Isolation amps aim at current sensing apps

Avago Technologies has unveiled the ACPL-790B, ACPL-790A and ACPL-7900 devices, new precision optical isolation amplifiers for motor control and current sensing applications. The new isolation amplifiers improve the accuracy and response times of the Avago isolation amplifier portfolio, while addressing compact applications with a smaller footprint package design. The high-precision isolation amplifiers are ideal for current and voltage sensing in AC and brushless DC motor drives, industrial inverters, servo motor drives, wind power generation, solar panel power systems and general analog isolation.

As current flows through the external resistor in a motor drive implementation, the resulting analog voltage drop is sensed by an ACPL-790B/790A/7900 isolation amplifier, and it allows a proportional output voltage to safely be created on the other side of the optical isolation barrier. Competing solutions based on Hall Effect technology and current transformer technology suffer electrical parameter variation over temperature fluctuations and require a larger footprint in a design. The ACPL-790B precise isolation amplifier provides up to 0.5 percent high gain accuracy, and offer 200kHz bandwidth and 1.6?s response time to enable capture of transient signals in short circuit and overload conditions. The devices operate from a single 5V supply that is compatible with 3.3V outputs. This performance is delivered in a compact DIP-8 package that is suitable for automated assembly and meets worldwide regulatory safety standards.

Samples, a demonstration board and production quantities of ACPL-7900 series of precise isolation amplifiers are available now through Avago's direct sales channel and worldwide distribution partners.