What Is A Photocoupler

2014/6/5 FAQ No.
1008209 | Renesas Electronics

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FAQ No. 1008209 (Applications: Application fields)
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FAQ 1008209
Latest Updated:10/01/2007
Functions: Optical Devices - General ;
What kinds of sets can photocouplers be used in?
A major f eature of photocouplers is electrical insulation between the output and the input. As illustrated in Figure 1, the absence of an electrical
connection between the input and the output has the advantage of allowing linking between circuits with dif f erent GND potentials, and preventing the
ef f ect of GND noise (which could occur in the case of a shared design) due to separation of the both GNDs.
Using these merits, photocouplers can be applied to air conditioners and switching power supplies.
For specif ic application examples, ref er to the f ollowing URL.
/products/opto/application/index.jsp
Figure 1
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2014/6/5 FAQ No. 1008149 | Renesas Electronics
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FAQ No. 1008149 (Basics: What is a photocoupler?)
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Functions: Optical Devices - General ; Wording ; Operaqting Temperature Range ; Delating ; Rating ; Temperature Ranges ; Thermal
Calculation ;
What is a photocoupler?
A photocoupler is a type of optical junction element that combines a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element in one package. (Figure 1 shows
an example of a cross-section of a Renesas Electronics photocoupler, and Figure 2 shows a sample internal perspective diagram.) Another type of
integrated product is a photo interrupter (which f eatures a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element placed f acing each other, so that object
detection is perf ormed when an object passes between the two elements and blocks of f the light).
Generally, a LED is used as the light-emitting element, and a photo transistor, photo MOSFET, or photo IC is used as the light-receiving element.
Depending on the light-receiving element that is used, there are types of a photo transistor output, optical MOSFET output, photo IC output, and so on.
Figure 3 shows several equivalent circuits.
<Features>
A photocoupler has the f ollowing f eatures because of exchanging electrical signal into optical signal f or transmission.
(1) Discrete insulation can be achieved electrically between the input and output.
(2) Electrical signals f rom DC to high f requency can be transmitted and the transmission is one-way as well.
(3) Compact compared to relays, etc.
Renesas Electronics manuf actures a wide range of photocouplers, including photo transistor outputs, optical MOSFETs, and photo IC outputs.
Figure 1. Photocoupler Cross-Section Diagram
Figure 2. Sample Internal Perspective Diagram of Photocoupler
Figure 3. Photocoupler Types
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FAQ No. 1007932 (Characteristics: What are the meanings of the terms isolation voltage,
creepage distance, and isolation thickness?)
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Functions: Optical Devices - General ;
What are the meanings of the terms isolation voltage, creepage distance, isolation thickness, and clearance?
These terms are def ined as f ollows.
- Isolation voltage
It indicates the maximum value of the AC voltage that can be applied between the input pin and the output pin, expressed as a root mean square (r.m.s)
value.
The measurement conditions are normally Ta = 25C, RH = 60%, with application of the rated AC voltage between all input-side pins and all output-side
pins f or 1 minute.

- Creepage distance
It indicates the minimum distance between the two conductors (input pin, output pin) along the insulating material.

- Isolation thickness
It indicates the minimum thickness of the insulating material between the two conductors (input, output).

- Clearance
It indicates the minimum distance between the two conductors (input pin, output pin) in the atmosphere.
For details about the above three terms, go to the f ollowing URL.
/products/opto/photocoupler/parameter_p/index.jsp
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What Is A Photocoupler

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2014/6/5 FAQ No.

1008209 | Renesas Electronics

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