I M P O R T A N T S A F E T Y A N D L E G A L I N F O R M A T I O N
6
Static Electricity, ESD, and Your Palm 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 Palm 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.
Precautions against ESD
Make sure to discharge any built-up static
electricity from yourself and your electronic devices before touching
an electronic device or connecting one device to another. The
recommendation from Palm is that you take this precaution before
connecting your Palm device to your computer, placing a device in a
cradle, or connecting it to any other device. You can do this in many
ways, including the following:
•
Ground yourself when you're holding your device by
simultaneously touching a metal surface that is at earth ground.
For example, if your computer has a metal case and is plugged
into a standard three-prong grounded outlet, touching the case
should discharge the ESD on your body.
•
Increase the relative humidity of your environment.
•
Install ESD-specific prevention items, such as grounding mats.
Conditions that enhance ESD occurrences
Conditions that can
contribute to the buildup of static electricity in the environment
include the following:
•
Low relative humidity.
•
Material type. (The type of material gathering the charge. For
example, synthetics are more prone to static buildup than natural
fibers like cotton.
•
The rapidity with which you touch, connect, or disconnect
electronic devices.
While you should always take appropriate precautions to discharge
static electricity, if you are in an environment where you notice ESD
events, you may want to take extra precautions to protect your
electronic equipment against ESD.
For information on environmental programs, visit
www.palm.com/environment.
PN: 185-10441-00
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