High Magnification Photos of ESD Damage Charleswater.co.uk Images of Human Body Model (HBM) ESD damage. Damage visible using Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) after significant enhancement by delayering and etch enhancement. Used with permission of Hi-Rel Laboratories, Inc. Spokane WA /12

High Magnification Photos of ESD Damage Seeing ElectroStatic Discharge (ESD) damage is basically impossible. Damage to semiconductor device structure is NOT visible at ordinary magnifications of an optical microscope. If the microscope is capable of 1000X-1500X magnifications, you just might be able to “see” something. The method used, only occasionally as there is considerable expense, is by delayering and etch enhancement producing high magnification photographs using a scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Charleswater.co.uk

Photo of ESD arcing from finger to component. This is not a computer simulation. Technician was connected to a small magneto. High Magnification Photos of ESD Damage Charleswater.co.uk

This is not HBM-ESD. Extensive damage on this transistor where the bond has melted is typical of surges from Inductors, Transformers, and Motors. High Magnification Photos of ESD Damage Charleswater.co.uk

Arcing of this nature within an integrated circuit is typical of testing damage. Human Body Model ESD does not create sufficient damage to be seen in an optical microscope. High Magnification Photos of ESD Damage Charleswater.co.uk

Optical photo of a large Integrated Circuit which has experienced ESD damage to the pin noted by the arrow. High Magnification Photos of ESD Damage Charleswater.co.uk

Higher magnification photo of pin noted by the arrow in the prior slide This taken at 400 times magnification on a 4" X 5" photo. The damage is noted as the "fuzz" at the end of the arrow. High Magnification Photos of ESD Damage Charleswater.co.uk

Now you see it!! Overlying glassivation has been removed and the surface decorated to show the ESD damage at 5,000 times magnification in this scanning electron micrograph. High Magnification Photos of ESD Damage Charleswater.co.uk

Techniques used to locate HBM-ESD damage in an integrated circuit. Clockwise from the upper left optical photo at 400X shows no damage. The upper right hand scanning electron micrograph (SEM) shows no damage. The lower right hand image is the current flow in the device which shows a subsurface arc between the two metal lines. The lower left photo is a combination of the SEM image and the current flow image. High Magnification Photos of ESD Damage Charleswater.co.uk

Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) image of the device in prior slide after glassivation removal and surface decoration. The enlargement 2,000 times magnification. High Magnification Photos of ESD Damage Charleswater.co.uk

Optical micrograph of an Integrated Circuit damaged by HBM ESD. Damage has occurred in the large thin oxide metal capacitor in the upper center of the image. However, no physical damage is visible. High Magnification Photos of ESD Damage Charleswater.co.uk

Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) image of the ESD damage after removal of the capacitor metallization. Note the characteristic eruption thru the oxide. Magnification is 10,500 times. High Magnification Photos of ESD Damage Charleswater.co.uk

Optical image of an Integrated Circuit damaged by HBM ESD. The second pin from the bottom left is good and its mirror image, second from the right is damaged. However, no physical damage is visible. High Magnification Photos of ESD Damage Charleswater.co.uk

Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) image of the damage site on the Integrated Circuit shown in prior slide. Metal has been removed expose the underlying damage site. Magnification is 6,450 times. High Magnification Photos of ESD Damage Charleswater.co.uk

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