WO1996038888A1

WO1996038888A1 - Electrostatic discharge protection device

Info

Publication number: WO1996038888A1
Application number: PCT/US1996/007591
Authority: WO
Inventors: David V. Cronin
Original assignee: Polaroid Corporation
Priority date: 1995-05-31
Filing date: 1996-05-24
Publication date: 1996-12-05

Abstract

A plurality of electrostatic discharge protection devices are disclosed for use with a connector-receptor assembly having conductors that are externally accessible. The electrostatic discharge protection devices disclosed herein automatically withdraws from electrical contact with the conductors upon insertion of the connector into the receptor.

Description

Electrostatic Discharge Protection Device

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to electrostatic discharge protection devices. More particularly, the invention relates to electrostatic discharge protection devices for connector-receptor assemblies where the electrostatic discharge protection device connects conductors in the connector so they are grounded or maintained at the same electrical potential to inhibit electrostatic charge accumulation when the connector is not mounted on the receptor. The electrostatic discharge protection device then disconnects the ground connection upon operative combination of the connector on the receptor.

Electrostatic charge is a stationary electric charge which accumulates on various surfaces. An electrostatic discharge occurs when the electrostatic charge becomes substantial enough to overcome a dielectric material between the charge and another surface of lower electrical potential. An example of such a discharge as naturally occurring is lightning.

Electrostatic discharge in the realm of electronics can be devastating to microelectronic devices. A sharp voltage spike caused by an electrostatic discharge can cause permanent and costly damage to semiconductor devices.

Many commercially available electrostatic discharge protection devices in use today consist primarily of electrostatic discharge packaging of the circuit boards and components in electrically conductive strips or boxes which provide effective electrostatic discharge protection for a circuit board and its components until the circuit board is removed for placement in a final assembly. At that point the circuit board must be removed from electrostatic discharge protective packaging, thus rendering the components on the circuit board vulnerable to electrostatic discharge. On circuit board having wire connectors extending therefrom, a likelihood of damage due to electrostatic discharge is increased since the wire connectors provide electrostatic charge conduits to the electronic components on the circuit boards. Moreover, a circuit board is a removable and replaceable electronic component which can be repeatedly inserted into and later removed from the final assembly. Each time the circuit board is removed, or simply disconnected, the possibility of electrostatic discharge damage increases. These circuit boards require electrostatic discharge protection during the repeated connections and disconnection from the final assembly. Specifically, the circuit boards require electrostatic discharge protection from the moment that the connectors are removed from their receptors until their connectors are again inserted therein.

Consequently a need still exists within the semiconductor chip packaging industry for a true electrostatic discharge protection device, rather than electrostatic discharge protection packaging, which effectively protects semiconductor components from electrostatic discharge while packaged.

A prior art electrical connector-receptacle arrangement is described in commonly assigned U.S. Application No. 08/234,917 entitled "Electrostatic Discharge Protection Device" by David V. Cronin filed April 28, 1994, which shows a shunt attachment placed on a BNC-type connector arranged to provide a short circuit across a ground shell and core conductor pins. Upon insertion into the receptor, the attachment is driven away from the conductor pins, causing the short circuit to be broken. While this arrangement is an improvement and is useful for connectors having non-linear conductor arrangements, the design does not lend itself well to linear connector-receptor assemblies.

Other commonly assigned patents and copending applications include U.S. Patent No. 4,971,568 entitled "Electrical Connector With Attachment For Automatically Shorting Select Conductors Upon Disconnection of Connector" by David V. Cronin issued November 20, 1990, U.S. Patent No. 5,163,850 entitled Electrostatic Discharge Protection Devices For Semiconductor Chip Packages" by David V. Cronin issued November 17, 1992, U.S. Patent No. 5,164,880 entitled "Electrostatic Discharge Protection Device for a Printed Circuit Board" by David V. Cronin issued November 17, 1992, pending U.S. Applications Serial No. 08/278,024, and Serial No. 08/278,063 each entitled "Electrostatic Discharge Protection Device" by David V. Cronin filed July 20, 1994, and pending U.S. Application Serial No. 08/361,426 entitled "Electrostatic Discharge Protection Device" by David V. Cronin filed December 21, 1994. Some circuit board applications have their conductive etches exposed on a top surface. Electrostatic discharge protection devices which automatically withdraw based on circuit board contact then pose a potential danger to the circuit board. Circuit board contact in those instances can physically break an electrical connection by rubbing across the etch, or can cause a short circuit between one or more etches with which the electrostatic discharge protection device comes in contact.

