A new family of high-performance digital isolators feature on-chip capacitors to enable faster data transmission with higher signal integrity.
Texas Instruments has introduced a family of high-performance digital isolators, featuring on-chip capacitors to enable faster data transmission with higher signal integrity. These capacitive isolators lead the industry with the fastest datarates combined with high reliability, provide six orders of magnitude higher magnetic immunity than existing inductive devices, and use 60% less power than high-performance optocouplers. The new isolators improve system performance and reduce cost in high-voltage, noisy applications such as factory automation, process control and data acquisition systems.

‘Using the intrinsic capacitor properties, TI’s technology behind the ISO721 and ISO721M delivers great immunity from magnetic noise sources’, said Art George, Vice President of TI’s High Performance Linear Business.

‘It enables the perfect combination of high-speed data transmission with industrial-grade requirements for reliability to match the performance and long lifetime needs of industrial isolation applications’.

The ISO721 and ISO721M provide high-performance data transmission and circuit protection with isolation of up to 560V of operating voltage or 4000V peak overvoltage transient.

The ISO721M is suited for applications requiring fast digital data to be transmitted with low incidence of system noise.

The ISO721 is more flexible and robust for transmitting data in noisy environments.

The devices meet the standards for isolators set by Underwriters Laboratory (UL1577), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC60747-5-2) and Canadian Standards Association (CSA Component Acceptance Notice 5A).

By using on-chip, high-voltage capacitors, the TI isolators transmit data up to three times faster while using less power than commonly used high-performance optocouplers.

In addition, TI’s capacitive technology offers the advantage of immunity from external magnetic fields that frequently occur in the industrial environment and can distort signal integrity.

These devices also offer high immunity against data corruption due to fast voltage transients, providing a minimum protection level of 25kV/us.

TI’s isolators use a semiconductor-grade silicon oxide dielectric.

This stable, high-performance insulator provides proven reliability and long operational life.

These are critical requirements in industrial applications where voltage surges can otherwise degrade device lifetime.

At typical operating voltage, each device’s life expectancy exceeds 25 years.

The ISO721 and ISO721M join TI’s diverse offering of integrated circuits for industrial applications, including the TMS320C2000 platform of digital signal processors, RS485 transceivers (HVD33), the Chipcon line of low-power wireless transceiver ICs, isolated DC/DC convertors (DCP010507DB), MSP430 ultra-low-power microcontrollers, CAN transceivers, and high-precision amplifiers and data convertors (ADS1203).

For more information on TI’s interface products, please see the Interface Selection Guide at interface.ti.com.

The ISO721 and ISO721M devices are now available from TI and authorised distributors in an eight-pin small-outline integrated circuit (SOIC) package.

The price is $1.65 in 1000-unit quantities.

An evaluation module is available.

Fusetec has appointed Phoenix Electronics as a specialist stocking agent/distributor to support its PPTC resettable fuses in the UK.
Fusetec, a leader in PPTC resettable fuses, has appointed Phoenix Electronics as a specialist stocking agent/distributor to support its entire product range in the UK. Fuzetec, with headquarters in Taiwan, was formed in 1997 and enjoys a reputation as a leading supplier of competitively priced quality approved resettable fuses. Phoenix Electronics is a specialist-engineering distributor/agent servicing the needs of the manufacturing and supply industries throughout the UK and Europe.

The appointment is significant in that it will open up a supply route which will provide engineers and buyers with an alternative source of PPTC fuses which are fully approved, readily available, technically supported and which give good value for money.

New single- and dual-channel optocouplers claim the industry’s highest common-mode noise rejection rating, while providing high bandwidth with low power consumption.
Fairchild Semiconductor’s new FOD0708 (single-channel) and FOD0738 (dual-channel) 15Mbaud optocouplers claim the industry’s highest common-mode noise rejection (CMR) rating, while providing the high-bandwidth (15Mbit/s), low-power-consumption characteristics demanded by industrial control applications. Fairchild’s patented Optoplanar technology reduces package capacitance more than 30% compared with competing solutions. This low package capacitance leads to a guaranteed 25kV/us minimum CMR rating that is 2.5x higher than the closest competitor, allowing the FOD07X8 series to operate in noisy industrial environments.

Unlike open collector bipolar-equivalent solutions, these optocouplers feature a push-pull detector that eliminates the need for a pull-up resistor and the power-consuming current it draws.

‘Noise can cause data errors in industrial control environments, adversely affecting applications such as line receivers on an automated factory floor’, said John Constantino, Manager of Fairchild’s optoelectronics Product Line.

‘The FOD07X8 optocouplers offer our customers the industry’s best available common-mode noise immunity to solve this problem’.

‘To address the other key requirements of the industrial market, we developed our new 15Mbaud optocouplers with a push-pull configuration that reduces power consumption without penalising bandwidth’.

The electrical characteristics of the FOD07X8 product series are guaranteed beyond the full industrial temperature range (-40 to +100C).

