API SmartScan 350 User manual

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ESD Scanner Operation Manual
V 5.0
Amber Precision Instruments, Inc.
Nov 2016

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Table of Contents
1. SmartScan 350/550 Overview................................................................................................................7
2. ESD Scanner Outline.................................................................................................................................... 7
2.1. Configuration Diagram....................................................................................................................................... 7
2.2. Main Components of ESD Scanner ................................................................................................................ 8
3. Understanding the Terminology ............................................................................................................9
4. ESD Scanner Operation Procedures................................................................................................... 10
4.1. Create "Workspace" and "Project"..............................................................................................................10
4.2. Calibrate Probe Z Offset...................................................................................................................................12
4.3. Take a Picture of DUT.......................................................................................................................................15
4.4. Define Scan Area and Height .........................................................................................................................17
4.5. Calibrate Probe XY Offset................................................................................................................................23
4.6. Create a New Failure Detection (FD) Project .........................................................................................27
4.6.1. Create an “FD Project” ............................................................................................................................27
4.6.2. Set up Analog and Digital Channels...................................................................................................31
4.6.3. Timing Setting............................................................................................................................................36
4.6.4. Start Monitoring........................................................................................................................................37
4.6.5. Threshold.....................................................................................................................................................37
4.7. Set Macros .............................................................................................................................................................40
4.8. Instrument Settings...........................................................................................................................................42
4.9. Start ESD Scan......................................................................................................................................................45
5. Reviewing measurement data.............................................................................................................. 47
5.1. 3D Plot Options ...................................................................................................................................................48
5.1.1. Selecting a Plot Type ...............................................................................................................................48
5.1.2. Show Plot as 3D.........................................................................................................................................49
5.1.3. 3D Browser .................................................................................................................................................50
5.1.4. Show Legend, Peak and Grid................................................................................................................52
5.1.5. Track Point..................................................................................................................................................53
5.1.6. Transparency of Data Plots ..................................................................................................................54
5.2. Data Visualization Options .............................................................................................................................54
5.2.1. 3D Plot Display Options .........................................................................................................................54
5.2.2. 3D Plot Range.............................................................................................................................................56

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5.3. Cut Planes Option...............................................................................................................................................56
5.4. Data Selection ......................................................................................................................................................58
5.5. Peak Search Option............................................................................................................................................61
6. Data Export.................................................................................................................................................. 62
Appendix-A........................................................................................................................................................... 64
1. Image Stitching....................................................................................................................................................64
2. Import DUT Image .............................................................................................................................................65
List of Figures
Figure 1: Block diagram of the ESD scanner. ................................................................................ 8
Figure 2: Opening window of SmartScan V5.0............................................................................ 10
Figure 3:Workspace definition window........................................................................................ 11
Figure 4:Project definition window.............................................................................................. 11
Figure 5:SmartScan window after a "Project" (ESD-1) has been created.................................... 12
Figure 6: Probe Z offset example.................................................................................................. 13
Figure 7:Open "Probe Settings" window...................................................................................... 13
Figure 8:"Probe Tip Offset Calibration" window for probe Z offset............................................ 13
Figure 9:"Robot Movement" window........................................................................................... 14
Figure 10: Z offset number has been updated............................................................................... 14
Figure 11: "Snapshot" icon and "Take snapshot" shortcut. .......................................................... 15
Figure 12: "Snapshot" window..................................................................................................... 16
Figure 13: DUT picture in scan area............................................................................................. 16
Figure 14: Zoomed in DUT picture.............................................................................................. 17
Figure 15: Click left mouse button to define polygon scan area. ................................................. 18
Figure 16: Polygon scan area as defined....................................................................................... 18
Figure 17: Cut out polygon area. .................................................................................................. 19
Figure 18: Scan Area Properties pane........................................................................................... 19
Figure 19: Multiple scan area definition....................................................................................... 20
Figure 20: Detect selected area height by touch sensor................................................................ 20
Figure 21: Make sure touch sensor is working............................................................................. 21
Figure 22: Start the height measurement using touch sensor. ...................................................... 21
Figure 23: Scan height shown in the "Scan Area Properties" pane.............................................. 21
Figure 24: Get area height by moving robot................................................................................. 22
Figure 25: Robot movement window pops up.............................................................................. 22
Figure 26: Probe tip barely touching the DUT. ............................................................................ 22
Figure 27: Assign measured height to selected area..................................................................... 23
Figure 28: Scan height shown in the "Scan Area Properties" pane.............................................. 23
Figure 29: XY Offset top view. .................................................................................................... 24
Figure 30: Define reference point................................................................................................. 24
Figure 31: Reference point setting................................................................................................ 25

