SLAA932 December 2019 MSP430AFE221 , MSP430AFE222 , MSP430AFE223 , MSP430AFE231 , MSP430AFE232 , MSP430AFE233 , MSP430AFE251 , MSP430AFE252 , MSP430AFE253 , MSP430BT5190 , MSP430F1101 , MSP430F1101A , MSP430F1111A , MSP430F112 , MSP430F1121 , MSP430F1121A , MSP430F1122 , MSP430F1132 , MSP430F122 , MSP430F1222 , MSP430F123 , MSP430F1232 , MSP430F133 , MSP430F135 , MSP430F147 , MSP430F1471 , MSP430F148 , MSP430F1481 , MSP430F149 , MSP430F1491 , MSP430F155 , MSP430F156 , MSP430F157 , MSP430F1610 , MSP430F1611 , MSP430F1612 , MSP430F167 , MSP430F168 , MSP430F169 , MSP430F2001 , MSP430F2002 , MSP430F2003 , MSP430F2011 , MSP430F2012 , MSP430F2013 , MSP430F2013-EP , MSP430F2101 , MSP430F2111 , MSP430F2112 , MSP430F2121 , MSP430F2122 , MSP430F2131 , MSP430F2132 , MSP430F2132-EP , MSP430F2232 , MSP430F2234 , MSP430F2252 , MSP430F2252-Q1 , MSP430F2254 , MSP430F2272 , MSP430F2272-Q1 , MSP430F2274 , MSP430F2274-EP , MSP430F233 , MSP430F2330 , MSP430F235 , MSP430F2350 , MSP430F2370 , MSP430F2410 , MSP430F2416 , MSP430F2417 , MSP430F2418 , MSP430F2419 , MSP430F247 , MSP430F2471 , MSP430F248 , MSP430F2481 , MSP430F249 , MSP430F249-EP , MSP430F2491 , MSP430F2616 , MSP430F2617 , MSP430F2618 , MSP430F2619 , MSP430F2619S-HT , MSP430F412 , MSP430F413 , MSP430F4132 , MSP430F415 , MSP430F4152 , MSP430F417 , MSP430F423 , MSP430F423A , MSP430F425 , MSP430F4250 , MSP430F425A , MSP430F4260 , MSP430F427 , MSP430F4270 , MSP430F427A , MSP430F435 , MSP430F4351 , MSP430F436 , MSP430F4361 , MSP430F437 , MSP430F4371 , MSP430F438 , MSP430F439 , MSP430F447 , MSP430F448 , MSP430F4481 , MSP430F449 , MSP430F4491 , MSP430F4616 , MSP430F46161 , MSP430F4617 , MSP430F46171 , MSP430F4618 , MSP430F46181 , MSP430F4619 , MSP430F46191 , MSP430F47126 , MSP430F47127 , MSP430F47163 , MSP430F47166 , MSP430F47167 , MSP430F47173 , MSP430F47176 , MSP430F47177 , MSP430F47183 , MSP430F47186 , MSP430F47187 , MSP430F47193 , MSP430F47196 , MSP430F47197 , MSP430F477 , MSP430F478 , MSP430F4783 , MSP430F4784 , MSP430F479 , MSP430F4793 , MSP430F4794 , MSP430F5131 , MSP430F5132 , MSP430F5151 , MSP430F5152 , MSP430F5171 , MSP430F5172 , MSP430F5212 , MSP430F5214 , MSP430F5217 , MSP430F5219 , MSP430F5222 , MSP430F5224 , MSP430F5229 , MSP430F5232 , MSP430F5234 , MSP430F5237 , MSP430F5239 , MSP430F5242 , MSP430F5244 , MSP430F5247 , MSP430F5249 , MSP430F5252 , MSP430F5253 , MSP430F5254 , MSP430F5255 , MSP430F5256 , MSP430F5257 , MSP430F5258 , MSP430F5259 , MSP430F5304 , MSP430F5308 , MSP430F5309 , MSP430F5310 , MSP430F5324 , MSP430F5325 , MSP430F5326 , MSP430F5327 , MSP430F5328 , MSP430F5328-EP , MSP430F5329 , MSP430F5333 , MSP430F5335 , MSP430F5336 , MSP430F5338 , MSP430F5340 , MSP430F5341 , MSP430F5342 , MSP430F5358 , MSP430F5359 , MSP430F5418 , MSP430F5418A , MSP430F5419 , MSP430F5419A , MSP430F5435 , MSP430F5435A , MSP430F5436 , MSP430F5436A , MSP430F5437 , MSP430F5437A , MSP430F5438 , MSP430F5438A , MSP430F5438A-EP , MSP430F5438A-ET , MSP430F5500 , MSP430F5501 , MSP430F5502 , MSP430F5503 , MSP430F5504 , MSP430F5505 , MSP430F5506 , MSP430F5507 , MSP430F5508 , MSP430F5509 , MSP430F5510 , MSP430F5513 , MSP430F5514 , MSP430F5515 , MSP430F5517 , MSP430F5519 , MSP430F5521 , MSP430F5522 , MSP430F5524 , MSP430F5525 , MSP430F5526 , MSP430F5527 , MSP430F5528 , MSP430F5529 , MSP430F5630 , MSP430F5631 , MSP430F5632 , MSP430F5633 , MSP430F5634 , MSP430F5635 , MSP430F5636 , MSP430F5637 , MSP430F5638 , MSP430F5658 , MSP430F5659 , MSP430F6433 , MSP430F6435 , MSP430F6436 , MSP430F6438 , MSP430F6458 , MSP430F6459 , MSP430F6459-HIREL , MSP430F6630 , MSP430F6631 , MSP430F6632 , MSP430F6633 , MSP430F6634 , MSP430F6635 , MSP430F6636 , MSP430F6637 , MSP430F6638 , MSP430F6658 , MSP430F6659 , MSP430F6720 , MSP430F6720A , MSP430F6721 , MSP430F6721A , MSP430F6723 , MSP430F6723A , MSP430F6724 , MSP430F6724A , MSP430F6725 , MSP430F6725A , MSP430F6726 , MSP430F6726A , MSP430F6730 , MSP430F6730A , MSP430F6731 , MSP430F6731A , MSP430F6733 , MSP430F6733A , MSP430F6734 , MSP430F6734A , MSP430F6735 , MSP430F6735A , MSP430F6736 , MSP430F6736A , MSP430F6745 , MSP430F67451 , MSP430F67451A , MSP430F6745A , MSP430F6746 , MSP430F67461 , MSP430F67461A , MSP430F6746A , MSP430F6747 , MSP430F67471 , MSP430F67471A , MSP430F6747A , MSP430F6748 , MSP430F67481 , MSP430F67481A , MSP430F6748A , MSP430F6749 , MSP430F67491 , MSP430F67491A , MSP430F6749A , MSP430F67621 , MSP430F67621A , MSP430F67641 , MSP430F67641A , MSP430F6765 , MSP430F67651 , MSP430F67651A , MSP430F6765A , MSP430F6766 , MSP430F67661 , MSP430F67661A , MSP430F6766A , MSP430F6767 , MSP430F67671 , MSP430F67671A , MSP430F6767A , MSP430F6768 , MSP430F67681 , MSP430F67681A , MSP430F6768A , MSP430F6769 , MSP430F67691 , MSP430F67691A , MSP430F6769A , MSP430F6775 , MSP430F67751 , MSP430F67751A , MSP430F6775A , MSP430F6776 , MSP430F67761 , MSP430F67761A , MSP430F6776A , MSP430F6777 , MSP430F67771 , MSP430F67771A , MSP430F6777A , MSP430F6778 , MSP430F67781 , MSP430F67781A , MSP430F6778A , MSP430F6779 , MSP430F67791 , MSP430F67791A , MSP430F6779A , MSP430FE423 , MSP430FE4232 , MSP430FE423A , MSP430FE4242 , MSP430FE425 , MSP430FE4252 , MSP430FE425A , MSP430FE427 , MSP430FE4272 , MSP430FE427A , MSP430FG4250 , MSP430FG4260 , MSP430FG4270 , MSP430FG437 , MSP430FG438 , MSP430FG439 , MSP430FG4616 , MSP430FG4617 , MSP430FG4618 , MSP430FG4619 , MSP430FG477 , MSP430FG478 , MSP430FG479 , MSP430FG6425 , MSP430FG6426 , MSP430FG6625 , MSP430FG6626 , MSP430FR2000 , MSP430FR2032 , MSP430FR2033 , MSP430FR2100 , MSP430FR2110 , MSP430FR2111 , MSP430FR2153 , MSP430FR2155 , MSP430FR2310 , MSP430FR2311 , MSP430FR2353 , MSP430FR2355 , MSP430FR2422 , MSP430FR2433 , MSP430FR2475 , MSP430FR2476 , MSP430FR2512 , MSP430FR2522 , MSP430FR2532 , MSP430FR2533 , MSP430FR2632 , MSP430FR2633 , MSP430FR2672 , MSP430FR2673 , MSP430FR2675 , MSP430FR2676 , MSP430FR4131 , MSP430FR4132 , MSP430FR4133 , MSP430FR5041 , MSP430FR5043 , MSP430FR50431 , MSP430FR5720 , MSP430FR5721 , MSP430FR5722 , MSP430FR5723 , MSP430FR5724 , MSP430FR5725 , MSP430FR5726 , MSP430FR5727 , MSP430FR5728 , MSP430FR5729 , MSP430FR5730 , MSP430FR5731 , MSP430FR5732 , MSP430FR5733 , MSP430FR5734 , MSP430FR5735 , MSP430FR5736 , MSP430FR5737 , MSP430FR5738 , MSP430FR5739 , MSP430FR5739-EP , MSP430FR5847 , MSP430FR58471 , MSP430FR5848 , MSP430FR5849 , MSP430FR5857 , MSP430FR5858 , MSP430FR5859 , MSP430FR5867 , MSP430FR58671 , MSP430FR5868 , MSP430FR5869 , MSP430FR5870 , MSP430FR5872 , MSP430FR58721 , MSP430FR5887 , MSP430FR5888 , MSP430FR5889 , MSP430FR58891 , MSP430FR5922 , MSP430FR59221 , MSP430FR5947 , MSP430FR59471 , MSP430FR5948 , MSP430FR5949 , MSP430FR5957 , MSP430FR5958 , MSP430FR5959 , MSP430FR5962 , MSP430FR5964 , MSP430FR5967 , MSP430FR5968 , MSP430FR5969 , MSP430FR5969-SP , MSP430FR59691 , MSP430FR5970 , MSP430FR5972 , MSP430FR59721 , MSP430FR5986 , MSP430FR5987 , MSP430FR5988 , MSP430FR5989 , MSP430FR5989-EP , MSP430FR59891 , MSP430FR5992 , MSP430FR5994 , MSP430FR59941 , MSP430FR6005 , MSP430FR6007 , MSP430FR6035 , MSP430FR6037 , MSP430FR60371 , MSP430FR6041 , MSP430FR6043 , MSP430FR60431 , MSP430FR6045 , MSP430FR6047 , MSP430FR60471 , MSP430FR6820 , MSP430FR6822 , MSP430FR68221 , MSP430FR6870 , MSP430FR6872 , MSP430FR68721 , MSP430FR6877 , MSP430FR6879 , MSP430FR68791 , MSP430FR6887 , MSP430FR6888 , MSP430FR6889 , MSP430FR68891 , MSP430FR6920 , MSP430FR6922 , MSP430FR69221 , MSP430FR6927 , MSP430FR69271 , MSP430FR6928 , MSP430FR6970 , MSP430FR6972 , MSP430FR69721 , MSP430FR6977 , MSP430FR6979 , MSP430FR69791 , MSP430FR6987 , MSP430FR6988 , MSP430FR6989 , MSP430FR69891 , MSP430FW423 , MSP430FW425 , MSP430FW427 , MSP430FW428 , MSP430FW429 , MSP430G2001 , MSP430G2101 , MSP430G2102 , MSP430G2111 , MSP430G2112 , MSP430G2121 , MSP430G2131 , MSP430G2132 , MSP430G2152 , MSP430G2153 , MSP430G2201 , MSP430G2201-Q1 , MSP430G2202 , MSP430G2203 , MSP430G2210 , MSP430G2211 , MSP430G2212 , MSP430G2213 , MSP430G2221 , MSP430G2230 , MSP430G2230-EP , MSP430G2231 , MSP430G2231-EP , MSP430G2231-Q1 , MSP430G2232 , MSP430G2233 , MSP430G2252 , MSP430G2253 , MSP430G2302 , MSP430G2302-EP , MSP430G2303 , MSP430G2312 , MSP430G2313 , MSP430G2332 , MSP430G2332-EP , MSP430G2333 , MSP430G2352 , MSP430G2353 , MSP430G2402 , MSP430G2403 , MSP430G2412 , MSP430G2413 , MSP430G2432 , MSP430G2433 , MSP430G2444 , MSP430G2452 , MSP430G2453 , MSP430G2453-Q1 , MSP430G2513 , MSP430G2533 , MSP430G2544 , MSP430G2553 , MSP430G2553-Q1 , MSP430G2744 , MSP430G2755 , MSP430G2855 , MSP430G2955 , MSP430I2020 , MSP430I2021 , MSP430I2030 , MSP430I2031 , MSP430I2040 , MSP430I2041 , MSP430L092 , MSP430TCH5E
4.2 Real Case Scenario of System-Level ESD Failure Analysis
A line failure for a meter application was reported. The failed meter experienced a problem with "low-battery" indication soon after battery insertion. The problem would go away if the meter lost power or was power cycled. This means the failed meter did not encounter physical damage. So the failure phenomenon was indicated as a soft failure.
