Characterizing Relative Performance of ESD Protection

When there is a choice between TVS devices or shielding material, given the same price and delivery, how can a designer gauge the relative robustness performance?

Current Reconstruction can help characterize the in-situ performance of various options head-to-head.

This technique maps the current density at any point in the circuit and at any time relative to the applied zap.    The residual pulse that remains after the TVS clamp shown here must be dissipated by the Device Under Protection (DUP).