Digital Isolator July 2001

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Analog Devices, Inc.’s ADuM1100, said to be the industry’s fastest digital isolator, reportedly has lower power consumption and cost and can achieve three-fold improvements over other optocouplers. With a magnetic-based approach to digital isolation, the isolator offers the most accurate and fastest data transfer available for noisy or high-voltage environments, such as industrial automation, motor control, and data acquisition, according to the supplier.

The device is the first product that utilizes the company’s new µmIsolation™ (Micromachined isolation) technology. According to the supplier, the technology uses Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) fabrication techniques to bring a new level of digital isolation performance by combining unparalleled speed, waveform fidelity, and immunity to interference. The isolator is suitable for high data rate applications, including industrial automation systems based on industry standards such as PROFIBUS or DeviceNet. It is also said to provide footprint compatibility and cost savings compared to existing optocouplers.
The device is compatible with either 3.3 V or 5 V operation, supports data rates up to 100 Mbps, has a 2 nsec maximum pulse width distortion, and is reportedly immune to voltage transients of at least 25 kV/msec.
Two models are offered. The ADuM1100AR is rated at a data rate of 25 Mbps; while the ADuM1100BR is rated at 100 Mbps.