Glossary comparison
EOS vs ESD: what is the difference?
The difference
ESD is a very short discharge from a charged person, machine or the part itself. Some definitions treat ESD as a subset of EOS, but in practice the terms are kept separate because the causes, timescales and damage signatures differ.
Electrical overstress is damage from voltage or current beyond ratings for longer periods, for example from a faulty power supply. ESD is a very short, high-current event. Failure analysis tries to tell them apart.
The two terms
EOS
Damage from applying voltage, current or power beyond absolute maximum ratings for longer than an ESD event. The signature is gross melting or metal splatter rather than the pinpoint damage of ESD.
ESD
A rapid transfer of static charge into or out of a device, delivering nanosecond to microsecond current pulses that can rupture gate dielectrics, melt junctions or fuse metal.
Side by side
| Field | EOS | ESD |
|---|---|---|
| Stands for | Electrical Overstress | Electrostatic Discharge |
| Type | Acronym | Acronym |
| Domain | Reliability & Quality | Reliability & Quality |
| Group | ESD and latch-up | ESD and latch-up |