Summary

The aforementioned and other objects are achieved by the invention which provides, in one aspect, an electrostatic discharge protection device for use with a connector-receptor assembly which is adapted to be joined to form an electrical connection therebetween.

The connector has a shell with a plurality of apertures where each aperture corresponds to a conductive ferrule, the receptor having a base from which conductive pins extend such that the conductive pins are disposed in a spaced apart relationship with respect to each other for insertion into the conductive ferrule, thus electrically joining the connector and receptor.

The electrostatic discharge protection device comprises a grounding device disposed on the shell of the connector having an operative position and an inoperative position. The electrostatic discharge protection device is in the operative position when the connector is detached from the second complimentary member at which time the electrostatic discharge protection device establishes a shunt between each conductive ferrule thus placing each conductive ferrule at a substantially equivalent electrical potential.

The inoperative position is achieved when the connector is joined with the receptor and the shunt is interrupted. Interrupting the shunt then allows each conductive ferrule to become substantially electrically isolated.

In further aspects, the invention provides methods in accord with the apparatus described above. The aforementioned and other aspects of the invention are evident in the drawings and in the description that follows. Brief Description of the Drawings

The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the various features thereof, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following description, when read together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of an electrostatic discharge protection device of this invention disposed between a connector-receptor assembly having a linear conductor arrangement;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the electrostatic discharge protection device shown in Figure 1 mated to the connector shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the electrostatic discharge protection device assembly as shown in Figure 2 mated to a printed circuit.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an electrostatic discharge protection device of this invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the electrostatic discharge protection device shown in Figure 4 attached to a connector.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the electrostatic discharge protection device assembly as shown in Figure 5 mated to a printed circuit board.

Figure 7 shows an exploded perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of an electrostatic discharge protection device of this invention.

Figure 7A is an alternative embodiment of the electrostatic discharge protection device shown in Figure 7.

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the electros? ":ic discharge protection device shown in either Figure 7 or Figure 7 A mated to a connector.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the electrostatic discharge protection device assembly shown in Figure 8 mated to a printed circuit board. Figure 10 shows an exploded perspective view of an electrostatic discharge protection device for use with a connector having two or more open wire terminals.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an anchoring portion of the electrostatic discharge protection device which holds the electrostatic discharge protection device of Figure 10.

Figure 12A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an anchoring portion of the electrostatic discharge protection device which holds an electrostatic discharge protection device of having fully populated wire terminals.

Figure 12B shows a side view of the electrostatic discharge protection device of Figure 12 A mated to a connector.

Figure 13 shows a side view of an electrostatic discharge protection device mated to a connector in an operative position.

Figure 14 shows the electrostatic discharge protection device of Figure 12 in an inoperative position.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring now to Figures 1-3, there is shown a connector 10 for use with a mating receptor 20 which connects one or more wires 12 such that electrical communication with pins 24 can be established. The wires 12 pass into the connector 10 and electrically connect to a ferrule 14 for each of the wires 12. The ferrule 14 has extending therefrom a retention bar 18 which projects outward into an aperture 16, thus holding the ferrule 14 and the wires 12 in a secured fixed position within the connector 10. The receptor 20 is usually bonded to a circuit board 22, and is used to interconnect wiring thereto. An electrostatic discharge protection device 30 is shown which wraps around the connector 10 with an interference fit such that the electrostatic discharge protection device 30 is securely held in position relative to the connector 10.

