June Technical Talk No. 1 | Understanding the Importance of ESD Standards in Automotive Electronics Design
Latest update time：2016-06-09
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Over the past decade, automotive electronics safety and reliability standards have changed significantly as new technologies have been developed. Technologies that used to be sold as options, including power door locks, stability control, and anti-lock brakes, are now standard on most vehicles. Today, automotive electronics used for lane departure warnings, in-vehicle communications, and night vision are considered innovative technologies.
This modern shift in design and manufacturing requires designers to fully understand the requirements of automotive certification standards that go beyond the protection requirements of consumer electronics. However, designing to automotive standards involves several technical challenges. For example, the semiconductors used in cutting-edge automotive electronics rely on the latest integrated circuit (IC) technology on the market. As these integrated circuits continue to become smaller and faster, they are more susceptible to damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD). In addition, the harshness of the automotive environment is marked by harsh electrical transients, which are also simulated during automotive certification testing.
Figure 1: Systems that require ESD protection
This article explores the practical application of automotive standards, circuits, and solutions to help automotive circuit designers create robust and reliable designs. First, this article focuses on the ISO 10605 standard for ESD testing and the AEC-Q101 standard for discrete semiconductor devices used in the automotive market. Second, the most common types of circuits that need protection in automobiles are discussed. Third, advanced circuit protection techniques that should be implemented early in the design stage to ensure safety and reliability are identified for a variety of automotive applications.
Meets automotive test standards
Circuit designers must consider the requirements of ISO 10605 and AEC-Q101 test standards in their advanced automotive electronic designs to achieve the quality standards required by the automotive market. These standards focus on the electrical and environmental hazards prevalent in automobiles, as well as the reliability of the discrete semiconductors used.
ISO 10605
This standard specifies ESD test methods for evaluating electronic modules developed for vehicles. These modules must be able to manage electrical disturbances caused by assembly, maintenance/repair, and operation. ISO 10605 adds vehicle-specific test requirements, going one step further than IEC 61000-4-2, an application-level specification for consumer electronics and telecommunications. The standard requires manufacturers to test these electronic modules at a higher level than the IEC standard, providing a more robust and reliable standard for automotive circuit protection.
For ISO 10605 compliance, each circuit and module must be pre-tested before being installed in a vehicle. Once the vehicle is assembled, it must be tested again to ensure safety and reliability. Therefore, each layer of automotive interior electronics requires advanced circuit protection to withstand the harsh ESD transients commonly found in automobiles.
AEC-Q101
This standard describes a series of qualification tests to ensure the long-term reliability of semiconductor-based components in the automotive environment. For automotive manufacturers to add ESD protection devices such as transient voltage suppression (TVS) diodes and TVS diode arrays in vehicles, these devices must gradually receive compliance with the AEC-Q101 standard.
ISO 10605 focuses on electrical hazards, while AEC-Q101 is an environmental specification. Components that meet the AEC-Q101 standard must be able to handle the hazards of the automotive environment, including thermal shock and thermal cycling, extreme temperatures, and high humidity. Meeting the requirements of this standard ensures that the component will not fail due to its inherent weaknesses after being installed in the vehicle.
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