Their performance makes these devices ideal for interfacing with microprocessors, peripheral I/O and other high-speed applications.

They are also well-suited for industrial networks such as Profibus, Fieldbus, DeviceNet and SDS.

The optocouplers’ high-speed LED and a high-speed photodetector use Fairchild’s proprietary 0.8um CMOS technology.

Compared with typical face-to-face optocoupler/LED combinations, the FOD07X8 devices employ a side-by-side Optoplanar configuration and integrated proprietary silicon design on the detector chip.

The resulting package capacitance enables these optocouplers to deliver excellent 50kV/us common-mode immunity when a 2kV (peak) pulse is applied.

These devices are available in a compact S0-8 package, with the dual-channel FOD0738 offering optimum mounting density.

They also offer a 2500V RMS isolation voltage rating and UL-certification for increased reliability.

The FOD0708 and FOD0738 are lead (Pb)-free products that meet or exceed the requirements of the joint IPC/JEDEC standard J-STD-020B and are compliant with the European Union now in effect.

All E-T-A Circuit Breakers circuit protection products manufactured after 1st January 2006 are fully RoHS compliant, six months ahead of the date required by legislation.
All E-T-A Circuit Breakers circuit protection products manufactured after 1st January 2006 are fully RoHS compliant, six months ahead of the date required by legislation. Observing the importance of environmental needs throughout the life cycle of E-T-A’s products, from design to ultimate disposal, is a key objective for the company. The E-T-A website now features a definitive corporate statement with regard to specific hazardous substances contained within the European Directive 2002/95/EC, which regulates the Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment.

Also on the website is an extremely helpful interactive product configurator, which offers rapid identification of suitable circuit breakers for a particular application.

The website also enables the download of product specifications or user manuals, as well as providing easy contact to the local office for advice or to request catalogues.

E-T-A designs and manufactures a broad range of electromechanical and electronic products for circuit protection, switching and control in markets which include air, sea and land transport, process control, computers and communications, medical equipment, domestic appliances, machine tools and robotics.

TDA has received TUV certification for its AMZ2L-50R and the TSF series of ceramic PTC devices.
TDA has received TUV certification for its AMZ2L-50R and the TSF series of ceramic PTC devices. Gaining this safety approval has been a key aim as part of TDA’s commitment to support the telecommunication industry. That the components are approved to international standards significantly reduces the compliance burden for customers when they present their telecomms board or equipment for qualification tests.

TDA’s AMZ2L-50R and TSF4L-50RF Super Fuse devices are widely used by telecomms designers in combination with the company’s thyristor-based overvoltage protectors to provide a total surge protection solution for VoIP applications.

Both devices are aimed for multiple channel SLIC applications and are now in full production.

Pepi’s model FCP thermal cutout answers industry demands for small-format high-capacity thermal protection.
Pepi’s model FCP thermal cutout answers industry demands for small-format high-capacity thermal protection. Although very compact, the FCP is capable of switching up to 8A/250V AC (12A/24V DC) at a range of temperatures from +50 to +150C. Its plastic case is IP65 rated and capable of withstanding a vacuum impregnation process.

It is also UL approved to the latest IEC standards.

A compact electronic circuit protector ensures selective disconnection of 24V DC switch-mode power supply loads while optimally matching the application requirements.
E-T-A Circuit Breakers has extended its range of electronic overcurrent protection products for automation applications with the new ESX10. Available with seven different current ratings between 1 and 10A, the compact electronic circuit protector ensures selective disconnection of 24V DC switch-mode power supply (SMPS) loads while optimally matching the application requirements. The new E-T-A ESX10 electronic circuit breaker provides active current limitation to 1.8 or 1.5 times its rated current.

This allows capacitive loads up to 20,000uF or lamp loads to be switched on without affecting other loads on the power supply.

At the same time, this electronic active current limitation responds much faster to overload or short circuit conditions than switch-mode power supplies: the ESX10 will physically isolate a single faulty output, while allowing all other load circuits connected to the same SMPS to continue working as normal.

Status indication is provided by a multicolour LED plus an integral short-circuit proof status output or potential-free signal contact.

In the event of an overload or short circuit, the load circuit may be re-activated electronically via a reset input, or by a manual on/off button.

The on/off button also allows manual disconnection when starting up a system or during maintenance.

The E-T-A ESX10 is just 12.5mm wide and can be plugged directly into an E-T-A Module 17plus power distribution socket which is mountable on a DIN/EN rail.

All electrical connections are then made by means of convenient screwless terminals.

For processes powered by 24V DC switch-mode power supplies without circuits protected by a device such as the ESX10, an overload in a single circuit will cause the power supply to shut down the output to all the circuits it supplies.

On recovery it may go into ‘hiccup’ mode.

Costly downtime, scrap and even danger to personnel may result.

Traditional protection solutions do not provide the answer.

Circuit breakers with fast operating characteristics would be likely to cause nuisance trips during current peaks and switching on of capacitive loads.

