OPToCOUPTER

DEl/ICES
Learn'to ie orocouplers in crcuts that require high
electrical isolation between input and,,otrtput,
RAY M. MARSTON
oFrroc ouPLEBs -oR OPTOISOLATORS

have applications in many situations where signals or data

must pass between two cir:
cuits, but high elecirialrisolation must be maintained be.
tween those circuits. Optocoup-

ling devices are useful in

changi.ng logic levels between

the'circuits, blocking noise

transmission fiom one ciicuit
to another, isolating logic levels
from ACline voltage, and eliminating gfound loops.
DC level as well as signal information can be transmitted
byan optocouplerwhile it maintains the high electrical isolation between input and output.
Optocouplers can also replace
relays and transformers in
many digital interfaces. Moreoven the frequency response of

optocouplers is excellent in analog circuits.

Optocoupler basics.
An optocoupler consists ofan
infrared-emitting LED (typically made from gallium arse-

nide) optically coupled to a

silicon photodetector (phototransistor, potodiode or other
photosensitive device) in an
opaque light-shielding pack-

I is a cutaway view

N
o)

age. Figure

pin dual-in-line-(DIP) packaged

optocoupler. The IR-emitting
LED or IRED emits infrared ra-

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zoat

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44

of a popular single-channel, six-

diation in the 9OO- to

g4O-

nanometer region when forward biased current flows

through it. The photodetector is

an NPN phototransistor sensitive in the same 9OO- to 940nanometer region. Both IRED
and phototransistor are in chip
or die form.

Most commercial opto-

mounting
the IRED and phototransistoi
on adjacent arms of a leadframe, as shown. The leadframe
is a stamping made from thin
conductive sheet metal with
many branch-like contours.
The isolated substrates that
support the device chips are
c_ouqlers are made by

formed from the inner

branches, and the multiple pins

of the DIP are formed from the
outer branches.
After the wire bonds are made

between the device dies and ap-

propriate leadframe pins, the

region around both devices is
encapsulated in an lR-transparelt resin that acts as af'light
pipe" or optical waveguide between the devices. The assembly is then molded in opaque
epolcy resin to form the DIE and

the leadframe pins are bent

downward.
Figure 2 is a pin diagram of
the most popular singl-channel, 6-pin pototransistor op-

tocoupler DIP

It is called.an

multi-channel optocouplers.

There are, however, photodiode-

ir.''-io' i'i;i"

phototransistor-output optocoupler."r

"

optocoupler because only infrared energy or photons couple

the input IRED to the output
phototransistor. The device is
also an optoisolator because no
electric current passes between
the two chips; the emitter and

detector are electrically insulted and isolated. These devices are also known as photocq-uplei rr photon-coupld isolators.,., ', ,
'The,base terminal of the pho,
totransiqtor is available at pin 6
,

on ,:thq, six.p-in, DIP ' but , in normaf ,s,tt,i left n..r.cireuted.

Alo,'no iconnectin {NC)',is

to,in'. The phototransistorcan be converted to aphotodiode by shorting together

basr in'6 an{ emitte{: pin 4.
That otion is,not, availabl, in
four-pin optocoupler DIP's and
rn4de.

output optocouplerg optimized

for the wider bandwidth and
higher speeds needed in data
communications, but they are
far less efficient as couplers.
Large-volume producers of
commercial optocouplers include Motorola, Sharp Electronics Corp., and Siemens
Components, Inc. Optek Technologr concentrates on optointerrupters and optoreflectors
while Hewlett-Packard's optocouplers are focused on highspeed communications and
special applications.

Optocoupler characteristics
One of the most important
characteristics of the optocoupler is its light-coupling
efficiency specified as c,urrent
transfer rato. CTR. That ratio
is maximized by matching the
IRED's IR emission spectrum
closely with its detector/output
device's detection spectrum.
CTR is the ratio of output curto input current, at a specnt
'fledblas, of an optocoupler. It is
.giieqs a percent:
,QTR.=,[I']/(IF) x lOO%
r:: {.,},ft sf TAOe/o provides an
ouut cur,r-e-nt'of 1 :milliampere

and on the phototransistor's

supply voltage.
Figure 3 is a plot of phototran-

sistor output current (l.r) vs.

input current (lo) for a typical
phototransistor optocoupler at
a collector-to-Lrase voltagie (V"")
of 10 volts.
Other important optocoupler
specifications include:
. Isolation voltage (V,ro). The
maximum permissible AC voltage that can exist between the
input and output circuits without destruction of the device.
Those values typically range
from 5OO volts to 5 kilovolts
RMS for a phototransistor-output coupler.
Vce. The maximum DC voltage permitted across the pho-

totransistor output. Tlpical

values for a phototransistor output coupler range from 3O to

70 volts.
Ie The maximum continuous

DC forward current permitted

to flqy.-.l,.qJhe.IRED. Tical values fdr '.phototrnsistor-out,

put coupler range from 40 to
lOO milliamperes.
e Rise/fall time for a phototran-

;stor qqtput couper is typicalllr from 2 to 5 microseconds

fcr both rise and fall. Those determine'device bahdwidth.

