Reading and Understanding an ESD Protection Data Sheet

Abstract

Hardware engineers must choose all components for their designs carefully. Selecting the correct ESD protection device can be challenging since protecting devices on a PCB against ESD stress has become an increasingly complex task. Texas Instruments offers a wide range of ESD protection devices. Understanding the parameters of an ESD diode data sheet are paramount in selecting the correct device for a successful design. This user guide explains the key terminology, sections, and figures of an ESD protection device data sheet.

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1 Introduction

This user guide is a synopsis of a typical TI ESD protection device data sheet. The purpose is to assist when selecting an ESD protection device. The information includes the following key features to pay attention to:

Definitions of parameters
Description of plots
Testing procedures used for common applications