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Figure 32: Probe XY offset calibration......................................................................................... 25
Figure 33: Robot movement warning window. ............................................................................ 25
Figure 34: Probe landing position................................................................................................. 26
Figure 35: Probe adjustment position (aligned with reference point)........................................... 26
Figure 36: Apply XY offset changes............................................................................................ 26
Figure 37: Saved XY offset changes. ........................................................................................... 27
Figure 38: Open “FD Project”. ..................................................................................................... 27
Figure 39: “FD Project” window. ................................................................................................. 28
Figure 40: Define the name of FD project.................................................................................... 28
Figure 41: New FD project shown in the project window............................................................ 29
Figure 42: New FD project opened in the FD Module window................................................... 30
Figure 43: Add new group............................................................................................................ 30
Figure 44: Name the group........................................................................................................... 31
Figure 45: Delete the group. ......................................................................................................... 31
Figure 46: Delete group confirmation........................................................................................... 31
Figure 47: Analog (left) and digital (right) channel icon.............................................................. 32
Figure 48: Analog and digital channels in FD Module’s front panel. .......................................... 32
Figure 49: FD Module’s front panel. ............................................................................................ 32
Figure 50: Add analog channel..................................................................................................... 32
Figure 51: “Analog Channel Setup” window. .............................................................................. 33
Figure 52: “Analog Channel Setup” window. .............................................................................. 33
Figure 53: Analog channel is added to the group......................................................................... 34
Figure 54: Add digital channel. .................................................................................................... 34
Figure 55: Select the device port. ................................................................................................. 34
Figure 56: Digital channel is added to the group.......................................................................... 35
Figure 57: Digital channel setup window..................................................................................... 36
Figure 58: Go to "Timing Settings".............................................................................................. 36
Figure 59: "Timing Settings" window.......................................................................................... 36
Figure 60: Monitoring window..................................................................................................... 37
Figure 61: Set "High Threshold" voltage...................................................................................... 38
Figure 62: Edit threshold property................................................................................................ 38
Figure 63: High threshold cursor.................................................................................................. 39
Figure 64: Both high threshold and low threshold have been set................................................. 39
Figure 65: Red led turns on when failure occur............................................................................ 40
Figure 66: Select a type of macro................................................................................................. 40
Figure 67: Setup "Check Failure Macros".................................................................................... 41
Figure 68: Setup "Reboot DUT Macros"...................................................................................... 42
Figure 69: Open Options window................................................................................................. 42
Figure 70: "Test Fire" done........................................................................................................... 43
Figure 72: Open "Instrument Settings" window........................................................................... 43
Figure 72: "Instrument Settings" window..................................................................................... 44
Figure 74: Start ESD scan............................................................................................................. 45
Figure 75: "Scanning Task" window. ........................................................................................... 45
Figure 76: Select a project to run.................................................................................................. 46

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Figure 77: Resume scanning......................................................................................................... 46
Figure 78: Rescan a project........................................................................................................... 47
Figure 79: Scan result visualization.............................................................................................. 48
Figure 80: Select a plot type. ........................................................................................................ 48
Figure 81: Data display in "Points" mode (left) and "Surface" mode (right). .............................. 49
Figure 82: Show plot as 3D. ......................................................................................................... 49
Figure 83: Data display in 2D (left) and 3D (right)...................................................................... 49
Figure 84: 3D Browser.................................................................................................................. 50
Figure 85: Pick a point example. .................................................................................................. 50
Figure 86: Move DUT picture example........................................................................................ 51
Figure 87: Rotate DUT picture example....................................................................................... 51
Figure 88: Zoom in/out DUT picture example............................................................................. 52
Figure 89: Show legend (left) and not show legend (right).......................................................... 52
Figure 90: Show peak example..................................................................................................... 52
Figure 91: Show grid example...................................................................................................... 53
Figure 92: Track point example.................................................................................................... 53
Figure 93: "Track point" with "Show value on legend" example................................................. 54
Figure 94: Change transparency of data plots............................................................................... 54
Figure 95: Data visualization options........................................................................................... 55
Figure 96: 3D plot range............................................................................................................... 56
Figure 97: 3D plot range example of "Current" (left), "Absolute" (middle) and "Custom" (right).
....................................................................................................................................................... 56
Figure 98: Cut planes option......................................................................................................... 57
Figure 99: XOY cut plane option.................................................................................................. 57
Figure 100: XOZ cut plane option................................................................................................ 57
Figure 101: YOZ cut plane option................................................................................................ 58
Figure 102: Select components..................................................................................................... 58
Figure 103: Merge data................................................................................................................. 59
Figure 104: Merge data window................................................................................................... 59
Figure 105: Merged result............................................................................................................. 60
Figure 106: Field vector................................................................................................................ 60
Figure 107: Peak search option..................................................................................................... 61
Figure 108: Show maximum scan value....................................................................................... 61
Figure 109: Move cursor to maximum frequency. ....................................................................... 61
Figure 110: Track cursor............................................................................................................... 61
Figure 111: Track cursor for peaks............................................................................................... 61
Figure 112: Define peak threshold and excursion in peak search options.................................... 61
Figure 113: Go to previous peak................................................................................................... 62
Figure 114: Go to next peak.......................................................................................................... 62
Figure 115: Delta marker.............................................................................................................. 62
Figure 116: Export current view................................................................................................... 62
Figure 117: Export curve.............................................................................................................. 63
Figure 118: "Stitching" function................................................................................................... 64
Figure 119: Select stitching area................................................................................................... 64

