Teseq, a leading developer and provider of instrumentation and
systems for EMC emission and immunity testing, has introduced the NSG 438A a
new ESD simulator that includes an integrated discharge relay circuit to
dissipate residual voltage in conventional ESD testing and ungrounded equipment
under test (EUT) applications.
The relay in the new simulator provides
unique controlled and reproducible discharge and observation time periods along
with a discharge operation that is programmable in three separate time
segments. It can also be retrofitted into any existing Teseq NSG 438 or NSG
439. By connecting a 1 MΩ resistor from the EUT to ground for a controlled time
segment that dissipates the residual voltage, the NSG 438A has set new
benchmarks in flexibility and reproducibility of EMC testing.
The easy-to-use, IEC EN 61000-4-2-compliant
unit makes discharging EUTs safe and efficient, while comprehensively
fulfilling many automotive, household and industry test standard requirements,
including ISO 10605.
Teseq's new ESD simulator offers
flexible control parameters for both the built-in and external EUT discharging
circuit. It features three freely programmable time parameters that allow the
charge holding time to be precisely defined.
The operator can simply set the
discharge cycle time and the associated repetition intervals of
the ESD pulses so that any residual voltage is guaranteed to be removed
from the EUT. The sum of all three time segments equals the pulse repetition
rate, an adjustable rate ranging from 0.1 seconds to 99 seconds in intervals of
0.1 seconds.
By setting the relay closing or opening time
with the ESD simulator's touch panel, users can monitor all three independent
EUT discharge time segments. The segments are defined into three categories -
T1, T2 and T3.
During T1, the ESD pulse energy is maintained
or bleeds off from the EUT within the context of an ordinary discharge event.
The discharge relay closes in order to remove the residual charge once the
preselected time expires.
T2 defines how long the complete discharge
phase should last, determined by the environment, the EUT's design and the test
procedure being performed. The simulator's tip is connected to ground via a 1 MΩ resistor.
Segment T3 is when the discharge path
relay opens. This period may be used to verify EUT's function. Once the time
has been completed, the cycle begins again.