An analog fiber optic link for ESD detection

The performance of an E-field probe developed around a low-cost battery-powered wide-bandwidth analog fiber optic link for measuring transients is described. The link is based in a VCSEL laser operating at the wavelength of 850 nm and includes a voltage amplifier at the transmitter and a transimpedance amplifier at the receiver to permit the transmission of low-level analog signals up to 1 GHz. The E-field sensor is applied for monitoring radiated electromagnetic fields produced by high-voltage spark discharges simulating the electrostatic discharges (ESD). A numerical electromagnetic field simulator based on the FDTD method, is used as a tool to study the signals beforehand the experimental measurements. The effects of the discharges over the transmission lines connecting passive probes and instruments have shown the feasibility of the fiber optic E-field probe.