Board-level analysis on the failed meter found that the core MCU was drawing an extra 20-mA current through VCC, which was an unexpected behavior. Ideally the high amount of current can only occur by two reasons: I/Os being driven out at high current, or latch-up trigger on the MCU. During the debugging, the I/Os were isolated on the failed meter, while still can detect the 20-mA current on the MCU. So the possible latch-up on MCU was suspected which needed to be analyzed.
After reviewing the schematic, the meter system has a direct-battery power supply, shown in Figure 8. No ordinary way for improperly voltages could generate extra current on MCU. The system-level ESD event could be the possible source to trigger the latch-up and lead to the unexpected 20-mA current on MCU. The failure analysis was then done on the MCU to identify which pin or pins had the extra current flow. Hot-spot analysis is the most appropriate method for this the failure signature.
Figure 8. Typical Schematic Showing Meter Power Supply Structure A special battery fixture was designed to supply the failed meter with continuous power. This avoided failure recovery due to the meter losing power. This test needed sample preparation to expose the die from its package of the powering MCU, showed in Figure 9. During each analysis step, the test also needed to monitor the extra current to the MCU to see if the failure persisted or recovered. The voltage at the specific locations to the failed meter was measured, which indicated the MCU had unexpected current. Figure 10 shows the test board connected between meter board and power supply.
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| (a) MCU enwrapped with acid-free tape | (b) Defined etching window of the package |
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Figure 9. Photos Showing Sample Preparation
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| (a) Powering meter through test board | (b) Meter powering monitor |
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Figure 10. Photos Showing Meter Continuously Powering During Hot Spot Analysis
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Six failed meters were analyzed, and meter 1 was selected to trial the sample preparation and handling with lesson learn for improper handling. The remaining five failed meters (meter 2 to meter 6) were successfully prepared to expose the MCU die for the hot spot analysis. Figure 11 shows the typical hot spot images. The emission hot spots were observed at the MCU LCD pins of failed meters (see Table 3).
Table 3. Hot Spot Pins on MCU of Failure Meters
| Failed Meter | Hot Spot LCD Pin |
|---|---|
| 2 | Pin 29 and pin 32 |
| 3 | Pin 28 |
| 4 | Pin 30 |
| 5 | Pin 27 |
| 6 | Pin 28 |
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| (a) Image of meter 2 | (b) Image of meter 6 |
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Figure 11. Emission Hot Spot Images of MCU Die
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Further reviewing the meter board, it was apparent that a system-level ESD strike could be traveling from the strip port and causing MCU latch-up as shown in Figure 12. We found a large metal bracket in the meter board as shown in Figure 12(a). The bracket was clipped on the board but not soldered with possible weak grounding. And the tolerance between the LCD pads and the bracket was also found to be smaller than recommended, and shown in Figure 12(b). So the ESD protectors on the board could allow ESD from the strip port to jump to the bracket, then jump to the LCD pads, and finally travel to the MCU to trigger the latch-up and lead to the meter failure of "low-battery" at line.
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| (a) Photo showing ESD traveling from strip port to metal bracket on meter board | (b) Photo showing connection between metal bracket on meter board and LCD driver pins of MCU |
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Figure 12. Photos of System-Level ESD Strike Route
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Based on the failure scenario of the analysis, the following solution was proposed:
- Replaced the weak ESD protectors with diode-clamp protectors on the board.
- Improved the grounding of the LCD bracket on the board.
- Improved the tolerance between the bracket and the LCD pads on the board.
This case shows how to identify the problem through the hot spot analysis technique. The analysis also supports building a more robust system against system-level ESD for the application, which can be used in system-level ESD troubleshooting and problem solving.