AN-793 Application Note, ESD/Latch-Up Considerations with i Coupler Isolation Products.

AN-793
APPLICATION NOTE
One Technology Way • P.O. Box 9106 • Norwood, MA 02062-9106, U.S.A. • Tel: 781.329.4700 • Fax: 781.461.3113 • www.analog.com
ESD/Latch-Up Considerations with iCoupler Isolation Products
by Rich Ghiorse
INTRODUCTION
Analog Devices, Inc., iCoupler® products offer an alternative
isolation solution to optocouplers with superior integration,
performance, and power consumption characteristics. An
iCoupler isolation channel consists of CMOS input and output
circuits and a chip scale transformer (see Figure 1). Because
digital isolators employ CMOS technology, they can be
vulnerable to latch-up or electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage
during system-level ESD, surge voltage, fast transient, or other
overvoltage conditions.
This application note provides guidance for avoiding these
problems. Examples are presented for various system-level test
configurations showing mechanisms that may impact performance. For each example, recommended solutions are given.
ESD, surge, burst, and fast transient events are facts of life in
electronic applications. These events generally consist of high
voltage, short duration spikes applied directly or indirectly to a
device. These events arise from interaction of the device to realworld phenomena, such as human contact, ac line perturbations, lightning strikes, or common-mode voltage differences
between system grounds.
Component-level ESD testing is most useful in determining
a device’s robustness to handling by humans and automated
assembly equipment prior and during assembly into a system.
Component-level ESD data is less useful in determining a
device’s robustness within a system subjected to system-level
ESD events. There are two reasons for this.
•
COMPONENTS vs. SYSTEMS
•
05547-001
Simply put, a component is a single integrated device with
interconnects while a system is a nonintegrated device built
from several interconnected components. In almost all cases,
the distinction between a component and a system is obvious.
However, the differences between component and system tests
may not be so obvious. Further, component specifications may
not directly indicate how a device will perform in system-level
testing. ESD testing is a good example of this.
System- and component-level ESD testing have different
objectives. Component-level testing seeks to address
conditions typically endured during component handling
and assembly. System-level testing seeks to address
conditions typically endured during system operation.
The specific conditions a component is subjected to during
system-level testing can be a strong function of the board/
module/system design in which it resides. For example,
long inductive traces between a system and component
ground can actually impose a more severe voltage transient
onto a component than is imposed on the system at the test
point.
Figure 1. Quad Isolator
Rev. A | Page 1 of 8
AN-793
Application Note
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ...................................................................................... 1
Injected ESD Current ........................................................................5
Components vs. Systems ................................................................. 1
Inductive Coupling from ESD Current ..........................................6
Revision History ............................................................................... 2
IEC 61000-4-5 Surge Testing ...........................................................7
Test Results ........................................................................................ 3
IEC 61000-4-4 Fast Transient and Burst Testing Example ..........7
Circuit Model for Analyzing System Test Performance .............. 3
ESD-Hardened Digital Isolators ......................................................8
Latch-Up in CMOS Devices ............................................................ 4
Inside the ESD-Hardened Series .....................................................8
IEC 61000-4-2 ESD Testing............................................................. 4
Conclusion..........................................................................................8
REVISION HISTORY
8/14—Rev. 0 to Rev. A
Changes to Introduction Section.................................................... 1
Changes to Injected ESD Current Section .................................... 5
Changes to Table 3 ............................................................................ 8
7/06—Revision 0: Initial Version
Rev. A | Page 2 of 8
Application Note
AN-793
CIRCUIT MODEL FOR ANALYZING SYSTEM TEST
PERFORMANCE
Table 1 summarizes the ESD test results for the ADuM1400/
ADuM1401/ADuM1402 quad isolator. One might conclude
from Table 1 that these digital isolators can only be used in
systems with ESD ratings of < 4 kV. In reality, it is quite
common for these products to be used in systems that pass
15 kV ESD levels per IEC 61000-4-2.
The difference is in the test methods:
The component-level tests call for direct application of ESD
events to the pins or body of an unpowered device, while
system-level tests call for application ESD events to various
locations in the system accessible to external ESD occurrences.
Furthermore, the specific waveforms used in component-level
and system-level testing differ.
