Transmission-line pulse explained

Transmission-Line Pulse (TLP) is a way to study integrated circuit technologies and circuit behavior in the current and time domain of electrostatic-discharge (ESD) events. The concept was described shortly after WWII in pp. 175–189 of Pulse Generators, Vol. 5 of the MIT Radiation Lab Series. Also, D. Bradley, J. Higgins, M. Key, and S. Majumdar realized a TLP-based laser-triggered spark gap for kilovolt pulses of accurately variable timing in 1969. For investigation of ESD and electrical-overstress (EOS) effects a measurement system using a TLP generator has been introduced first by T. Maloney and N. Khurana in 1985. Since then, the technique has become indispensable for integrated circuit ESD protection development.

The TLP technique is based on charging a long, floating cable to a pre-determined voltage, and discharging it into a Device-Under-Test (DUT). The cable discharge emulates an electro-static discharge event, but employing time-domain reflectometry (TDR), the change in DUT impedance can be monitored as a function of time.

The first commercial TLP system was developed by Barth Electronics in 1990s. Since then, other commercial systems have been developed (e.g., by Thermo Fisher Scientific, Grundtech, ESDEMC Technology, High Power Pulse Instruments, Hanwa, TLPsol).

A subset of TLP, VF-TLP (Very-Fast Transmission-Line Pulsing), has lately gained popularity with its improved resolution and bandwidth for analysis of ephemeral ESD events such as CDM (Charged Device Model) events. Pioneered by academia (University of Illinois) and commercialized by Barth Electronics, VF-TLP has become an important ESD analysis tool for analyzing modern high-speed semiconductor circuits.

TLP Standards

ANSI/ESD STM5.5.1-2016 Electrostatic Discharge Sensitivity Testing – Transmission Line Pulse (TLP) – Component Level

ANSI/ESD SP5.5.2-2007 Electrostatic Discharge Sensitivity Testing - Very Fast Transmission Line Pulse (VF-TLP) - Component Level

IEC 62615:2010 Electrostatic discharge sensitivity testing - Transmission line pulse (TLP) - Component level

See also

• Human-body model
• G. N. Glasoe and J. V. Lebacqz. Pulse Generators, volume 5 of MIT Radiation Laboratory Series. McGraw-Hill, New York, 1948, pp. 175-189.
• D. Bradley, J. Higgins, M. Key, and S. Majumdar, "A simple laser-triggered spark gap for kilovolt pulses of accurately variable timing," Opto-Electronics Letters, vol. 1, pp. 62–64, 1969.

External links

• Web site: Transmission Line Pulse (TLP) is an Effective Analysis Tool for ESD. Robert Ashton Ph D. ON. Semiconductor. 15 November 2007. Electronic Component News. 26 June 2019.
• Introduction of Transmission Line Pulse (TLP) Testing for ESD Analysis -Device Level
• Cable Discharge Event (CDE) Automated Evaluation System Based on TLP Method
• Characterizing Touch Panel Sensor ESD Failure with IV-Curve TLP
• TVS Failure Level Tests Comparison Between ESD Gun, TLP & HMM
• Advanced Frequency Compensation Method for VF-TLP Measurement (up to 10 GHz)
• ESD Failure Analysis of PV Module Diodes and TLP Test Methods
• Web site: ESD Failure Analysis of PV Module Diodes and TLP Test Methods. 29 February 2016. Incompliancemag.com. 26 June 2019.
• Web site: TLP Solutions - Home. Tlpsol.com. 26 June 2019.
• Web site: Celestron TLP/VF-TLP Test System . wThermofisher.com . 26 June 2019.
• Web site: High Current TLP Characterisation : An Effective Tool for the Development of Semiconductor Devices and ESD Protection Solutions. Werner Simburger. David Johnsson. Matthias Stecher. Hppi.de. 26 June 2019.
• Web site: Transmission Lines Pulsing Techniques. Sites.google.com. 26 June 2019.