In the past five years, the field of electrostatic discharge (ESD)
control has under- gone some notable changes. Industry standards have
multiplied, though not all of these, in our view, are realistic and
meaningful. Increasing importance has been ascribed to the Charged
Device Model (CDM) versus the Human Body Model (HBM) as a cause of
device damage and, presumably, premature (latent) failure. Packaging
materials have significantly evolved. Air ionization techniques have
improved, and usage has grown. Finally, and importantly, the government
has ceased imposing MIL-STD-1686 on all new contracts, leaving companies
on their own to formulate an ESD-control policy and write implementing
documents. All these changes are dealt with in five new chapters and ten
new reprinted papers added to this revised edition of ESD from A to Z.
Also, the original chapters have been augmented with new material such
as more troubleshooting examples in Chapter 8 and a 20-question
multiple-choice test for certifying operators in Chapter 9. More than
ever, the book seeks to provide advice, guidance, and practical ex-
amples, not just a jumble of facts and generalizations. For instance,
the added tailored versions of the model specifications for ESD-safe
handling and packaging are actually in use at medium-sized corporations
and could serve as patterns for many readers.