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Technical White Paper

Improve Your System Performance by Replacing
Optocouplers with Digital Isolators

Koteshwar Rao
Applications EngineerIsolation Products
ABSTRACT

Galvanic isolation, generally referred to as isolation, is a means of preventing DC and unwanted AC currents
and avoiding a direct conduction path between two sections of a system. Isolation performs these actions whilestill allowing signal transfer, power transfer, or both, between those two sections. Semiconductor devices thatoffer galvanic isolation are referred to as isolators. Optocouplers are one of the first isolators to be introducedin the semiconductor industry and have dominated the industry for several decades as an exclusive isolation
technology.
With semiconductor technological advances in the last couple decades, there are many other isolation
technologies, like capacitive and magnetic isolation, that offer similar functionality as optocouplers with betteroverall performance. Among the competing technologies, TI’s silicon dioxide (SiO2)-based digital isolation
technology offers best-in-class performance, especially on high voltage rating, electrical characteristics,
switching characteristics, and reliability. This white paper compares TI digital isolators to some of the commonlyavailable optocouplers with respect to various performance parameters. To compare TI digital isolators tooptocouplers in standard interface circuits, see the How to Replace Optocouplers with Digital Isolators inStandard Interface Circuits application brief. When looking for a reliable and robust upgrade to optocoupler
designs, consider TI's pin-to-pin opto-emulator products.

Table of Contents
1 Isolator Construction..............................................................................................................................................................22 Switching Performance..........................................................................................................................................................33 Isolator Lifetime Through TDDB Test................................................................................................................................... 54 Solution Size........................................................................................................................................................................... 65 Aging and Reliability.............................................................................................................................................................. 76 Common-Mode Transient Immunity (CMTI)..........................................................................................................................77 Optocoupler Current Input vs Digital Isolator CMOS Voltage Input.................................................................................. 78 Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................................................. 89 References.............................................................................................................................................................................. 8

List of Figures
Figure 1-1. Construction of a Typical Optocoupler...................................................................................................................... 2
Figure 1-2. Construction of a TI Digital Isolator........................................................................................................................... 2
Figure 3-1. TDDB Lifetime of Optocoupler vs TI Digital Isolator..................................................................................................5Figure 4-1. Comparing Amount of Space Occupied by Optocouplers With ISO6741 and ISO7762........................................... 6

List of Tables
Table 1-1. Dielectric Strength of Various Insulating Materials......................................................................................................2
Table 2-1. Timing Specifications of General Purpose Optocoupler vs TI Digital Isolators........................................................... 3
Table 2-2. Timing Specifications of High-Speed Optocoupler vs TI Digital Isolators................................................................... 4

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1 Isolator Construction
Even though both capacitive digital isolators and optocouplers offer similar functionality, these devices are quite
different in construction and working principle. Optocouplers use an LED to transmit digital or analog information
across an isolation (or insulation) barrier (often just an air gap). Some optocouplers use epoxy as the insulating
material which offers slightly better dielectric strength than air, as shown in Figure 1-1. Conversely, capacitive
digital isolators are constructed with two series isolation capacitors using SiO2 as the dielectric, as shown inFigure 1-2. SiO2 offers one of the highest dielectric strengths among insulating materials and is significantly
stronger compared to dielectrics used by competing isolation technologies, as shown in Table 1-1.

Figure 1-1. Construction of a Typical Optocoupler

Figure 1-2. Construction of a TI Digital Isolator
Table 1-1. Dielectric Strength of Various Insulating Materials
Insulator Materials

2

Dielectric Strength

Air

About 1 VRMS/µm

Epoxies

About 20 VRMS/µm

Silica Filled Mold Compounds

About 100 VRMS/µm

Polyimide

About 300 VRMS/µm

SiO2

About 500 VRMS/µm

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Switching Performance

2 Switching Performance
Isolators are extensively used in many industrial and automotive applications where isolation of data, control or
status signals is needed. To enable processing of the isolated data, control, or status signals in a timely manner,
it is critical for the isolator to have optimum switching characteristics, minimizing the impact on the overall systemtiming performance. Optocouplers fare very poorly when it comes to switching characteristics whereas digitalisolators offer one of the best switching characteristics in the industry, enabling more systems to meet theirperformance requirements.
General purpose optocouplers usually do not have any supported data rates mentioned in their data sheets,
making it difficult to know their suitability for a given application. Most of these optocouplers also have anopen-collector output, due to which they are only characterized to a few select pullup or load resistor values.
One of TI’s latest digital isolators, ISO6741, has its maximum supported data rate clearly specified in the datasheet as 50Mbps, which makes it easy to know its suitability for a given application. Unlike optocouplers, digitalisolators do not require any external pullup resistors for operation and the maximum data rate is not heavily
dependent on external components.
Table 2-1 compares timing specifications of a general purpose optocoupler with TI digital isolators. The
information in the table also estimates the asynchronous and synchronous data rates that are achieved using
the data sheet timing specifications. Table 2-1 shows that the data rate achieved using a general purpose
optocoupler is much lower than what can be achieved using digital isolators. The two pullup resistor options
listed with RL = 100 Ω and RL = 1.9 kΩ for optocoupler consume significantly higher current compared to digitalisolators, making them unsuitable for many applications.
Table 2-1. Timing Specifications of General Purpose Optocoupler vs TI Digital Isolators
Part Number
Parameter

