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Contact Amphenol Aerospace for more information at 800-678-0141 or Filterapps@amphenol-aao.com • amphenol-aerospace.com
EMI/EMP
G
Filter
Amphenol has developed cylindrical and rectangular
connectors which protect sensitive components from
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) without diodes, varistors, gas tubes,
or “experimental” semi-conductive materials.
These connectors utilize the Faraday Cage principle to shunt
electro static discharge events to the conductive enclosure on
which the con nector is mounted, thus never allowing the high
voltage, high current discharge event to reside on any contacts.
The ESD protected connectors have the same physical envelope
as their standard counterparts, and do not require special
mounting or ter minating techniques. All of the contacts remain fully
functional, and electrical characteristics such as capacitance are
not effected.
PRODUCT FEATURES:
• Connector envelope identical to unprotected design for
most applications
• Exceeds protection requirements of IEC 801-2 and
MIL-STD-1686:
• Ensures that all components within a conductive enclosure
will be sub jected to a maximum of 10V during electrostatic
discharges between –26 KV and +26 KV
• Voltage observed on contacts during ESD events –
<10V (at 1 megohm)
• Current observed on contacts during ESD events –
<100 milliamperes (at 2 ohms)
• Response time – instantaneous
(voltage and current are maximum values)
• Maximum ESD voltage – tested to ±26KV
• No capacitive loading
• Eliminates the need for discrete components (such as
diodes) and max imizes printed circuit board real estate for
equipment housed in con ductive enclosures which require
ESD protection as free-standing units
• Operating voltage of connectors not affected for most
designs
• Pulse life – innite
WHAT IS ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD)?
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) is the rapid transfer of a static electric
charge from one body to another. A static electric charge consists
of either a surplus or depletion of electrons on a body, which gives
that body a potential or voltage relative to ground (or another
body). The discharge is extremely fast (less than 1 nanosecond
risetime) and the current ow may exceed 100 amps!
Static electricity is normally the result of two materials transferring
charges when rubbed or separated, such as shoes scufng across
a dry carpet, or sheets of untreated plastic being separated. This
phe nomena is commonly referred to as the triboelectric effect.
The voltage developed due to the triboelectric effect depends on
the materials involved, the quantity and type of contact, and
relative humid ity. In a dry environment a person can accumulate a
charge of up to 25 KV! In a moist environment a person’s
potential is reduced due to the effect of moisture on the insulating
properties of materials.
WHAT IS A FARADAY CAGE?
A Faraday Cage is a conductive enclosure. It may be solid in form
such as a sheet–metal enclosure, or it may be full of apertures,
such as a wire cloth box. When a charge is placed on a Faraday
Cage, the electrons which make up the charge, having like polarity,
try to position themselves as far as possible from each
other. This places the electrons on the outer surface of
the enclo sure, leaving the inner surface uncharged. The
charge on the outer surface does not induce a charge on
any neutral object inside of the Faraday Cage, and
therefore does not try to transfer itself onto the internal
object. Neutral objects (such as IC’s) inside of a faraday
cage are thereby
protected from ESD activity external to the Fara day
Cage.
The voltage and current observed on neutral objects
within a Faraday Cage during ESD events are due to the
secondary effects of ESD. These include Electromag-
netic Interference (EMI), magnetic and electrical eld
coupling. The Faraday Cage of the Amphenol ESD
Protected Con nectors has been designed to minimize
these effects.
THE AMPHENOL® ESD PROTECTED
CONNECTORS
The Amphenol ESD Protected Connectors have a
Fara day Cage at the mating interface. The Faraday Cage
has been specically designed to intercept electrostatic
dis charges from the contacts in the unmated state, while
maintaining each contact’s isolation when the connector
is mated. When the ESD Protected Connectors have
been mounted to a conductive enclosure, a Faraday
Cage is created which will protect components located
within the enclosure from electrostatic discharges. This
elimi nates the need for discrete components such as
diodes and gas discharge tubes, and saves printed
circuit board real estate. Amphenol ESD Protected
Connectors have also been applied to Line Replaceable
Modules (LRM).*
ESD TESTING ON MIL-DTL-38999, SERIES III
FILTER CYLINDRICAL CONNECTOR (ACTUAL PHOTO)
(ESD) Protected Connectors
Protection from Electrostatic Discharge