Figure 2 shows a circuit model of a digital isolator, which is
useful to understand the impact of system-level testing. The
L1, L2, L3, and L4 inductors are due largely to package pins and
bond wires, while Capacitor C1 is due to the stray capacitance
across the isolation barrier. The inductance values are approximately 0.2 nH. The capacitance value is approximately 0.3 pF
per isolation channel.
Table 1. ADuM1400/ADuM1401/ADuM1402 ESD Test Results1
ESD Model
Human Body Model
Field Induced Charge
Device Model
Machine Model
1
First Pass
Voltage (V)
3,500
1,500
First Fail
Voltage (V)
4,000
2,000
200
400
To accurately predict the performance in a system, the designer
needs to understand the nature of the system tests and weigh
how they impact the product at the component level. Table 2
lists common system-level tests used in isolated applications.
Several examples of these tests are discussed in the IEC 6100004-5 ESD Testing, IEC 610000-4-2 Surge Testing, and IEC
610000-4-4 Transient ad Burst Testing Examples sections.
Table 2. Common System Tests Used in Isolated Applications
1
Purpose
ESD
Fast Transient/Burst
Surge
VDD2
L1
L2
VO
VIN
GND1
GND2
L3
C1
L4
Figure 2. Circuit Model Useful in Analyzing System Designs
For complete information on Analog Devices ESD testing, refer to the
Analog Devices Reliability Handbook.
Test Standard
IEC 61000-4-2
IEC 61000-4-4
IEC 61000-4-5
VDD1
05547-002
TEST RESULTS
Test Voltage (V rms)1
2,000 to 15,000
500 to 4,000
500 to 4,000
IEC 61000-4 tests include compliance levels; the test voltages shown are the
ranges for level 1 (lowest) through level 4 (highest) compliance.
Rev. A | Page 3 of 8
AN-793
Application Note
LATCH-UP IN CMOS DEVICES
IEC 61000-4-2 ESD TESTING
Inherent in a CMOS process are parasitic PNP and NPN
transistors configured as silicon control rectifiers (SCR). Latchup is a condition that comes about when this parasitic SCR is
triggered. This causes a low resistance to appear from VDD to
ground, and a subsequent large current to be drawn through
the device. This excessive current lays open the possibility of
damage due to electrical overstress (EOS).
A block diagram of the IEC 61000-4-2 ESD test is shown in
Figure 3. In this test, ESD contact or air discharges are applied
at various points on a system chassis. This gives rise to several
mechanisms that can cause latch-up problems. These include
injected current via one of the grounds as well as inductive
coupling from ESD currents in the system chassis or in printed
wiring board traces.
SYSTEM CHASSIS
Damage caused by latch-up can range from complete
destruction of the device to parametric degradation. More
insidious are latent failures that could affect operation later in a
system’s lifetime. An excellent treatise on the subject of latch-up
in general can be found in the Analog Dialogue 35-05 (2001)
article, “Winning the Battle Against Latch-Up in CMOS
Switches.” While this article specifically addresses problems
with CMOS switches, it is generally applicable to all CMOS
devices, including digital isolators.
Usually the mechanism that causes latch-up is an overvoltage
condition beyond the part’s absolute maximum rating (>7.0 V
or <–0.5 V for most products). Once a device is integrated into
a system the source of the overvoltage is not always clear.
However, it is usually manageable once understood.
Rev. A | Page 4 of 8
ESD ZAP TO 15kV
AIR OR CONTACT
DISCHARGE
ESD
SOURCE
Figure 3. IEC 61000-4-2 ESD Test
05547-003
The use of ceramic bypass capacitors to minimize supply noise
between VDD and ground is highly recommended in all
applications. Choose capacitors with a value between 0.01 µF
and 0.1 µF and place them as close as possible to the device.
Even with adequate bypassing, latch-up problems may still
occur in some applications. Placing a 200 Ω resistor in series
with VDD is also helpful. This limits the supply current to 25 mA
in 5 V applications, which is below the latch-up trigger current.
However, depending on the supply current being drawn, this
series resistance can reduce the supply voltage at the device pin
to an unacceptable level. This is most likely to be a concern
when operating at high data rates that involve high supply
currents.
