ESD-Phenomena-and-the-Reliability

As we enter the next millennium, there are clear technological patterns. First, the electronic industry continues to scale microelectronic structures to achieve faster devices, new devices, or more per unit area. Secondly, electrostatic charge, electrostatic discharge (ESD), electrical overstress (EOS) and electromagnetic emissions (EMI) continue to be a threat to these scaled structures. This dichotomy presents a dilemma for the scaling of semiconductor technologies and a future threat to new technologies. Technological advancements, material changes, design techniques, and simulation can fend off this growing concern – but to maintain this ever-threatening challenge, one must continue to establish research and education in this issue.