The electrostatic discharge protection device 30 has shorting arms 32 extending downward therefrom with one shorting arm 32 corresponding to each of the wires 12. A grounding extension 34 protrudes inward from the shorting arm 32 so as to pass through the aperture 16 and to physically contact the ferrule 14 or the extension bar 18 extending therefrom.

The contact of the grounding extension 34 with the ferrule 14 ensures that the wires 12 are shorted until they are secured to the mating receptor 20.

Upon operative combination of the connector 10 and the receptor 20, a wedge 36 on a bottom portion of the shorting arm 32 rides on an outer lateral surface of the receptor drawing the grounding extension 34 out of the aperture 16 breaking physical contact with the ferrule 14 and thus disengaging the grounding connection with the ferrule 14. The shorting arm 32 is designed such that the wedge 36 has a length less than a height of the lateral surface of the receptor 20 such that physical contact with the circuit board 22 is avoided. To augment the mechanical connection of the electrostatic discharge protection device 30 to the connector 10, an adhesive (not shown) can be placed on an inner lateral surface of the electrostatic discharge protection device 30.

The connector 10, as illustrated, is of a type known in the industry as a MOLEX connector which is a trademark of MOLEX Incorporated. This connector is a form of the illustrated embodiment and will be used as an example for all electrostatic discharge protection devices described herein. The MOLEX connector should be considered illustrative and not restrictive in that any connector receptor assembly having a substantially linear conductor arrangement such as the aperture 16 shown in the MOLEX connector can also be used with any of the electrostatic discharge protection devices described herein.

The shorting arms 32 of the electrostatic discharge protection device 30 are yieldably biased by any means well known in the art such as a built-in resilient spring bias. The resilient spring bias urges the grounding extensions 34 of the shorting arms 32 against the ferrule 14. Thus, it is readily apparent from Figures 1-3 that when not secured to a printed circuit board 20 or mating receptor 20, the shorting arms 32 urge their respective grounding extensions 34 against and into electrical connection with the ferrules 14. In this manner, the shorting of all or some of the plurality ferrules 14 is accomplished so as to effectively protect an electronic device coupled to the wires 12 from electrostatic discharge which could operate to damage the electrical circuitry attached thereto.

In a preferred embodiment, the shorting arm that is actually connected to the ground has a higher resistance than the other shorting arms. This is done so that electrostatic discharge, if present, drains slowly to ground, thus preventing high speed, harmful induced internal transient currents. This is accomplished in the preferred embodiment by application of a resistive layer (e.g. carbon-loaded polymer) to a connecting surface of the ground spring arm. Referring now to Figures 4-6, where like numbers designate previously described embodiment, there is shown a second embodiment of an electrostatic discharge protection device 50 for use with a connector 10'. In contrast to the first embodiment of the electrostatic discharge protection device 30, this electrostatic discharge protection device 50 is more amenable to more than two electrical connections to the electrostatic discharge protection device 50.

The electrostatic discharge protection device 50 has a base section 51 which is secured to a lateral surface of the connector 10' and a plurality of shorting arms 52 extending outward therefrom. The plurality of shorting arms extend outwardly in a spaced apart relationship with respect to each other, and in spaced apart alignment with respect to the plurality of apertures 16 '. Each of the plurality of shorting arms have a first portion which is integral with the base section 51 and extend outwardly from the base section in an integral connection to a respective distal end portion.

The shorting arms 52 are yieldably biased by means well known in the art such as built-in resilience spring bias so as to urge the respective surfaces against the plurality of ferrules 14' thereby creating an electrical interconnection between the plurality of shorting arms 52 and the plurality of ferrules 14'. In this manner the shorting of all or some of the plurality of ferrules 14' is accomplished so as to effectively protect the connector 10' from electrostatic discharge which could operate to damage electrical circuitry attached thereto.