CHASSIS
GROUND
Application Note
AN-793
INJECTED ESD CURRENT
The following measures are recommended to avoid current
injection difficulties:
The first possible mechanism for latch-up is one in which
excessive ESD current is injected into a ground. Figure 4 shows
a situation where an isolator is used as a floating output (the
same mechanism can be present in a floating input configuration). In this instance, the chassis impedance, ZCHASSIS, gives rise
to an injected current during an ESD discharge. This current
flows in the loop formed by L3, C2, L4, and CSTRAY. CSTRAY is
the capacitance from the shield of an output cable to chassis
ground. The larger the value of CSTRAY, the larger the injected
current and the consequent internal noise voltage appearing
across L4. If this voltage forces GND2 beyond its absolute
maximum rating, then latch-up could occur.
•
•
•
Minimize the chassis impedance to ground.
Minimize CSTRAY, the cross-isolation barrier capacitance.
If possible place a resistor, RS, in series with VDD1 and VDD2
to limit latch-up trigger current. The recommended
resistor value is 200 Ω.
If it’s not possible to place RS as recommended, place a
transient voltage suppressor (TVS) with an optional
resistor, RS, in series with the TVS and each VDD pin. The
recommended RS value is between 50 Ω and 200 Ω. The
TVS should trigger at the absolute maximum voltage rating
of the product and limit the current into the power supply
nodes, VDD1 and VDD2. Do not use a series resistor on the
VISO output pin for isoPower devices.
Place a 50 Ω resistor between chassis ground and GND1.
This reduces IINJECTED and ultimately VNOISE.
Place a transient absorbing Zener diode from the
connection to chassis ground. This clamps the noise
voltage to within the Zener voltage.
•
•
•
ESD ZAP
200Ω RESISTOR TO LIMIT
LATCH-UP TRIGGER CURRENT
USE 50Ω RESISTOR TO
DECREASE I INJECTED
VDD1
VDD2
50Ω
GND1
200Ω
DOUT
DIN
L3
L4
VLOGIC
GND2
+VNOISE–
ZCHASSIS
IINJECTED
C2
CHASSIS/EARTH
GROUND
ADDITION OF TRANSIENT
ABSORBER TO CLAMP
NOISE VOLTAGE AT GND1 PIN
MINIMIZE SIZE OF CSTRAY ,
COUPLING FROM OUTPUT
CABLE SHIELD TO CHASSIS
GROUND
Figure 4. Injected ESD Current Mechanism and Recommended Solutions
Rev. A | Page 5 of 8
05547-004
CSTRAY
AN-793
Application Note
INDUCTIVE COUPLING FROM ESD CURRENT
SYSTEM
CHASSIS
One consideration is the possibility of inductive coupling from
the ESD current present in the printed wiring board or system
chassis. Inductive pickup on iCoupler transformers from
external magnetic fields is not a problem in the vast majority
of applications; however, there have been rare instances in
IEC 61000-4-2 ESD testing where this phenomenon has been
noted. Solutions to this problem are straightforward.
APPLICATION BOARD
IESD
GOOD GROUND TECHNIQUE:
1. USE OF WIDE GROUND PLANE LOWERS
INDUCTANCE AND WILL LOWER NOISE
2. NO LOOP SO IESD FLOWS THROUGH THE
CHASSIS ONLY
Figure 5 and Figure 6 shows an ESD test setup and the paths
of currents IESD and I1 caused by an ESD strike. These currents
can be very large, and induce large magnetic fields on the
application printed wiring board and chassis. The placement
and geometry of ground traces, ground circuit connections,
board location, and orientation within the chassis are all critical
in minimizing inductive pickup from the radiated magnetic
fields.
ESD ZAP POINT
05547-010
GROUND
PLANE
I1
iCoupler
Figure 6. Good Ground Layout Example of a Board Ground Circuit
WORST ORIENTATION
iCoupler
PACKAGE
CHIP SCALE
TRANSFORMER
Figure 5 shows a poor layout, which uses a thin ground trace
near the device. It also shows a ground loop that allows some
of IESD to flow through the board ground circuit as I1. Close
proximity and narrow trace widths increase the magnitude of
the induced magnetic field. If strong enough, this can cause
latch-up as previously discussed. Figure 6 shows an optimal
design using a wide ground plane further away from the device
and a single point ground which prevents IESD from flowing in
the board ground circuit. When designing ground circuits, it is
always helpful to think in terms of current paths.