General Purpose
Optocoupler

ISO7741

ISO6741

RL = 100 Ω

RL = 1.9 kΩ

VCC = 5 V

VCC = 5 V

Input forward current / ICC1 per channel (typ, mA)

2.0

16.0

2.2

1.8

On state collector current / ICC2 per channel (typ, mA)

50.0

2.6

4.5

3.2

2.0

0.8(1)

0.002

0.005

Fall time, tf (typ, µs)

3.035.0(1)

0.002

0.005

Turn on time / propagation delay, tpHL (typ, µs)

3.0

0.5

0.011

0.011

Turn off time / propagation delay, tpLH (typ, µs)

3.0

40.0

0.011

0.011

Propagation delay skew, tsk (max, ns)

--

0.004

0.006

Max asynchronous data rate ((T = max(tr, tf) × 2/0.6 + tsk), typ, Mbps)

0.1

0.008

80.6

47.6

Max synchronous data rate ((T = max(tpHL, tpLH) × 4), typ, Mbps)

0.028

0.006

23.4

22.7

Rise time, tr (typ, µs)(1)

Estimated Values

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High-speed optocouplers offer better switching characteristics compared to general-purpose optocouplers.
Table 2-2 compares a typical high-speed optocoupler with TI digital isolators in which the asynchronous andsynchronous data rates for the devices are estimated using the timing specifications given in their respective
data sheets. As shown in the comparison table, digital isolators still support much higher data rate compared tothe high-speed optocoupler.
Table 2-2. Timing Specifications of High-Speed Optocoupler vs TI Digital Isolators

4Part Number

High-Speed Optocoupler

ISO7741

ISO6741

Parameter

IF = 14 mA

IF = 6 mA

VCC = 5 V

VCC = 5 V

Input forward current / ICC1 per channel (typ, mA)

14.0

6.0

2.2

1.8

Rise time, tr (typ, ns)

15.0

15.0

2.4

4.5

Fall time, tf (typ, ns)

15.0

15.0

2.4

4.5

Turn on time / propagation delay, tPHL (typ, ns)

33.0

40.0

10.7

11

Turn off time / propagation delay, tPLH (typ, ns)

27.0

30.0

10.7

11

Propagation delay skew, tsk (max, ns)

30.0

30.0

4.4

6

Max asynchronous data rate ((T = max(tr, tf) × 2/0.6 + tsk), typ, Mbps)

12.5

12.5

80.6

47.6

Max synchronous data rate ((T = max(tpHL, tpLH) × 4), typ, Mbps)

7.6

6.3

23.4

22.7

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Isolator Lifetime Through TDDB Test

3 Isolator Lifetime Through TDDB Test
Time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) test is an industry standard accelerated stress test for determining
lifetime of a dielectric as a function of voltage. The test consists of applying various stress voltages across theisolation barrier of a device that are much higher than the typical working voltages and monitoring the amountof time it takes for the dielectric to break down. These voltage vs time coordinates are plotted on an appropriate
graph, and the coordinates are extrapolated to lower stress voltages to determine expected dielectric lifetimes
for the suitable working voltages.
Figure 3-1 compares TDDB plot of a TI digital isolator against a popular optocoupler, it can be noticed that theaverage TDDB line of optocoupler is about 2 divisions (100 times) lower than digital isolator average TDDB line.
The primary reason for such a large difference in TDDB lifetimes of the two technologies is the large difference
in dielectric strengths of the insulating material they use (refer Table 1-1). It can also be noticed that the lifetimeof an optocoupler for a given stress voltage varies considerably from one sample to another while the same isconsistent across samples for the digital isolator.

Figure 3-1. TDDB Lifetime of Optocoupler vs TI Digital Isolator

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4 Solution Size
An optocoupler works on the principle of converting electrical signal into light and then back into electrical signal
to achieve isolation. This limits the choice of dielectric that can be used for insulation to the ones that are
optically transparent like air and epoxy. Since the dielectric strengths of air and epoxy are significantly low, theyoccupy considerable amount of space in a single-channel package, thereby limiting the maximum number ofchannels that can be fit into a given optocoupler device.
Also, digital isolators use SiO2 as a dielectric, which has significantly higher dielectric strength and occupies amuch lower space to realize a single isolation channel, hence multiple channels can be easily integrated into asmall package. A typical single channel optocoupler is usually available in a package size of 3.7 mm × 4.55 mm
whereas ISO7762 with SSOP package can fit 6 high-performance channels in a small package area of
4 mm × 5 mm.
Figure 4-1 compares amount of space occupied by eight single-channel optocouplers and four dual-channel
optocouplers each with two ISO6741 devices to realize an eight-channel isolation solution. The figure also
places ISO7762, six-channel digital isolator, by the side showing the highest channel density achieved in awide-body SOIC-16 package.