The shorting arm 52 is bent to form a grounding extension 54 which extends through the aperture 16' to contact the ferrule 14'. A bridge section 56 has a length slightly greater than a length extending from a bottom portion of the aperture 16' to a bottom portion of the connector 10', thereby allowing the grounding extension 54 to be biased inward into contact with the ferrule 14' without physical resistance from the connector 10'.

A wedge 58 is bent into the shorting arm 52 so as to contact the receptor 20' when the connector 10' is moved into operative connection with the receptor 20'. The wedge 58 rides on the receptor 20' forcing the grounding extension 54 out of electrical contact with the ferrule 14' moving the electrostatic discharge protection device 50 into an inoperative position, disengaging grounding connection between the wires 12'.

Referring to Figures 7-9 where like numerals designate like structures, there is shown a third embodiment of the electrostatic discharge protection device 60 for use with a MOLEX-type connector 10'. In contrast to the first and second embodiments of the electrostatic discharge protection device, this electrostatic discharge protection device 60 has multiple grounding extensions 72 connecting from a single shorting arm 64. This unitary electrostatic discharge protection device 70 comprises a base section 62 which is secured to a lateral surface of the connector 10' as was previously described. Shorting arms 64 bend outwardly from the base section 62 in spaced apart relationship with respect to each other and in spaced apart alignment with respect to the plurality of apertures 16'.

The illustrated embodiment shows the electrostatic discharge protection device 60 for use with a MOLEX connector 10' having four wires 12'. One skilled in the art will realize that a two wire connector 10 such as that shown in Figures 1-3 or such as that subsequently shown in later figures can also be used with this embodiment by simply centering a single shorting arm 64.

Each of the shorting arms 64 have a first portion which is integral to the base section 62 and extends outwardly from the base section 62 in an integral connection to a respective one of the distal end portions.

The shorting arms 64 are yieldably biased by means well known in the art such as built-in resilient spring bias so as to urge their respective surfaces against the MOLEX connector thereby creating an electrical interconnection between the plurality of shorting arms 64. Thus it is readily apparent from Figures 7-9 that when the plurality of shorting arms 64 urge their respective grounding extensions into electrical connection with the ferrules 14' the shorting of all or some of the plurality of ferrules 14' is accomplished so as to effectively ground accumulated electrostatic charge. The shorting arms 64 of this embodiment are designed so as to connect multiple ferrules 14' from a single shorting arm 64. This is accomplished by extending outwardly from planar surface of the shorting arm 64 a grounding extension 72 similar to that described in the first embodiment. In the shorting arm 64 as illustrated there are two ground extensions 72 extending outwardly from the shorting arm 64 and are spaced apart so as to pass through a neighboring apertures 16'. The shorting arm 64' can use one or more wedges 70 to draw the grounding extension 72 out of electrical contact with the ferrules 14'. One centered wedge centered upon the shorting arm 64 or two wedges 70 as shown in the illustrated embodiment can be used to accomplish this task.

To insure proper physical contact with each of the neighboring ferrules 14', twisting compliance points 68 are built into the shorting arms 64. The twisting compliant points 68 are points in the shorting arm 64 which allow rotational motion of the shorting arm such that the internal resilient bias of the shorting arm 64 will force both of the grounding extensions 72 into physical contact with the ferrules 14' even when the ferrules 14' are misaligned and are not completely parallel. For example, if one grounding extension 72 contacts a first ferrule before the second grounding extension 72 contacts a second ferrule then the inherent resilient bias of the shorting arm 64 will continue to force the shorting arm 64 inward causing a twisting motion about the twisting compliant point 64 until the second grounding extension 72 physically connects to the ferrule 14'.

Operating as previously described, connecting the connector 10' to the receptor 20' causes the wedges 74 to ride up on the receptor 20' causing a withdrawal of the grounding extension 72 from the ferrules 14' placing the electrostatic discharge protection device 60 in an inoperative position.