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Figure 120: Stitching height.......................................................................................................... 64
Figure 121: Stitching result........................................................................................................... 65
Figure 122: Import picture............................................................................................................ 65
Figure 123: Imported picture. ....................................................................................................... 66
Figure 124: Define picture position.............................................................................................. 66
Figure 125: Define first reference point........................................................................................ 67
Figure 126: Move robot to first reference point............................................................................ 67
Figure 127: Record first reference point position......................................................................... 67
Figure 128: Define second reference point................................................................................... 68
Figure 129: Record second reference point position. ................................................................... 68
Figure 130: Picture position definition completed........................................................................ 69

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1. SmartScan 350/550 Overview
Amber Precision Instruments is an IC, module and system level EMC/EMI evaluation tool
manufacturer. API is equipped with unique combination of IC level and system level expertise
and offers SmartScan as high level solution to EMC/EMI evaluation. Smart Scan is an evaluation
system that pin-points problem spots of a board/system or pins of IC. It offers a wide range of
tools for susceptibility scanning as well as a user oriented intuitive interface, which provides
time and resource saving benefits.
The following technologies are integrated in to the software package, and are described in detail
in the other sections of a corresponding manual:
EMI Scan, ESD Scan, Phase Measurement Scan, Current Spreading Scan, Resonance Scan,
Current Spreading Scan, RF Immunity Scan, and ESM Scan.
2. ESD Scanner Outline
The main role of the ESD (electro-static discharge) scanner is to detect potential failure zones of
a DUT (device under test). It consists of a robotic arm, scanning surface, SmartScan software
package, TLP (transmission line pulsar), and FD (failure detection) module. The ESD scanner
injects a disturbance into the DUT, analyzes the response, and displays the data acquired from
the DUT in visual form superimposed on the DUT itself. Probe movement and data display are
fully automated with proprietary hardware and software.
2.1. Configuration Diagram
Below (Figure 1) is a block diagram of the ESD scanner. The DUT is operating normally while
being scanned over and injected short disturbance pulse by a probe to detect upset and failure.
The FD (failure detection) Module monitors the DUT for upset. Movement of the probe is
automated via a four axis scara robot controlled by SmartScan software.
Collected data is displayed on a monitor and superimposed on the DUT. The result is a visual
display of areas potentially susceptible to ESD events and therefore indicates zones most prone
to failure. The displayed map is then used to identify circuit components and PCB layout
problems that are contributing ESD failure.

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Figure 1: Block diagram of the ESD scanner.
2.2. Main Components of ESD Scanner
SmartScan
SmartScan is the proprietary software controlling the hardware components and processing
the collected data.
Probe Movement Mechanism
The attached probe is moved to user-specified probing positions by one four-axis scara robot.
The robot facilities 4 degrees of movement: along x-axis, y-axis, z-axis, and 360° rotation
(both clockwise and counterclockwise directions).
Probe
The probes function by inducing an ESD disturbance pulse in the established DUT. Four
different probe types are available to inject magnetic (H) or electric (E) fields in directions of
x, y and z movement. The commercially available probe types are: Hz, Hx/y, Ez, and Ex/Ey.

