PRODUCT DESIGN TO MINIMIZE ESD PROBLEMS

Several strategies can be employed to improve the robustness of a wireless sensor network node to an ESD event. Many of them concern the mechanical and industrial design of the node, and only tangentially involve its electrical design. Because many network nodes employ internal antennas and, therefore, must use plastic or other nonconductive housings, the use of grounded metal enclosures to protect the node are usually not possible. Nodes inside plastic housings can be made resistant to ESD events, however, if properly designed.^[21], ^[22]