Figure 7A shows an alternative embodiment of the electrostatic discharge protection device 60 wherein the electrostatic discharge protection device 80 is manufactured in multiple pieces. The base section 82 and the shorting arms 84 with their twisting compliant points 86 are stamped from a single sheet of metal. A separate grounding piece 88 is stamped of a similar conductive metal and is bent so as to form grounding extensions 92 and wedges 94. The grounding piece 88 has its back surface 90 bonded to the shorting arms 84 to form an electrostatic discharge protection device 80 which operates similarly to that previously described in the third embodiment.

In this embodiment, the base section 82 has a higher inherent electrical resistance than the grounding piece 88. As previously described, this is done so that elecfrostatic charge, if present, drains slowly to ground, thus preventing high speed, harmful induced internal transient currents.

Referring now to Figures 10 and 11 where like numerals designate previously described elements, there is shown an electrostatic discharge protection device 100 with a shorting arm 66' similar to that of the previous embodiment having multiple grounding extensions 72' and multiple wedges 70' with a twisting compliance point 68' centered on the elecfrostatic discharge protection device 100. This elecfrostatic discharge protection device 100 is particularly useful with connectors 10' having more wire terminals 106 than wires 12'. Such a connector 10' has wire terminals 106 available for the electrostatic discharge protection device 100 to connect thereto.

The electrostatic discharge protection device 100 has a resilient shorting arm 66' which extends outwardly from a base section 102. The base section is elongated longitudinally along the connector 10'. Resilient securing arms 104 integral with the base are pushed down into the wire terminals 106 such that the resilient securing arms 104 compress within the wire terminals 106. The bias of the resilient securing arms 104 urges an edge of the resilient securing arms 104 outwardly against a lateral surface of the wire terminals 106

Figure 11 shows an alternative shorting arm 110 to that shown in Figure 10. In this embodiment the securing arm 110 extends from an integral base 111 but has a triangular shape which allows the securing arm 112 to apply a securing force to two lateral surfaces of the wire terminal 106. An additional feature of this electrostatic discharge protection device is that the bias of the securing arm 112 forces the electrostatic discharge protection device 110 toward the connector 10' forcing the base 111 into tight contact with the connector 10', thus adding additional securing force to the elecfrostatic discharge protection device 110.

Figures 12A and 12B show an alternative securing structure that does not require open wire terminals. In these Figures where like numerals designate previously described elements, there is shown an electrostatic discharge protection device 140 with a shorting arms 52 operating in a similar manner to those previously described.

The electrostatic discharge protection device 140 has a resilient shorting arm 52' which extends outwardly from a base section 132. The base section is elongated longitudinally along the connector 10'. The base section 132 extends over a top of the connector 10'. The wires 12' pass through holes 138 in the base section 132.

Opposite the shorting arms 52' are gripping arms 140 which extend down from the base section 131 with an interference fit over the connector 10'.

To provide additional securing force, securing arms 142 having a substantially shape project down from the base 132. The securing arms 142 are vertically aligned with wire terminals 134 to fit into the wire terminals 134 next to the wires 12'. The securing arms is resiliently biased to push against the wire 12' and a lateral surface of the wire terminal 134 thus securing the electrostatic discharge protection device 140 in place.

Referring now to Figures 13 and 14, another embodiment of the electrostatic discharge protection device 120 is shown in combination with a connector 10 and a receptor 20 on a circuit board 22. The electrostatic discharge protection device 120 has a base section 122 which wraps around a lateral surface of the connector 10. One skilled in the art will realize that the securing structures of Figures 10 and 11 for securing the electrostatic discharge protection device 120 to the connector 10 can be substituted for the illustrated base 122 without detriment to the invention.

In this embodiment, a shorting arm 123 extends down from the base 122. Each shorting arm 123 has a grounding extension 124 for contacting the ferrule 14 of the connector similar to that described in Figure 4-7. The shorting arm 123 continues downward past a bottom surface of the connector for a distance greater than a height of the receptor 20. The shorting arm 123 is then folded back at a distal end portion 126 to form a blunt contact point with the circuit board 22.

In the operative position, the grounding extension 124 makes electrical contact with the ferrule 14 through the aperture 16 thereby electrically connecting all of the selected wires 12.

