SLLA609 September   2023 ISOM8110 , ISOM8710 , ISOM8711

 

  1.   1
  2.   Abstract
  3.   Trademarks
  4. 1Introduction
  5. 2What are Optocouplers?
  6. 3What is an Opto-Emulator?
  7. 4Classic Circuits Using Opto-Emulators
    1. 4.1 Typical Isolated Power Supply Application Using ISOM811x
    2. 4.2 High-Speed Signal Isolation Using ISOM871x
  8. 5Summary
  9. 6References

Abstract

Texas Instruments (TI) opto-emulators combine the behavior of traditional optocouplers with TI’s silicon dioxide (SiO2)-based isolation technology. Despite their preferred isolation performance, digital signal isolators cannot directly replace optocouplers in all circuits due to the analog characteristics of optocoupler inputs and outputs. Opto-emulators bridge this gap by providing equivalent input and output signal behavior while offering pin-to-pin package compatibility with the industry's most popular optocouplers, facilitating seamless integration into existing designs. These products appear just like optocouplers from a system design engineer’s perspective but leverage TI’s expertise for the emulated input and output circuitry and TI's SiO2 isolation barrier technology. Why create such a semiconductor product? The answer is simple: provide designers the best of both worlds.