VDD
+
VINDUCED
–
MAGNETIC FIELD ORIENTATION RIGHT
ANGLE TO TRANSFORMER WINDINGS
MAXIMIZES VINDUCED
When designing the chassis for the system, it is important to
minimize impedance of the chassis ground connection. It is also
helpful to mount printed circuit boards as far away from the
edge of the chassis as possible, and to have the board oriented
so that devices are parallel to any radiated magnetic fields as
depicted in Figure 7.
BEST ORIENTATION
PC BOARD
CHIP SCALE
TRANSFORMER
MAGNETIC FIELD ORIENTATION
PARALLEL TO TRANSFORMER
WINDINGS MINIMIZES VINDUCED
SYSTEM
CHASSIS
iCoupler
PACKAGE
iCoupler
I1
I2
05547-006
APPLICATION BOARD
Figure 7. External Magnetic Field Interaction with iCoupler Transformers
If inductive coupling is a problem, recommended solutions
include the following:
IESD
ESD ZAP POINT
Figure 5. Poor Ground Layout Example of a Board Ground Circuit
05547-005
POOR GROUND TECHNIQUE:
1. GROUND LOOP ALLOWS PART OF THE IESD
TO FLOW THROUGH BOARD GROUND
2. THIN GROUND CONDUCTOR WILL RADIATE
MAGNETIC FIELD AND CAUSE PICKUP IN
iCoupler TRANSFORMERS
•
•
•
•
Rev. A | Page 6 of 8
Properly design the ground system to avoid ground loops.
Use a ground plane instead of single narrow traces.
Orient print wiring boards away from chassis boundaries.
If possible, orient the device parallel to external magnetic
fields as depicted in Figure 7.
Application Note
AN-793
IEC 61000-4-5 SURGE TESTING
Surge testing per IEC 61000-4-5 is another common systemlevel test in industrial and instrumentation applications.
Figure 8 depicts an isolator in a surge test configuration
showing associated bypass and stray capacitances. VTEST is the
surge test voltage appearing between earth ground and the
board’s local ground GND1. This test typically has test voltages
up to 4 kV. As shown in Figure 8, if excessive stray capacitance
exists across the isolation barrier, the voltage at VDD1 can be
driven above its absolute maximum rating and damage the
device.
Equation 2 shows that making CSTRAY small compared to CBP1
can minimize VX. For example, with a test voltage of 4 kV and a
bypass capacitance of 0.01 µF, even the moderate amount of
10 pF of stray capacitance would create a coupled VDD1 voltage
of 4 V. When imposed on top of the normal supply voltage, this
would induce latch-up. In such a situation, increase the bypass
capacitance, CBP1, to 0.1 µF to reduce the coupled voltage to
0.4 V—a much safer value. Do the following for best results:
•
•
C5
•
•
VDD2
VDD1
L2
L1
VO
VIN
CBP1
CBP2
C4
•
GND2
GND1
L3
C1
IEC 61000-4-4 FAST TRANSIENT AND BURST
TESTING EXAMPLE
L4
C3
Fast transient and burst testing per IEC 61000-4-4 is another
common system-level test that can cause problems if good
design practice is not followed. This test couples high voltage
fast edge signals onto system ac mains.
05547-007
VTEST
Figure 8. Isolator in IEC 61000-4-5 Surge Test Setup
Figure 9 shows the model reduced for easier analysis of circuit.
The simplified schematic ignores negligible effects of lead
inductances and lumps CSTRAY as a computed element
(Equation 1).
POSSIBLE FIXES
TRANSIENT
ABSORBER
AND 200Ω
VL
200Ω
iCoupler
VDD1
CBP1
Figure 10 shows a simplified circuit diagram of a fast transient
test setup. The main mechanism for problems here is interwinding capacitance of the system power supplies transformers. This
stray capacitance can couple fast transient signals from the ac
mains to the supply pins. If the voltage impressed on the
supplies is high enough, then maximum rated supply voltages
can be exceeded and latch-up is possible.
