Static Electricity, Esd, And Your Device - Palm Treo 700WX User Manual

Static Electricity, ESD, and Your Device

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can cause damage to electronic devices if discharged
into the device, so you should take steps to avoid such an occurrence.
Description of ESD
Static electricity is an electrical charge caused by the buildup of excess electrons
on the surface of a material. To most people, static electricity and ESD are nothing
more than annoyances. For example, after walking over a carpet while scuffing
your feet, building up electrons on your body, you may get a shock—the
discharge event—when you touch a metal doorknob. This little shock discharges
the built-up static electricity.
ESD-Susceptible Equipment
Even a small amount of ESD can harm circuitry, so when working with electronic
devices, take measures to help protect your electronic devices, including your
®
Palm device, from ESD harm. While Palm has built protections against ESD into
its products, ESD unfortunately exists and, unless neutralized, could build up
to levels that could harm your equipment. Any electronic device that contains an
external entry point for plugging in anything from cables to docking stations is
susceptible to entry of ESD. Devices that you carry with you, such as your device,
build up ESD in a unique way because the static electricity that may have built up
on your body is automatically passed to the device. Then, when the device is
connected to another device such as a docking station, a discharge event can
occur.
Section 8A: Important Safety Information 373