ISO7762
6-channel

ISO67414-channel

Optocoupler
2-channel

8-channel solutions
Optocoupler
1-channel

Figure 4-1. Comparing Amount of Space Occupied by Optocouplers With ISO6741 and ISO7762
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Aging and Reliability

5 Aging and Reliability
It is a well-known phenomenon that the actual light output of LEDs degrades over time. Degradation of light
output affects many optocoupler device parameters and most of them are usually not mentioned in data sheet.
Current transfer ratio (CTR) is one such parameter where aging can be clearly seen. An example of CTR
degradation as a function of test time is shown in the application note by Toshiba titled Basic Characteristics andApplication Circuit Design of Transistor Couplers.
At some point in optocouplers life, CTR falls to a level at which the device fails to operate normally, leading
to poor reliability (high FIT rate and low MTBF). Also, digital isolators isolation and control circuits are very
well trimmed, minimizing their performance variation due to aging. Aging is also already considered as part ofdevice minimum and maximum specifications in the data sheet. The very well-controlled manufacturing processof digital isolators also achieves very high reliability (low FIT rate and high MTBF).

6 Common-Mode Transient Immunity (CMTI)
There are many applications (like solar inverter) that have very high voltages being switched for either
conversion or regulation, leading to high common-mode switching noise, and there are other applications (likemotor drives) that have inductive loads causing high ringing noise. These common-mode noises appearing
across the isolator can couple into an internal circuit of the device and disrupt normal operation.
One of the ways to prevent such noise from affecting internal circuit is to implement a differential design withgood common-mode noise rejection. The single-ended channel design of an optocoupler and absence of acommon-mode noise rejection circuit makes the receiver in optocoupler vulnerable to external common-modenoise.
Even with internal Faraday shielding, a typical high-speed optocoupler only supports a minimum CMTI of ±20
kV/µs. In comparison, ISO6741 employs a differential isolation channel design and a receiver with very highcommon-mode noise rejection, thereby offering a minimum CMTI of ±50 kV/µs.

7 Optocoupler Current Input vs Digital Isolator CMOS Voltage Input
All optocoupler inputs are current-driven and require > 2 mA of steady bias current for the device to operate.
Many optocouplers may need > 10 mA of input current for them to meet minimum application performancerequirements. This makes them less suitable to be directly driven by any TTL or CMOS outputs and hence they
may need a buffer to be able to drive the optocoupler.
Optocouplers are also not suitable to be used with low-voltage digital circuits (< 3.3 V) as the optocoupler
performance can drastically change with a small change in input voltage. Digital isolators like ISO6741 offer highimpedance CMOS inputs that are voltage driven. The CMOS inputs consume a maximum of ±10 µA of steadycurrent and hence can be directly driven by any TLL or COMS outputs without requiring any external buffer. This
makes them compatible to be directly interfaced with most other digital devices like MCU, ADC, and so on.
Digital isolators can also work with a wide range of power supply and logic voltage levels and also support
1.8-V low-voltage operation. Some variation in input supply voltage or logic voltage levels also does not affectthe output logic voltage levels. The input capacitance of digital isolators (about 1.3 pF for ISO6741) is alsosignificantly low compared to an optocoupler (about 60 pF for a typical high-speed optocoupler), thereby making
digital isolators switch much faster and easier compared to optocouplers.

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8 Conclusion
Optocouplers were one of the first isolators to be used in various applications for data isolation. They had been
dominant in the industry for a long time, but are now seeing a steep decline in their popularity and acceptancedue to their inability to meet present time performance needs. Digital isolators are fast replacing optocouplers
across applications, and TI digital isolators are one of the high-performance isolators filling the void left out by
the optocouplers in meeting current industry performance needs.
Various performance parameters of TI digital isolators have been looked at and are compared to generalpurpose and high-speed optocouplers. Some of the topics discussed include isolator construction, TDDB
lifetime, switching performance, solution size, aging and reliability, CMTI and CMOS voltage inputs. It isobserved that TI digital isolators offer superior performance over optocouplers in all of these aspects and are fast
replacing the legacy optocouplers.

9 References•••••••8Texas Instruments, How to Isolate RS-485 for Smallest Size and Highest Reliability application brief
Texas Instruments, How to Design an Isolated CAN Port for Space-Constrained Industrial Applications
application brief
Broadcom Inc., Calculate Reliable LED Lifetime Performance in Optocouplers, December 2022
Toshiba Corporation, Basic Characteristics and Application Circuit Design of Transistor Couplers, February
2018
Texas Instruments, ISO6741 General-Purpose, Quad-Channel Digital Isolator with Robust EMC product page
Texas Instruments, ISO7741 High-Speed, Robust-EMC Reinforced and Basic Quad-Channel Digital Isolator
product page
Texas Instruments ISO7762 High-Speed, Robust EMC Reinforced Six-Channel Digital Isolator product pageImprove Your System Performance by Replacing Optocouplers with Digital
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