50

Industry-standards
',,4 wid varie$ of optocouplers
,is :produced, b5r man1 manufac.
turers throughout the world.
Some of thq sulies of cornmodity optocouplers include
Motorol,'. Shfp Electronics,;,
Toshiba, and Siemens. In additin:'to :th. indust{y, stldrd
si;pin DIP shown, in, Fig,,l.and
2, some transistor-output oplqeouplers ar, acka$-d in,Qu.r.,
pin DIPts, and surface-mount

;zu

CC

510
O
ts

ts
e

for each milliampere of current

to the IRED. Minimum values of
CTR for a phototransistor-output optocoupler such as that
shown in Figs. I and 2 can be'
expected to vary from 20 to lOO
%. CTR depends on the input
and output operating currents

packages.
:,, Mtlti-.annel, eonfigurtlons
of the op,ula! :ojrJo qulerl are

INPUT CURRENI

IImA)

FlG. 3-TYPICAL OUTPUT CURRENT vs. nput current for a phototransistor-output

optocoupler with a Vg of 10 volts.

:vailable,,with,,rdual,':!rd
quad emitter-detector pairs per
pac ka ge, T,hose.oto couplesiepeat-the'baS!c,s-h.ematc',of
ISo,

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45

output resistor R2. When Sl is

closed, current flows through
the IRED and Rl, and the resulting IR emission on the.phototransistor causes it to conI duct and generate an output

Fig. 2 except that they lack externalbase pins. It is important

to note, however, that certain
electrical and thermal characteristics are derated in those
packages because of the closer
spacing of the semiconductor

voltage across R2.

The simple optically-coupled

circuit shown in Fig. 4 will respond gqly to,- qq:off-s_ignals-, but

dies.

The lowest cost industrystandard phototansistor optocouplers with single g^ha_nnls

have been desi$ted by the

--'.

JDEC prefix "4N" and include

the 4N25 to 4N28 and 4N35 to
4N37. However, many suppliers
have developed their own proprietaryparts with unusual features which are sold under their
own designations. Popular phototransistor optocouplers are
now available in small quantities for less than a dollar each.
Because optocouplers are
used in AC-line powered circuits, they are subject to safety
tests such as those of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)
and Canadian Standards Assosiation (CSA). Most suppliers
are offering Ul-Recognized optocouplers and manymake couplers that conform to the tighter

FIG.

s_AC INPUT PHOOTRANSISTOR-

output optocoupler schematic.

seen later. The pho-totra4qjstgr

provides output gain,

The schematics of six other

optocouplers with different

combinations of IRED and output photodetector are presented

as Figs. 5 thru 10. Figure 5 is a
schematic for a bidirectional-

input phototransistor-output

optocoupler with two back-toback gallium-arsenide IRED's

for coupling AC signals or reverse polarity input protection.
A typical minimum CTRfor this
device is 2O"/".
Figure 6 illustrates an optocoupler with a silicon photodarlington amplifier output.
It provides a higher output current than thf vailable from a
phototransistor coupler. Because of their high curient
gain, Photodarlington couplers
typically have minimum 5OO7o
CTR's at a collector-to-emitter
voltage of 3O to 35 volts. This

Verband Deutsch Electro-

techniker (VDE) specifications.

Compliance with those specifications or the equivalent national specifications is a man-

datory requirement for their

use in Europe.
Figure 4 illustrates a simple
optocoupler circuit. The _or_ductlo,g current of th phgtotransistor can be contrilled
by the forward blas cuiinf of
the IRED although the two devices are separated. When Sl is
open no current flows in the
IRD so no infrared energy falls
on the phototransistor, making

value is about ten times that of a

phototransistor optocoupler.
However, there is a speed-out-

put current tradeoff when

using a photodarlington coupler. Effective bqLndwit-h.- is r.e.
Quced by about a factor of ten.

Industry standard versions of

it

a virtual open-circuit with

zero voltage developed across

\t

FlG. 8-PHOTOSCR-OUTPUT optocoupler schematic.

