1 Introduction

The ISO6163 device is a high-performance, six-channel digital isolator designed for high energy efficiency systems where part or all of the system is transitioned to low-power mode for portions of operation with fast wake-up capability. Many applications do not require high-speed communication all the time. This device helps save energy by turning off the high-speed isolation channels when not needed, thus lowering the current consumption of the isolation device.

The ISO6163 device is optimized with low quiescent current and bi-directional automatic enable of the high-speed data channels for use in high energy efficiency applications such as appliances, battery monitoring, metering and grid.

The ISO6163 device has three forward channels and three reverse-direction channels. This device provides two low-speed data channels with bi-directional automatic enable control functionality. The low-speed control channels automatically enable the high-speed channels when needed or turn them off (outputs high impedance) to further reduce power consumption when high-speed data transfer is not needed by the system.

For details on the High-Speed Data Channels (A, B, E, and F), Low-Speed Control Channels with Automatic Enable (C and D), the timing requirements on the Low-Speed Control Channels for entering and exiting the low-power STANDBY state and the functional modes of the device, please refer to the ISO6163 Low-Power, High-Speed Six-Channel Digital Isolator With Automatic Enable. The high-speed data channels (A,B, E, and F) support up to 50Mbps and are described in section 7.2 of the data sheet. The low-speed control channels (C and D) support up to 4Mbps and are described in section 7.3 of the data sheet. The timing and level details of Automatic Enable for the low-speed control channels (C and D) are described in section 7.3.1 of the data sheet.

When using 5V supplies, the ISO6163 reduces the power in STANDBY state with respect to ACTIVE state with 50Mbps communication by 52.3mW (typical) for a 93% reduction in isolation power consumption. With 25Mbps communication by the power is reduced by 31.25mW (typical) for a 90% reduction in isolation power consumption.

Similarly when using 3.3V supplies, the ISO6163 reduces the power in STANDBY state with respect to ACTIVE state with 50Mbps communication by 43.7mW (typical) for a 93% reduction in isolation power consumption. With 25Mbps communication by the power is reduced by 27mW (typical) for a 88% reduction in isolation power consumption.

Significantly higher power saving at a system level is possible using the low-speed control channels to turn off additional circuitry on one or both sides of the isolation barrier when the circuits are not needed.

The following sections of this application note shows the device used in various application use cases where the system can be partially powered down while retaining the capability to wake-up and return to full operation and communication automatically.