opto-isolator
Sign in to saveAlso known as optical coupler, photocoupler, optocoupler, optical isolator, optoisolator, Optron
class=skin-invert-image|thumb|right|Schematic diagram of an opto-isolator showing source of light (LED) on the left, dielectric barrier in the center, and sensor (phototransistor) on the right
~22 min read
Encyclopedic overview
14 sectionsContents
- History
- Operation
- Electric isolation
- Types of opto-isolators
- Resistive opto-isolators
- Photodiode opto-isolators
- Phototransistor opto-isolators
- Bidirectional opto-isolators
- Types of configurations
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Sources
- External links
class=skin-invert-image|thumb|right|Schematic diagram of an opto-isolator showing source of light (LED) on the left, dielectric barrier in the center, and sensor (phototransistor) on the right
An opto-isolator (also called an optocoupler, photocoupler, or optical isolator) is an electronic component that transfers electrical signals between two isolated circuits by using light. Opto-isolators prevent high voltages from affecting the system receiving the signal. Commercially available opto-isolators withstand input-to-output voltages up to 10 kV and voltage transients with speeds up to 25 kV/μs.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “opto-isolator” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.