Detailed information on functions will be provided through an online seminar on March 7th.

“There are still many people who do not know about digital isolators. I would like to make it widely known that cap-type isolators are smaller than previous products and meet safety standards.”

TI Korea's Park Se-wook, FAE, was busy explaining how the digital isolator, which has just started selling, differs from existing products. This is because the differences between digital isolators and existing products are their advantages and differentiating factors.

As is known, there are three ways to make an isolator: photo (LED), cap, and transformer. In terms of functionality, there is no significant difference between the cap and transformer methods, but the cap method is known to be better in terms of lifespan and EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference). The existing method of using widely used photos has the advantage of being cheap, but has the disadvantages of an unknown life cycle, an unclean signal, and a low operating voltage range.


▲ TI Korea’s Park Se-wook, Manager

As such, it is difficult to predict the lifespan of currently widely used photocouplers because it is not easy to calculate the lifespan of the LED inside them.

Park explains, “Digital isolators have a lifespan of up to 40 years, making them suitable for use in embedded products, and the standard describes the formula and method for calculating the lifespan. The product indicates how long the lifespan is guaranteed based on this method.” Photocouplers have no standard for calculating the lifespan, so their life cycle cannot be guaranteed.

One thing to keep in mind when using insulation is to check the working voltage. Digital isolators are guaranteed to have a life cycle of more than 20 years when used at the working voltage.

High efficiency and safety of insulation, also important factors in factory automation

Also, the difference between photocouplers and digital isolators comes from their common mode transient immunity (CMTI) value. In the case of a photocoupler, if there is external interference between the input and output values, distortion may occur, which may reduce efficiency and cause malfunctions, but a digital isolator has excellent noise immunity and thus high efficiency.

This high efficiency and safety due to insulation are also very important factors in factory automation. This is because the voltage coming from factory automation equipment can be a threat to the user, and conversely, the high voltage entering the equipment can damage key components. Digital isolators can also be used in hybrid and electric vehicle fields that use voltages of 300 V or more.

Mr. Park said that as the number of devices using user interfaces increases, the number of cases where isolators are used for voltage going out increases, and he wanted to provide more accurate information.

For more information on digital isolators, the importance of insulation, and why communication is not possible when using a user interface, please visit the online seminar eeWebinar (goo.gl/2oe50l) scheduled for March 7.