On the other hand MCBs are too slow, and neither delayed operation nor high performance circuit breakers will respond adequately in this situation to overcurrents.

The power supply will therefore switch off completely, bringing all connected loads, ie the entire system, to a standstill.

All Fuzetec fuses are now available complying with RoHS (Pb-free) requirements.
All Fuzetec PPTC resettable fuses are now available complying with RoHS (Pb-free) requirements. The products, which are fully approved, comprise: radial leaded parts in both disc and rectangular format with a voltage range from 16 to 600V in seven steps; a surface mount offering (1206, 1210,1812 and 2920); and axial leaded versions specifically designed for rechargeable battery packs. In addition a custom design service is available which addresses requirements that do not fit the standard specification or package.

Full data, samples and pricing are available in Europe from Phoenix Electronics.

A new optocoupler is optimised for reliability and performance in driving the intelligent power modules and IGBTs used for motor control in heavy industrial equipment.
Avago Technologies has introduced a new optocoupler optimised for reliability and performance in driving the intelligent power modules (IPMs) and integrated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) used for motor control in heavy industrial equipment. Avago’s ACPL-4800 optocoupler meets the most stringent IPM performance specifications and is the first in the industry to offer common-mode rejection (CMR) of 30kV/us at 1.0kV. The ACPL-4800 features 50mA output current capability at up to 5Mbaud and guaranteed performance over the -40 to +100C temperature range.

The optocoupler is an excellent solution for improving the efficiency of inverter and motor drives through reduced switching dead time.

‘The ACPL-4800 raises the bar for CMR performance to a high level of 30kV/us coupled with low power consumption’, said Kheng-Jam Lee, Worldwide Marketing Manager for Isolation Products in Avago Technologies’ Optical Communication Solutions Division.

‘We’ll continue to develop the industry’s highest performance products to meet the needs of our industrial customers’.

The ACPL-4800’s totempole output with positive input-output logic means that no pull-up resistors or other additional circuitry is needed when connected to a positive-input IPM.

The optocoupler’s combination of wide 5 to 20V operating voltage range, 350ns propagation delay and 250ns pulsewidth distortion with high common-mode transient immunity helps to ensure data integrity, even when equipment is operating in the electrically noisy environments common in manufacturing facilities.

Approval in accordance with the following safety standards is pending: UL 1557, CSA File CA88324 (Notice 5), and IEC/EN/DIN EN 60747-5-2.

The ACPL-4800 is fabricated using Avago Technologies’ new bipolar-CMOS-DMOS (BCD II) process, resulting in a smaller, faster integrated circuit compared with conventional optocoupler ICs using a bipolar process.

The Avago ACPL-4800 is available in the following packages: gullwing surface-mount 8-pin DIP, lead-free 8-pin through-hole DIP, and lead-free gullwing surface-mount.

The ACPL-4800 is available now through Avago’s direct sales channel and worldwide distribution partners.

The RClamp7002M is a two-line secondary protection device designed for use in ADSL and other wide area networking equipment.
New from Semtech, the RClamp7002M is a two-line secondary protection device designed for use in ADSL and other wide area networking (WAN) equipment. With a surge capability of up to 1000W, the RClamp7002M helps shield sensitive circuits in central office (CO) equipment or customer premise equipment (CPE) from power transients caused by high-energy electrostatic discharge (ESD), cable discharge events (CDE), electrical fast transients (EFT) or lightning. The device meets IEC standards for ESD, EFT and lightning protection.

The RClamp7002M is a member of the RailClamp family of low capacitance protection devices.

Semtech designed the device in concert with a major DSL chipset company to ensure it meets the demands of next-generation devices.

The feature set of the device is also well suited for a wide range of wide area networking (WAN) equipment, including ATM and T1/E1 systems.

The device maintains a low clamping voltage through the use of surge rated, low capacitance steering diodes, each of which features a large area junction.

The diodes are also responsible for the low maximum capacitance of 10pF.

‘Collaborating on the RClamp7002M with a DSL industry leader led to key design features like the high surge rating and low clamping voltage that should make the RClamp7002M the leading choice for these telco systems’, said Tom Dugan, Semtech’s Director of Protection Products.

‘The addition of this innovative part to our RailClamp family is a sign to customers of our commitment to evolving the product line to meet their needs’.

The operating voltage for the RClamp7002M ranges from 3.3V to 70V, with the device connecting to the positive power supply rail and the ground to match the system voltage within that range.

With this wide operating range, the device can be designed into a CO system that uses -48V power.

To help simplify board layout, the RClamp7002M has a flow through design that orients the incoming signals at one end of the device and the outgoing signals at the other end of the device, eliminating the need to route lines.

The part is packaged in a small MSOP-10L package that is lead-free design, and complies with the European Union’s RoHS Directive to meet worldwide environmental and regulatory requirements.

The RClamp7002M is available immediately in production quantities and is priced at $0.76 each in 10,000-piece lots.