In the 80s I worked with all manner of antistatic packaging. Most of it was pink, but there were clear, blue and opaque black bags that came from various manufacturers. The DIP package tubes were also widely varied but I did have some devices in these really nice opaque black tubes that had a clear window window running the length of the tube to be able to identify the devices by sight (EEPROMs in those cases). Some of our packaged devices came in antistat plastic boxes with either carbon impregnated low-density or high-density polyurethane foam that was all black. Later we got some shiny pink foam packaging too and even later on shiny silvery-gray Mylar bags. All our benches had antistatic work mats and dedicated ground points for antistatic straps with 200 Meg Ohm resistors integrated into them. We even had ceramic tweezers when SMD/SMT became more common. It was overkill though since most of our devices were not that sensitive to static fields.
I did have some devices in these really nice opaque black tubes that had a clear window window running the length of the tube
I remember when we got our first batch of the ESD DIP tubes like that, game changer from the opaque black tubes.
shiny silvery-gray Mylar bags
These I remember the most. We had about everything else you mentioned over a period of time. Thinking back to the early 1980s, I do remember we were packing some "golden devices" in a pink foam in black plastic cases. I don't think I knew they were ESD rated at the time (if they were).
All our benches had antistatic work mats and dedicated ground points for antistatic straps with 200 Meg Ohm resistors integrated into them.
While I was in the Mil/Aero Product Line I solved a major production issue in our Singapore mfg plant wrt this. We were experiencing ESD related customer returns. The final test site was Singapore, I was there working on other projects and decided to find the problem after 3 others from my group had failed. Their site had the resistors connected at the connector on their SS work tables for use with non resistive wristbands (an old set-up I guess). Their attention to ESD was generally nonexistent. Many wires grounding the tables and mats were broken. Some of the resistors connections were broken too. I recorded all surface voltages and resistances. No wonder we had customer retuns. Anyway, the Product Line was thrilled that I found the problem, engineering director was told to upgrade ESD wiring on all of the equipment, Everyone was happy except the Engineering manager responsible for the production floor. He lost face and was "let go" about 6 months later.
We supported plenty of digital parts that had low ESD ratings.
I'd guess that all this began when MOSFETs were introduced, with their fragile gates. Dave Jones had a recent that was interesting.
I'd guess that all this began when MOSFETs were introduced, with their fragile gates. Dave Jones had a recent video about an ESD meter (youtube.com) that was interesting.
We were working with a lot of TTL and CMOS devices back then. The TTL devices are pretty damned rugged and could handle anything but reverse voltage or negative voltages. The CMOS stuff was sensitive to static fields and discharge, but where I was had a very high humidity and it seemed to make the static issues a complete non-issue even though those CMOS devices were full of MOSFETs.
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