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Cameras
A high resolution USB camera is attached to the robot and used to take pictures of the DUT.
The detected electromagnetic emission intensity is color coded and then superimposed on the
picture taken by the USB camera prior to the test.
RF Amplifier
In cases where signals are too weak to be detected directly by the spectrum analyzer, an
external RF amplifier may be required.
FD Module
FD Module is used to analyze the feedback from the DUT in order to detect an upset or
failure. It is also used to operate variety of hardware, such as relays, call box, and power
supply for DUT rebutting in order to return a DUT in its normal operating mode after failure.
TLP
The TLP box produces a very fast pulse that emulates the fields produced by an ESD event.
3. Understanding the Terminology
TERM
DESCRIPTION
SmartScan
A software package that allows user to set
scanning area parameters, create a test
scenario, identify the location and number of
test points, control data collection, facilitates
interpretation and visualization, and provides
a built in report generation functionality.
SmartScan Workspace
A file that contains many projects.
SmartScan Project
It contains the information about the test
performed on the DUT, together with
analyzed data.
FD Module
A Failure Detection module (software)
integrated into SmartScan V5.0 that is
responsible for failure detection and DUT
control for ESD Immunity test.
FD Project
A project that contains specific FD and DUT
control settings for FD Module.

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Group
Set of channels that describes a single type of
failure.
Analog Channel
An analog (optical, audio, microphone) input
on the Failure Detection Box.
Digital Channel
A digital input on the Failure Detection Box.
Macros
A sequence of actions required to control
either DUT or failure detection.
4. ESD Scanner Operation Procedures
The hardware set up should be accomplished at this point, e.g. the probe is attached to the robot;
amps, cables and instrument are connected. Operation procedures are described in the order of
normal operation sequence.
4.1. Create "Workspace" and "Project"
As user opens SmartScan V5.0 ( ) , following window with "Workspace Explorer" docking
pane on left and "Wizard" pane on right, pops up. Docking panes can be selected by user as
shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Opening window of SmartScan V5.0.
Any pane can be selected
Double click

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"Workspace" contains one or more "Project". Detailed scan conditions are defined with each
"Project".
Create "Workspace"
Double click "New workspace" in "Wizard" pane on right. Give desired "Workspace" name and
path to save the file. An alternate way of creating "Workspace" can be done by selecting "File"
on the top left menu bar, and select "Newworkspace".
Figure 3:Workspace definition window.
Create "Project"
Double click "Create project" from "Wizard" pane. Give "Project" name, and select proper scan
technology. An ESD scan "Project" named "ESD-1" has been created as shown in Figure 4. Any
previously generated "Project" can be copied to a new "Project". This feature is useful when scan
conditions have minor changes from other "Project".
Figure 4:Project definition window.

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A few changes in SmartScan window can be noticed after a new "Project" is created.
(1) Items needed to be defined for each scan are shown under the "Project" name.
(2) Scan set up guidelines are added to the "Wizard" pane on right.
(3) Some items in the guidelines already have checkmarks. This means some default values
are assigned, and the scan can start with those default values.
(4) Unless every item on "Wizard" pane is checked, the scan cannot be performed, as the
redcross mark shows at "Run scanning".
Figure 5:SmartScan window after a "Project" (ESD-1) has been created.
4.2. Calibrate Probe Z Offset
Most probes from API have same length, however, slight length variation may occur due to the
probe assembly or probe mounting. Since it is important to know the actual scan distance (height)
between the probe tip and the DUT surface, the software has to know where the probe tip is
relative to the predefined origin. The origin is defined at API during hardware calibration. Z
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

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offset calibration is the procedure to give the slight variation to the software. An example of
probe Z offset is shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6: Probe Z offset example.
a. Double click on "Probe Settings" under project name on left pane, and select "Z wizard" after
the "Probe Settings" window pops up.
Figure 7:Open "Probe Settings" window.
Figure 8:"Probe Tip Offset Calibration" window for probe Z offset.

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An alternate way to open the "Probe Tip Offset Calibration" window for probe Z offset is to
double click on "Calibration probe Z offset" from "Wizard" pane.
b. Press "Next" in the "Probe Tip Offset Calibration" window to move probe to the home
position.
Home position is defined at the left bottom of scan table when standard calibration probe
barely touching the table surface.
c. After the robot goes to the home position, check if the probe is barely touching the scan table.
If the height needs to be adjusted, click on "Robot Movement", and move the probe up or
down to make it barely touching the scan table surface.
Figure 9:"Robot Movement" window.
d. When adjustment is done, click on "Close" to close the robot movement window, then click
on "Finish" and "yes" to save the changes. The "Z offset" then will be updated with the
adjustment number.
Figure 10: Z offset number has been updated.

