Hello readers welcome to new post. Here we will learn What is Optocoupler. Optocouplers are used in a variety of applications, including optical communications (such as for fiber optics) and storage devices. The technology has been around for 30 years and has become more widely used with the advent of digital cameras and other electronic components. The optocoupler is an example of a semiconductor diode device that consists primarily of an optocoupler and an LED.
An optocoupler works by converting electrical signals sent between two circuits into infrared light, which is detected by a photosensitive component. This component can be a photoconductive or photovoltaic cell, but they are also referred to as light detectors or “eye-pieces.” Such components can be placed in many different configurations to convert electrical signals into visible light, depending on their physical properties. In the case of optical communications, the circuits must be connected to each other and thus must contain matching parts (for example, two LEDs). These parts are often referred to as optocouplers.
Optocouplers have many applications in electronics where radiation levels above the eye-level of humans pose a significant hazard. For this reason, these devices have been incorporated in optical communication systems where radiation levels are high enough. Optical communications systems include such systems as fiber optic communication, satellite communication networks and information networks such as cellular phone networks (both fixed and mobile) and data transmission networks such as LANs, WANs and PSTNs. Optical cables run vertically through an installation to connect cables at different levels above ground; for example, telephone wires run vertically through the building so that telephone lines can connect different floors, while fiber optic cables run horizontally across the floor instead of vertically since there is no need for vertical wiring in buildings with only one floor per level. A typical “optical cable” has 4 parts
LED
Light source
Photosensitive detector
Optic coupler
An optocoupler may be either built-in or external to its circuit; it may be integral or separate from its circuit housing; it may use external components or it may consist only of one layer or multiple layers (e.g., photodiodes). An optocoupler is typically made using semiconductors such as gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium phosphide (GaP), indium phosphide (InP), zinc telluride (ZnTe), silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), silicon nitride(SiN)
2. How to use an Optocoupler
Optocouplers are used in many different types of applications, such as remote controls and sensor applications. An optocoupler is a device that allows a current (usually only 0.1 microA) to flow between two isolated circuits. It must be used in conjunction with a photosensitive device known as an LED which emits infrared light when an electrical signal is applied to it.
3. Types of Optocouplers
Optocouplers are used in many electronic devices such as remote controls and cameras. The two parts of an optocoupler, the LED and photosensitive device, are connected by a circuit, which is made up of resistors and capacitors. The circuit sends the current through the LED to turn it on or off while detecting the light from the photosensitive device. A common application of optocouplers is to use them to extend battery life in devices that use batteries.
4. Advantages of Optocoupler
Optocouplers are widely used for delivering large amounts of power to electronic circuits such as those that process and store data. Some optocoupler devices are used in many different applications, but most optocouplers use the same basic design: a light-emitting diode (LED) and photosensitive device to detect the outgoing infrared light.
Optocouplers have several advantages over other types of isolation devices:
1. Optocouplers can be connected to circuits that require only high power, such as those that run digital logic.
2. Optocouplers can be used with a wide range of technologies, including digital logic, mechanical relays, and optical sensors.
3. Optocouplers can be used in electronic systems that use multiple independent sources of power (such as mercury arc lamps or high-power LEDs).
4. Optocoupler devices also have advantages over other types of isolation devices in applications where it is important to maintain low noise levels, such as motors and high-voltage switching circuits.
5. Optocoupler devices generally do not require any external circuitry or heat sinks because they continuously emit infrared light from their LEDs and photosensitive cells (in a process called self-healing). This avoids the need for external cooling fans or other heat sinks, which are often required for other isolation devices on some applications where it is important to cool electronics by dissipating heat from their electronics and PCBs.
5. Where Optocouplers are used
The LED emits a particular color of light. The photosensitive device detects the color of light, which is converted into an electrical signal that is transmitted between the two circuits.
Optocouplers are used in applications such as
6. Conclusion
The optocoupler circuit was invented in the late 1950s, but it wasn’t until the mid-1960s that it became popular in television receivers.
The idea of an optocoupler came from a problem encountered by TV engineers. The TVs of the time were receiving signals from a transmitter that was not very sensitive to light, and the TVs needed to have their own light source as well, for better picture contrast.
Optocouplers are used in many applications such as wireless networks, satellite ground stations, and remote control units. They can also be used to boost cellular phone reception or improve the power output of a light bulb .
The transistor is commonly used to realize this function because it can be made with a single semiconductor material, silicon. As such, they are inexpensive and easy to integrate with other electronics components.
As mentioned earlier, an optocoupler is composed of two parts: an LED that emits infrared light and a photosensitive device that detects light from this LED. Both parts must be able to operate in isolation from each other so that there will be no interference between them when transmitting or receiving signals through their optical paths. This has been accomplished by placing resistors between their respective electrodes (this arrangement is called an optocoupler) .