An apparatus and method are disclosed for use in detecting
and localizing electrostatically susceptible areas of electronic
systems, An exemplary apparatus includes: (1) an
ESD gun for providing a source of electric current; (2) a wire
coil for generating a magnetic field; and (3) a shielded
transmission line, such as a coaxial transmission line
("coax"), for receiving current from the gun. The center
conductor of the coax is coupled at one end to the gun and
at the other end to one end of the wire coil. The other end
of the wire coil is coupled to ground. The current flowing
through the wire coil creates a magnetic field, which is
bi-directional and orthogonal to the plane of the coil. The
magnetic field causes errors in the operation of the system
under test when the coil is placed in close proximity with
ESD susceptible system components. As such, components
that are ESD susceptible can be easily detected and localized.
Another feature of the foregoing exemplary apparatus
includes a magnetic field absorptive shield (e.g. ferritebased)
coupled to the coax and situated substantially parallel
to the plane of the coil. The shield is used to effectively
inhibit the magnetic field from emanating from one side of
said coil, thereby providing further directionality to the
apparatus.