Characterizing the stress applied to ICs by different ESD tester circuits

It is recommended that the output current waveforms of ESD (electrostatic discharge) simulators for ICs be specified into a short circuit and 500 ohm load in order to insure that equivalent tests are being performed. Because this recommendation has not been in force, two alternatives have been proposed for the MIL-STD 883c ESD test circuit, which were found to differ by more than 30% from that circuit. It is strongly recommended that all future ESD test standards adopt the practice of specifying realistic ESD waveforms into at least two different loads in order to insure that tests are both repeatable and realistic.<>