Current challenges in component-level and system-level ESD simulation

Electronic systems and components contain large numbers of elements and have a complex non-linear response to ESD; thus, passing ESD qualification on the first pass is unlikely to occur unless the robustness is verified by means of simulation prior to manufacturing. For component-level ESD verification, the primary challenge is in regards to computational efficiency; for system-level ESD verification, component and test bed modeling present major challenges.