When the connector 10 is placed into the receptor 20, the distal end portion 126 of the shorting arm 123 makes contact with the circuit board 22. This contact occurs when the connector is approximately 0.25 millimeters from complete insertion. Pushing the connector 10 farther onto the receptor 20 causes the shorting arm 123 to bow outward away from the lateral surface of the connector. As the shorting arm 123 bows, the grounding extension 124 is withdrawn from the aperture 16 away from mechanical contact with the ferrule 14, thus breaking the electrical connection among the wires 12.

With the grounding extensions 124 approximately centered between the two pivot point of the shorting arms 123, movement away from the ferrule 14 is amplified. In the preferred embodiment, the amplification is approximately 10: 1 meaning that designing the shorting arm to a length of the height of the receptor 20 plus 0.25 millimeters would, upon insertion of the connector 10 on the receptor 20, cause withdrawal of the grounding extension 124 by approximately 2.5 millimeters.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. An electrostatic discharge protection device for use with a connector-receptor assembly which is adapted to be joined to form an electrical connection therebetween; the connector having a shell with a plurality of apertures where each aperture corresponds to a conductive ferrule and the conductive ferrule is connected to a wire which extends out of the connector through a wire terminal, the receptor has a base from which conductive pins for insertion into the conductive ferrules thus electrically joining the connector and receptor, said elecfrostatic discharge protection device comprising grounding means disposed on the shell of the connector having an operative position when the connector is detached from the receptor for establishing a shunt between each conductive ferrule thus placing each conductive ferrule at a substantially equivalent electrical potential, and for establishing an inoperative position when the connector is joined with the receptor where the shunt is interrupted allowing the each conductive ferrule to become substantially electrically isolated.

2. The electrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 1 wherein said grounding means comprises securing means for holding the elecfrostatic discharge protection device in a fixed position relative to the connector; and at least one shorting arm extending from the securing means having a resilient inward bias for biasing the grounding means into the operative position.

3. The electrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 2 wherein each of the at least one shorting arms comprise at least one grounding extension protruding from the at least one shorting arm such that when the grounding means is in the operative position each of the at least one grounding extension passes through one of the plurality of apertures to contact electrically the conductive ferrule; and switching means for reversibly moving the grounding means between the operative position and the inoperative position.

4. The elecfrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 3 wherein said switching means is wedge shaped such that mechanical contact of the switching means with the receptor automatically switches the grounding means to the inoperative position.

5. The elecfrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 3 wherein a displacement of the switching means to the at least one grounding extension is greater than a distance of the plurality of apertures to a bottom of the connector.

6. The elecfrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 3 wherein the at least one shorting arm further comprises a twisting compliant point which allows limited rotational motion of the at least one shorting arm to ensure electrical contact with each of the conductive ferrules.

7. The electrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of grounding extensions and switching means are fabricated separately from the securing means and the grounding arm and the plurality of grounding extensions and switching means is mechanically attachable to the grounding arm.

8. The electrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 2 wherein the securing means is a band that wraps around the connector with an interference fit.

9. The elecfrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 2 wherein the securing means further comprises a plurality of resilient securing arms adapted to fit into the wire terminals in the connector to secure the electrostatic discharge protection device.

10. The electrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 9 wherein the plurality of resilient securing arms are 'U' -shaped.

11. The electrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 9 wherein the plurality of resilient securing arms are triangular.

12. The electrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 9 wherein the plurality of resiliei.- securing arms have gripping extensions which fit over a top portion of the connector and have T-shaped protrusions which fit inside the wire terminal for further anchoring the electrostatic discharge protection device.

13. The electrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 2 wherein each of the at least one shorting arms have a length that ensures mechanical contact with a circuit board to which the receptor is attached, progressive movement of the connector into engagement with the receptor then forces each of the at least one shorting arms to bow outward thus withdrawing electrical contact with the ferrule and moving the ground means into inoperative position.

