SCAN-Lab Technical Notes 17: Preventing Damage by ElectroStatic Discharge

Introduction

At some point we have all witnessed ElectroStatic Discharge (ESD). At its most destructive we will have seen it as a lightning storm, and in its most innocuous form as a shock as a sweater is removed. ESD is an ever-present issue in the electronics industry, which can cause components to fail leading to costly repairs and downtime of the final product. Though ESD is ubiquitous, with care it can be prevented. This note aims to provide users with the necessary knowledge to prevent damage to the most sensitive components of the Scan-Lab instruments through ESD.