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46

it can be modified to accept analog input signals and provide

analog output signals as will be

those devices include the 4N29

to 4N33 and 6N138 and 6N139.
Dual- and quad-channel photodarlington couplers are also
available.
The schematic of Fig. 7 illustrates a bi-directional linearoutput dtCpii ns isting
of an IRED and a MOSFET.
Those couplers typically have
isolation voltages of 25OO volts
RMS, breakdown voltages of 15
to 3O volts, and typical rise and
fall times of 15 microseconds
each.

FlG. 4-CIRCUIT for phototransistoroutput optocoupler.

FlG. 9-PHOTOTRIAC-OUTPUT optocoupler shematc.

Figure 8 is the schematic for

one of two basic types of -op_t_otytL_qr-sl+tp,t optocouplers,

is

one with an SCR output. OptoSCR couplers have typical isolation voltages of 1O0O to 4OOO
volts RMS, minimum blocking
voltages of 2OO to 4OO volts, and

gh
Llt-

torn-

ut

maximum turn-on currents

(I.-.) of 1O milliamperes. The

ed

schematic in Fig. 9 illustrates a

phoJotria-ou tput coupler. Thy-

re-

ut

lade
be

FIG. 1O_SCHMITT,TRIGGER-OUTPUT
optocoupler schematc.

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rer

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rted

a
llut
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FlG. 1l-SERIES RESISTOR must limit

IRED cuirent. lt can be R1 at (a) or R2 at

n,

(b).

Lis

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ort.

lI.a
e-

nt
rS
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'lo

er

FlG. l2-IRED lS PROTECTED against

reverse voltage with xternal diode D1.

.is

ristor-output couplers typically

have forward blocking voltages
(Vo*r) of 4OO volts.
Schmitt-trigger outputs are
available from optocouplers.
Figure 10 is the schematic for
an optocoupler that includes a
Schmitt,trigger IC capable of
p1'g-ducing a retangular ogtput
fm a sine-wave or ulsd inut signal. The IC is'a form of
multivibrator circuit. Isolation
voltages are from 25OO to 4OOO
volts, maximum, turn-on current is typically from I to tO milliamperes, the minimum and
maximum operating voltages
are 3 to 26 volts, and the maximum data rate (NRZ) is l MHz.
Coupler applications
Optocouplers function in circuits the same way as discrete
emitters and detectors. The input current to the optocoupler's
IRED must be limited with a series-connected external resistor
which can be connected in one
of the two ways shown in Fig lO,

Ia

that a reveise voltage could

be

applied accidentally across the

IRED.

The operating p..1nt of the

coupler's photoLransistor can
be conver-ted to avoltage byplacing n itrnirsitoi in sries
with the transistor's collector or
:mitter as shown in Fig. 13. The
collector option is shown in lal
and the emitter option is shown
in (b). The sensitivity of the cir,
cuit will be directly proportional
to the value of either of the series resistors.
A phototransistor_ output gptocouplr in six-pin DIP canbe
converted to _4 phqto-{j-odq_oqtput optocoupler by using the
base pin 6 as shown in Fig. 14
and ignoring the emitter pin 4
(or shorting it to the base). This
connection results in a greatly
increased input signl rise
time, but it shiply reduces
CTR to a value of about O.zyo.

Digital interfacing.
Optocouplers are ideally suited for interfacing digital signal

circuits that are driven at different voltage levels. They can

interface digital IC's within the
same TTL, ECL or CMOS family,
and they can interface digital
IC's between those families. The
devices can also interface the
digital outputs of personal com-

puters (or other mainfrarire

computers, workstations and

programmable controllers) to
motors, relays, solenoids and
lamps.
Figure 15 shows how to interface two TTL circuits. The optocoupler IRED and currentlimiting resistor Rl are con-

nected between the 5-volt

.",,.'i5"i]r'.:::'-J':'!.

Flc. 13-EXTERNAL
S-

RESTSTOR

wired ar photorranssiol

r-

either on the anode sfde lal or

cathode side lb) of the IRED.
Figure 5 showed an optocoupler optimized for AC op,

rg
T.

