Noninvasive optoelectronic system for measurement of electrostatic discharge (ESD)-induced phenomena

The design of a high-speed optoelectronic system consisting of an electrically floating detector/transmitter module coupled to a receiver by a fiber-optic link is described. Typical applications of this optical decoupled system involving electrostatic discharge (ESD) are described. These include the optical signature characterization of discharges and the measurement of conducted and radiated electromagnetic interference (EMI) due to ESD. Results of experiments conducted to demonstrate the qualitative performance characteristics of the measurement system are presented.