How many different types of failures can electrostatic discharge cause in ESDs?

How many different types of failures can electrostatic discharge cause in ESDs?

• A. Two
• B. Three
• C. Four
• D. Five

Answer: (B)

When an ESD event hits an ESD-sensitive device, the damage can fall into three main outcomes. First, catastrophic failure where the device is destroyed outright—think of a short or open that stops it from functioning at all. Second, a parametric failure where the device still works, but its electrical characteristics drift out of spec—things like higher leakage, shifted thresholds, or reduced gain, which degrade performance but aren’t immediately obvious without proper testing. Third, latent failure where the device initially tests as okay, but the damage reduces long-term reliability, leading to intermittent operation or early failure after aging or additional stress. This trio—catastrophic, parametric, and latent—is why three is the best answer.

When an ESD event hits an ESD-sensitive device, the damage can fall into three main outcomes. First, catastrophic failure where the device is destroyed outright—think of a short or open that stops it from functioning at all. Second, a parametric failure where the device still works, but its electrical characteristics drift out of spec—things like higher leakage, shifted thresholds, or reduced gain, which degrade performance but aren’t immediately obvious without proper testing. Third, latent failure where the device initially tests as okay, but the damage reduces long-term reliability, leading to intermittent operation or early failure after aging or additional stress. This trio—catastrophic, parametric, and latent—is why three is the best answer.