Isolated Voltage/Current Detection Optocouplers

Jan 26, 2010 11:05 AM

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Avago Technologies announced two new miniature voltage/current threshold detection optocouplers for use in a wide range of industrial control applications. The ACPL-K370/K376 optocouplers are designed to detect AC/DC sources and convert the voltage to a logic interface across an optical coupling barrier to provide safe isolation in electronically noisy environments found in industrial applications. These voltage/current sensing optocouplers are ideal for use in applications such as limit switch sensors, low voltage detectors, relay contact monitors, relay coil voltage monitors, and current sensors.

The new ACPL-K370/K376 series, which are an upgrade from Avago's HCPL-0370/3700/3760 optocoupler family, utilizes threshold sensing input buffer ICs which permit control of threshold levels over a wide range of input voltages up to 1140 Vpeak, with a single external resistor. Some of the key benefits provided by this new optocoupler series include a smaller stretched SO-8 (SSO-8) package which meets 8mm clearance and creepage requirements, and requires 30 percent less printed circuit board space compared to dual-inline packages (DIP-8). Additionally, the input buffer of these optocouplers offer several key features to enhance threshold sensing such as hysteresis for extra noise and switching immunity, a diode bridge for easy use with AC input signals, and internal clamping diodes to protect the buffer and light emitting diode (LED) from a wide range of over-voltage and over-current transients.

With the addition of the ACPL-K370/K376 series, Avago can offer another SSO-8 package option in addition to existing DIP packages to provide customers with more optocoupler options for higher voltage industrial applications. The ACPL-K376 is a low-current version of the ACPL-K370. To obtain lower current operation, the ACPL-K376 uses a high-efficiency aluminum gallium arsenide (AIGaAs) LED which provides higher light output at lower drive currents.

Avago's ACPL-K370/K376 optocoplers are available now. Pricing starts at $1.80 and $3.25 each for the ACPL-K370 and ACPL-K376, respectively in minimum quantities of 10,000. .