ESD test failure is mainly caused by a BOR on the MCU, and the reset pin circuit also needed to be checked. So a voltage drop on the power was the root cause of the issue.

  3. Review mechanical construction and layout

    4. It was found that the metal strip is floating because the metal was just a thin film on the long plastic strip. The MCU board was under the front panel. The plastic strip thickness is 2 to 3 mm. The PCB upper side was close to the strip where there were lots of long GPIO signal traces parallel with the strip. And the SBW 4-pin connector was in this area. The PCB is a two layers design and the GND return path was not good. There were no high speed signals on the board.

  4. Tried software workarounds but failed

    5. Set RST/NMI pin to NMI mode in the firmware and did the system-level ESD test again. But it still failed.

  5. Tried hardware workarounds but failed.

    6. Use the recommended RESET circuit; cut off the RESET and TEST traces on the board; increased the decoupling capacitor and add TVS on MCU power input; added glue around upper side of the enclosure to improve the isolation between internal board and external metal strip; improve the GND return path.

  6. Tried to move the board 20 mm away from the metal strip (manually change the mechanical installation).

    7. The ESD test was passed. That proved the distance between the board and the metal strip is the critical root cause. But the mechanical design was fixed and it would take long time for the mechanical rebuilt. So the customer would not like to change the mechanical design.

  7. Changed the MCU to new revision silicon (keep the original mechanical installation)

    8. ESD test pass level was better. The failure of the ESD air-discharge level improved from 11 kV to 13.5 kV.

Recommended solution:

  • Change the MCU to a newer version of the silicon.
  • Improve the layout and build a new board for test
    • Move the SBW 4-pin connector to the back side of the PCB so that the reset and test signal traces can be far away from the metal strip.
    • Use the recommended reset circuit.
    • Optimize the layout to place the parallel GPIO long signal traces far away from the metal strip.
    • Increase the decoupling capacitor value for DVCC.
    • Add power TVS at LDO output for the MCU.

Test result after applying the recommended solution: ESD test passed 15-kV air discharge with 100% pass rate at 3 boards.