The best preventive measures in this example are:
VDD2
•
•
•
VX
CSTRAY
GND2
GND1
VTEST
Use low interwinding capacitance supplies.
Minimize supply noise by using adequate bypassing.
Use Zener diode clamps across the supplies to clamp noise
voltages.
05547-008
VX IS COUPLED
VOLTAGE ON VDD1
DUE TO CSTRAY
Minimize capacitances between digital isolator floating
grounds and system grounds.
Provide adequate bypassing with good quality ceramic
bypass capacitors with values large enough to minimize
the induced voltage at the supply pins.
Ensure VDD1 and VDD2 are free from noise spikes.
If possible add a 200 Ω resistor in series with VDD1 to limit
parasitic SCR trigger current.
Use a transient-absorbing Zener diode across VDD1.
COUPLED TRANSIENT NOISE
THROUGH CSTRAY TO
VDD1 OR VDD2
Figure 9. Simplified Equivalent Circuit of Figure 8
C STRAY = C4 +
C BP2 × C5
C BP2 + C5
(1)
The coupled voltage, VX, is calculated using a simple capacitor
divider
V x = VTEST
C STRAY
×
C STRAY + C BP1
(2)
TRANSFORMER
WINDING
CAPACITANCE
CSTRAY
VDD1
EFT/BURST
GENERATOR
COUPLING
NETWORK
AC LINES
VDD2
SYSTEM POWER
SUPPLIES
COUPLED TRANSIENT
NOISE ONTO AC LINE
RECOMMENDED SOLUTION
TRANSIENT ABSORBER
Figure 10. IEC 61000-4-4 Fast Transient/Burst Test Setup
Rev. A | Page 7 of 8
05547-009
BOARD WITH
iCoupler
Using Figure 9, and ignoring inductances, CSTRAY is given as
AN-793
Application Note
ESD-HARDENED DIGITAL ISOLATORS
INSIDE THE ESD-HARDENED SERIES
To better support the use of digital isolators in harsh
applications, Analog Devices has introduced a line of ESDhardened products. The ESD-hardened series takes advantage
of improved circuit designs and layouts to increase robustness
to ESD events. These products are pin- and specificationcompatible with the standard isolator series counterparts.
For many installed applications, the standard products perform
well and meet robustness requirements. Therefore, both the
standard isolators and the ESD-hardened series continue to
be offered.
Several design enhancements are incorporated into the ESDhardened series to create a more robust device. Specific
improvements include:
The part numbering for the ESD-hardened series is analogous
to that of the standard product. Table 3 gives examples of the
part numbering for the two product families.
Table 3. Part Numbering Examples for Various Standard and
ESD-Hardened iCoupler Products
Standard Products
ADuM1100
ADuM1200
ADuM1201
ADuM1300
ADuM1301
ADuM1400
ADuM1401
ADuM1402
ESD-Hardened Products
ADuM3100
ADuM3200
ADuM3201
ADuM3300
ADuM3301
ADuM3400
ADuM3401
ADuM3402
•
•
•
•
•
ESD protection cells added to all input/output interfaces.
Key metal trace resistances reduced using wider geometry
and paralleling of lines with vias.
The SCR effect inherent in CMOS devices minimized by
use of guarding and isolation techniques between PMOS
and NMOS devices.
Areas of high electric field concentration eliminated using
45° corners; on metal traces.
Supply pin overvoltage prevented with larger ESD clamps
between each supply pin and its respective ground.
CONCLUSION
By following the guidelines in this application note, designers
can be assured of success in their application of digital isolators
at the system level. Problems with system-level tests can be
anticipated using the lumped-element circuit model presented.
With this model and a good understanding of the various
system tests, designers can avoid problems by employing the
preventive techniques suggested in this application note. In
situations where the recommendations cannot be implemented
due to cost, system design, or other considerations, the ESDhardened family provides an alternative method of avoiding
ESD/latch-up problems.
©2006–2014 Analog Devices, Inc. All rights reserved. Trademarks and
registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
AN05547-0-8/14(A)
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