The influence of discharge voltage on ESD parameters for air discharge

In this paper, a new ESD testing system was designed and the influence of discharge voltage on ESD parameters, e.g. peak value of discharge current, rise time and peak to peak value of induced voltage in a semi-circular loop antenna, and also the reproducibility of experimental results were analyzed used the system. It was concluded that as the approaching speed was constant, the variations of ESD parameters with discharge voltage were divided into three regions: 'Townsend region' 'Transition region' and 'Streamer region' the field strength generated at low discharge voltage was stronger than that at high discharge voltage, better reproducibility could be also obtained at low discharge voltage.