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eration, but a conventional

phototransistor coupler can
also be driven from an AC
source with the addition of an

ts
.5
rd

ls

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FIG. 14_PHOTOTRANSISTOR-TOphotodiode conversion with base pin

connection.

external conventional diode as

shown in Fig. 12. That circuit
also provides protection for the
IRED if there is a possibility

positive supplybus and the output driving terminal of the TTL

logic gate. This conn'ection is
made rather than between the
TTL gate's output and ground
because TTL outputs can sink
fairly high current (typically 16
milliamperes). However, TTL
outputs can only source a very
low current (typically 4OO microamperes).
The open-circuit output voltage of a TIL IC falls to less than
4OO millivolts when in the logic
O state, but it can rise to only 2.4
volts in the logic I state if the IC
does not have a suitable inter-

(/,

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Analog interfacing
An optocoupler can interface
analog signals from one circuit

:::

to another by setting up

"standing" current through its

IRED and then modulating that
current with the analog signal.
Fig f8 shows this method ap-

1s_TTL-GATE

by a phototransistor, output optocoupler.

plied to audio coupling. The operational amplifier IC2 is connected in a unity-gain voltage-

otocoupler's IRED is wired into

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external pull-up resistor R3

shown in Fig. 15.

(^

s,1t:

follower mode. The

case, the optocoupler's IRED

current will not fall to zero when
the TTL output is at logic 1. This
drawback can be overcome with

enough to provide an output

voltage swing that switches
fully between the CMOS logic O
and I states.
Figure l7 shows how a phototransistor-output optocoupler
can interface a computer's digital output signal (5 volts, 5 milliamperes) to a l2-volt DC motor
whose operating current is less
than I amp. With the computer
output high, the optocoupler
IRED and phototransistor are

/!*

I
l,:;

nal pull-up resistor. In that

o,

**

r
l-

through the IRED)precisely folows the voltage applied to noninverting input pin 3 of the opamp. This pin is DC biased at
half-supply voltage with the RlR2 voltage divider. The op-amp
can be AC modulated with an
audio sisnal applied at Cl. The
quiescent IRD current is set at

O)

l:li:ti

'

R3 (and thus the current

C\l

.t'll'\-S

.:

the op-amp's negative feedback

loop so that the voltage cross

The optocoupler's phototransistor should be connected between the input and ground of
the TTL IC as shown because a
TTL input must be pulled down
below 8OO millivolts at 1.6 milliamperes to ensure correct logic
0 operation. Note that the circuit in Fig. l5 provides non-inverting optocoupling.
CMOS IC outputs can source
or sink currents up to several
milliamperes with equal ease.
Consequently, these IC's can be
interfaced with a sink configuration similar to that of Fig 15,
or they can be in the source configuration shown in Fig. 16. In
either case, R2 must be large

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FlG. I7-COMPUTER

put optocoupler.

To Dc-MoroR INTERFACE provided by a photorransisror.out-

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FlG.

lSrAUDlO

INTERFACE provided by a phototransistor-output optocoupler.

both ofl so the motor is turned

onbyQI andQ2. When the computer output goes low the IRED
and phototransistor are driven
on, so 81, 92 and the motor are
turned off. Note the l-ampere
current limitation.

to 2 milliamperes with R3.

On the output side of the coupler a quiescent current is set
up by its transistor. That current creates a voltage across potentiometer R4 which should
have its value adjusted to give a
1

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is an ideal application for the

optocoupler. (It is advisable that

one side.of its power supply be

ace

)uit

pa

grounded.) That arranflement

shown in Fig. lg can control the
power to lamps, heaters, motors
and other loads.
Figures 20 and 21 show practical control circuits. The Thiacs
should be selected to match load
requirements. The circuit in

its

hat

ral.

aP-

op-

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Fig. l9 provides non-synchronous switching in which

the Triac's initial switch-on

)p-

nto
ack

-B

point is not synchronized to the

6O-Hz voltage waveform. Here;
R2, Dl Zener diode D2 and Cl
develop a lO-volt DC supply
from the AC line. This voftge
can be fed to the Tiiac gate with
Ql, which turns the Tiiac on or
off. Thus, when Sl is open, the
optocoupler is off, so zero base
drive is applied to 81 (keeping
Tiiac and load off). When Sl is
closed, the optocoupler drives
Ql on and connects the lo-volt
DC supply to the Tiiac gate with
R3, thus applying full line voltage to the load.
The circuit in Fig. 20 includes
a silicon monolithic zero-voltage switch, the CA3O59/
CA3O79, sourced by Motorola
and Harris Semiconductor.
That IC with a phototransistoroutput optocoupler provides
synchronous power switching.
The gate current is applied to
the Triac only when the instantaneous AC line voltage is
within a few volts of the Zero
cross-over value. This synchronous switching method
permits power loads to be
switched on without generating
sudden power surges (and consequent radio frequency interference (RFI) in the power lines).
This scheme is used in many
factory-made solid- state relay

iti

modules.

OSS

FlG. 19-NON-SYNCHRONOUS TRIAC power switch with optocoupled input.