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Touch Sensor Method (automatic way of finding probe Z offset)
a. After open the "Probe Tip Offset Calibration" window, select "Use touch sensor" option,
shown in Figure 8, then click on "Next". The robot movement is expected and the Z offset
calibration will be automatically measured by touch sensor.
b. Click on "Finish" and "Yes" to save the changes. Please make sure touch sensor is working
before using this method, otherwise, hardware damage may occur.
4.3. Take a Picture of DUT
A comb generator is used as a DUT in the following procedures to give the user an idea of taking
a picture of DUT, defining the scan area and the scan height, etc. The “Scan Area Setting” part is
same for all scan types as shown in Figure 4.
A DUT picture is taken by the integrated camera.
a. Double click on "Scan Area Settings" under project name. A board image with two semi-
circles will appear. The area between the two semi-circles is the area robot can reach. The
DUT or the desired scan areas must fit inside the area limited by the two semi-circles.
b. Click on "Snapshot" icon in the top menu bar, or double click on "Take snapshot" on
"Wizard" pane.
Figure 11: "Snapshot" icon and "Take snapshot" shortcut.
c. Move the robot to proper XY position to capture the desired scan area using four direction
arrows with desired moving step, shown in Figure 12. It is always good to press the camera
icon to move the robot to the camera position first, and then start moving XY direction.
"Step" in "[deg]" is the rotation step in degree. The camera can be lowered to take the DUT
picture if the DUT is small. When the desired scan area is too large to capture by the camera,
the "Image stitching" option can be used to capture the large DUT image. Details about
"Image stitching" and "Import DUT image" are given at Appendix-A.

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Figure 12: "Snapshot" window.
d. After moving the camera to the desired location, click on "Take Picture", then click on "OK".
Once the image of the DUT has been taken, the software will automatically super impose the
image onto a simulation of the scan table.
Figure 13: DUT picture in scan area.

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4.4. Define Scan Area and Height
Several options are available to define the scanning area shape over the DUT image: rectangular
area, polygon area, line, and point. These options can be found in the icon bar ( )
highlighted in Figure 13, or can be activated from the "Wizard" pane by double click on the
name.
-Rectangular area –defines a rectangle.
-Polygon –it can be called any shape, too. It allows users to define any shape of scan area.
-Line –defines a straight line.
-Point –defines a single point.
The polygon area option will be used as an example in the following procedures.
Define Scan Area
a. Zoom in the picture taken in the previous procedure by clicking on the "Zoom to Picture"
button ( ) in the top icon bar, highlighted in Figure 13.
Figure 14: Zoomed in DUT picture.
b. Click on the "Polygon Area" icon ( ). Then go to DUT picture, click left mouse button to
select as many points as needed on the DUT picture. Seven points has been defined in this
example, as shown in Figure 15.

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Figure 15: Click left mouse button to define polygon scan area.
c. Click right mouse button when last point (the 7th point in this case) is defined to quit the
polygon mode. The polygon is filled by scan points that are spaced by 1 mm x 1 mm.
Figure 16: Polygon scan area as defined.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

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d. When specific areas need to be excluded from the defined polygon area in the previous
procedure, "Cut Area from Polygon" feature can be used to do so. Click the polygon area,
and click on "Cut Area from Polygon" icon ( ). Define the exclusive area the same way
the polygon area was assigned.
Figure 17: Cut out polygon area.
e. Click inside of the defined polygon area, "Scan Area Properties" pane will be activated and
will be shown on the right window.
Figure 18: Scan Area Properties pane.
Height of the DUT.
Scan steps in X and Y direction
Distance –scan height. The distance between probe tip and
DUT surface.
Retract –How far the probe moves up when it moves from
one point to next measurement point. This is important to
prevent probe colliding with components at DUT surface.
Set it to pull up higher than the tallest component on the
DUT.

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f. Multiple scan areas with different scan area properties can be defined for complex scanning
requirements.
Figure 19: Multiple scan area definition.
Define Scan Area Height
Scan area height can be measured by two ways: (1) by using the touch sensor, and (2) by
manually moving the robot.
A. By using the touch sensor
a. Select a scan area (polygon area is selected in this example). Please note that the yellow dot
inside the scan area indicates the location where the probe will land. User can move this
yellow point to a different location by click left mouse button and drag the point.
b. Click on "Detect Height by touch sensor" icon ( ), from the top icon bar.
Figure 20: Detect selected area height by touch sensor.