Sentry Test Equipment

Sentry is more than just a tester. It is a powerful measurement system with built-in data logging to allow easy compliance with ISO9000

The Situation

Static control is an essential function within the manufacturing and test of modern products. Avoidance of, and protection from, electrostatic discharge (ESD) is necessary for all production areas.
All staff involved in the assembly and handling of sensitive products must be suitably equipped with wrist or foot straps. Furthermore, protective straps should be checked frequently and thoroughly to verify their integrity. Major benefits to customers and manufacturers in cost savings and improved product quality result from the reduction in ESD failures.

The ESD Problem

Studies of the failure mechanisms in production and test indicate that electrostatic discharges (ESD) cause more than 25% of all failures in integrated circuits. To make matters worse some of the new micro electronic devices can be damaged by potentials of less than 100 volts. The cost to industry from static damage is estimated to be tens of millions of pounds each year.

Monitoring and recording

ESD is becoming increasingly important as customers focus on product quality and reliability and manufacturers strive to achieve "right first time" production processes with ISO9000 approval.

Sentry a 21st Century Solution

Sentry is a wall mounted unit that verifies the integrity of personnel grounding devices such as wrist and foot straps. Data is recorded for access when required directly or on a network.

Sentry makes precise measurements of wrist and feet in a single operation.

Sentry Observer software enables data to be monitored on-line.

Sentry units can be placed at each entry point so that all staff can check their straps every time they enter the static controlled area. They can configured for stand alone or networked operation

Sentry is easy to use. Operators simply plug in the wrist strap or stand on the foot plate and touch the test pad. LED indicators prompt the operator to enter an identification code using a numeric keypad, magnetic swipe card or other input devices.

Sentry logs the measured results with the operator identification plus the time and date. GREEN and RED lamps and a warning buzzer provide pass and fail indications. Voltage free contacts provide communication with external personnel control systems.

Precise measurement allows trend analysis and failure prediction. Records can be unloaded in tabular form for analysis in commercially available spread sheets and databases

Each Sentry unit holds more than 2,000 records to cater for the daily movements of around 400 employees.
Accurately measured values can be used to monitor trends and predict failures from degraded protective straps.

Sentry Observer software is an easy to use utility that provides user facilities to access and manipulate the measured results and test conditions. Data can be exported to commercially available software packages for further analysis.

Sentry performs frequent checks without causing disruption or delay. Thus, protective straps can be verified whenever staff enter a controlled area. Investment cost is recouped quickly from the time savings compared with manual paper based procedures

Sentry a 21st Century Solution. It overcomes the labour intensive limitations of hand written paper-based methods. Additionally it provides an effective and efficient computer based solution to control and monitor ESD protection procedures.

Sentry - Always on guard

For more information: www.sentry-esd.com