:nt
folonop-

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FlG. 2O-SYNCHRONOUS TRIAC power switch with optocoupled nput.

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FlG. 21-INCANDESCENT LAMP CONTROL with a Triac-driver output optocoalpler.

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FlG. 22-HIGH-POWER LOAD CONTROL with Triac-driver output optocoupler.

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PhotoSCR's and PhotoThiacs

Both photoSCR and photoTliac-output optocouplers have

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FlG. 23-INDUCTIVE LOAD CONTROL with Triac-driver output optocoupler and Triac

slave.

quiescent output equal to half

the supply voltage. The audiooutput signal appears across
potentiometer R4, and it is decoupled by C2.

lliac interfacing.

Interfacing the output of a

low-voltage control circuit to the
input of a Tiiac power-control
circuit driven from the AC line

rather limited output-current

ratings. However, in common
with other semiconductor devices, their sur$e-current ratings are far greater than their
RMS values. In the case of the
SCR. the surge current rating is
5 amps. but Lhis applies to a IOO
microsecond pulse width and a

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zo

dutycycle of less than l%. In the

case of the Tliac, the surge rating is 1.2 amps, and this applies
to a lO microsecond pulse width
and a maximum duty cycle of
to"/".

The input IRED of optocoupled SCR's and Tfiac's is

driven the same way as in a
phototransistor-output optocouple and the photoSCR
and photoTliac perform the
same way as their conventional
counterparts with limited current-handling capacity Figures
21, 22, and 23 illustrate practical applications for the photoTtiac-output optocoupler. In all
circuits Rl should be selected to
permit an IRED forward cur-

FIG. 2I,_OPTCALLY-COUPLED

plication (b).

INTERRUPTER MODULE (a) and speed-counting ap-

rent of at least 20 milliamperes.

In Fig. 21, t}re photoTliac di-

rectly activates an AC-linepowered incandescent lamp,

which should have an RMS rating of less than lOO milliamperes and a peak inrush
current rating of less than 1.2
amps to work in this circuit.
Figure 22 shows how the
photoTriac optocoupler can
trigger a slave Thiac, thereby activating a load of any desired
power rating. This circuit is
only suitable for use with noninductive (i.e.resistive loads)
such as incandescent lamps
and heating elements.
Finally, Fig. 23 shows how the
circuit in Fig. 22 can be modified for inductive loads such as
motors. The network made up
of R2, Cl, and RS shifts the
phase to the Ttiac gate-drive
network to ensure correct Tliac
triggering action. Resistor R4
and C2 form a snubber network
to suppress surge effects.
Figures 24 and 25 show two
other variations on the optocoupler theme. A slotted cou-

o,

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th

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C)

ul

54

pler-interrupter module is

shown in Fig. 23-a. T}le slot is

an air gap between the IRED
and the phototransistor. Infrared eners/ passes across the
unobstructed slot without significant attenuation when the
interrupter is "on". Optocoupling can, however, be completely blocked by opaque objects such spokes of a wheel or
unpunched tape moving across
the slot.
Atypical slot width is about 3

s
-

FlG. 2S-OPTICALLY-COUPLED REFLECTOR MODULE (a) and revolution countng

applcaton (b).

mm (0.12 inch) wide, and the

module has a phototransistor
output that gives an "open"
minimum CTR of about 107".
The schematic for this device is

detection.
A reflective optocoupler module is shown in Fig. 25-a. Direct

detect the presence of moving

objects that cannot be easily
passed through a thin slot. In a
tical application, a reflector
module can count the passage
of large objects on a conveyor
belt or sliding down a feed tube.
Figure 25-b illustrates a revolution counter based on reflecting IRfrom the IREDback to the
phototransistor with reflectors
mounted on the face of a spinning disk. The module.disk
separation is equal to the 5-mm
focal length of the emitter-detector pair. The reflective surfaces
'can be metallic paint or tape.
Other appications for the reflective module include tape-position detection, engine-shaft

IRED is blocked from the phototransistor by a wall within the

module, but both IRED and
phototransislor face a common

with photodarlington, pho-

similar to that of Figure 2 except

that the IRED and photodetector are enclosed in separate
boxes.

Figure 24-b illustrates

method for counting revolutions with the interrupter. Each

time a tab on the wheel blocks
the optical path, a count is
made. Other interrupter uses
include end-of-tape detection,
limit switching, and liquidlevel

infrared emission from the

focal point 5 mm (0.2-inch)

away. Interrupters are used to

revolution counting, and engine-shaft speed detection.

Photointerrupters and photo-

reflectors are also available

toSCR, and photoTliac ouput

stages.

R-E