14. An electrostatic discharge protection device for use with an electrical connector adapted to be joined to a complimentary member to form an electrical connection therebetween; the electrical connector having a shell with a plurality of apertures where each aperture corresponds to a conductor, the complimentary member having mating conductors disposed in a spaced apart relationship with respect to each other for connection with the conductors of the electrical connector thus electrically joining the electrical connector and complimentary member, said electrostatic discharge protection device comprising securing means for mechanically connecting the electrostatic discharge protection device to the shell of the electrical connector; and one or more shorting arms integral with the securing means having an operative position when the electrical connector is detached from the complimentary member for establishing a shunt between each conductor thus placing each conductor at a substantially equivalent electrical potential, and for establishing an inoperative position when the electrical connector is joined with the complimentary member such that the shunt is interrupted allowing the each conductor to become substantially electrically isolated.

15. The electrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 14 wherein each of the one or more shorting arms further comprises switching means for reversibly moving the one or more shorting arms between the operative position and the inoperative position.

16. The electrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 15 wherein said switching means is wedge shaped such that mechanical contact of the switching means with the receptor automatically switches the grounding means to the inoperative position.

17. The electrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 14 wherein the securing means further comprises a plurality of resilient securing arms adapted to fit into the wire terminals in the connector to secure the electrostatic discharge protection device.

18. The electrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 14 wherein each of the one or more shorting arms have a length that ensures mechanical contact with a circuit board to which the receptor is attached, progressive movement of the connector into engagement with the receptor then forces each of the one or more shorting arms to bow outward thus withdrawing electrical contact with the ferrule and moving the one or more shorting arms into inoperative position.

19. An electrostatic discharge protection device for use with a wire connector adapted to be joined to a complimentary member to form an electrical connection therebetween and having a substantially planar surface associated therewith; the connector having a shell with a plurality of apertures where each aperture corresponds to a conductor, the complimentary member having mating conductors disposed in a spaced apart relationship with respect to each other for connection with the conductors of the connector thus electrically joining the connector and complimentary member, said electrostatic discharge protection device comprising securing means for mechanically connecting the electrostatic discharge protection device to the connector to the shell of the connector; and one or more shorting arms integral with the securing means having a grounding extension extending therefrom and having a length sufficient to cause mechanical contact with the substantially planar surface prior to completing a connection between the connector and the complimentary member, said one or more shorting arms being in an operative position when the connector is detached from the complimentary member for establishing placing the grounding extension into electrical communication with each of the conductors of the connector thus placing each conductor at a substantially equivalent electrical potential, and being in an inoperative position when the connector is joined with the complimentary member such that progressive insertion of the connector into the complimentary member causes the one or more shorting arms to bow outward due to mechanical contact with the substantially planar surface thus withdrawing the grounding extension from electrical contact with the conductor allowing the each conductor to become substantially electrically isolated.

20. An electrostatic discharge protection device for use with a connector-receptor assembly which is adapted to be joined to form an electrical connection therebetween; the connector having a shell with wire terminals along a top portion through which wires pass to connect with internal conductors, the receptor having complimentary conductors which mate with the internal conductors of the connector thus electrically joining the connector and receptor, said electrostatic discharge protection device comprising

securing means for mechanically connecting the electrostatic discharge protection device to the shell of the electrical connector by inserting securing arms into the wire terminals and applying an outward force to grip thereto; and grounding means disposed on the shell of the connector having an operative position when the connector is detached from the receptor for establishing a shunt between each internal conductor of the connector, and having an inoperative position when the connector is joined with the receptor where the shunt is interrupted allowing the each internal conductor of the connector to become substantially electrically isolated.

21. The electrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 20 wherein the securing arms are 'U' -shaped.

22. The electrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 20 wherein the securing arms are triangular.

23. The elecfrostatic discharge protection device according to claim 20 wherein the securing arms have gripping extensions which fit over the top portion of the connector and have T-shaped protrusions which fit inside the wire terminals for further anchoring the electrostatic discharge protection device.