Functional Failures in a Sensor Application caused by System-level ESD

This paper reports the functional behavior of a system consisting of a pressure sensor within its sensor module, a two-wire supply with current modulated communication channel and an electronic control unit equivalent during powered system-level ESD tests. It discusses functional recoverable soft-failures, their failure mechanisms and root causes considering overall system properties as well as special electro-mechanical integrated circuit properties, and ESD test requirement and procedures.