Electrostatic discharge specifications and protection methods

For much of the past two decades manufacturers and purchasers of integrated circuits (ICs) have been educated about the threat posed by electrostatic discharge (ESD) to individual components as well as to entire electronic systems. Historically, the industry accepted model to define the ESD threat was MIL-STD-883, Method 3015 (commonly known as the "Human Body Model" or HBM). Recently a new model for defining ESD has emerged. IEC 61000-4-2 is becoming the industry standard for defining the ESD threat and the requirements that systems must meet.