Using the HCPL-2602/12
Line Receiver
Optocouplers
The primary objectives to fulfill
when connecting an optocoupler
to a transmission line are to
provide a minimum, but not
excessive, LED current and to
properly terminate the line. The
internal regulator in the HCPL-
2602/12 simplifies this task.
Excess current from variable drive
conditions such as line length
variations, line driver differences,
and power supply fluctuations are
shunted by the regulator. In fact,
with the LED current regulated,
the line current can be increased
to improve the immunity of the
system to differential-mode-noise
and to enhance the data rate
capability. The designer must
keep in mind the 60 mA input
current maximum rating of the
HCPL-2602/12 in such cases, and
may need to use series limiting or
shunting to prevent overstress.
Design of the termination circuit
is also simplified; in most cases
the transmission line can simply
be connected directly to the input
terminals of the HCPL-2602/12
without the need for additional
series or shunt resistors. If
reversing line drive is used it may
be desirable to use two HCPL-
2602/12 or an external Schottky
diode to optimize data rate.
termination,” but they do not
interfere with circuit performance
because the regulator clamps the
line voltage. At longer line
lengths, t
PLH
increases faster than
t
PHL
since the switching threshold
is not exactly halfway between
asymptotic line conditions. If
optimum data rate is desired, a
series resistor and peaking
capacitor can be used to equalize
t
PLH
and t
PHL
. In general, the
peaking capacitance should be as
large as possible; however, if it is
too large it may keep the regulator
from achieving turn-off during the
negative (or zero) excursions of
the input signal. A safe rule:
make C
≤
16t
where:
C = peaking capacitance in
picofarads
t = data bit interval in
nanoseconds
then connected in ANTI-SERIES;
however, because of the higher
steady-state termination voltage,
in comparison to the single
HCPL-2602/12 termination, the
forward current in the substrate
diode is lower and consequently
there is less junction charge to
deal with when switching.
Closing switch B with A open is
done mainly to enhance common
mode rejection, but also reduces
propagation delay slightly
because line-to-line capacitance
offers a slight peaking effect.
With switches A and B both
CLOSED, the shield acts as a
current return path which
prevents either input substrate
diode from becoming reversed
biased. Thus the data rate is
optimized as shown in Figure (c).
Improved Noise Rejection
Use of additional logic at the
output of two HCPL-2602/12s,
operated in the split phase
termination, will greatly improve
system noise rejection in addition
to balancing propagation delays
as discussed earlier.
A NAND flip-flop offers infinite
common mode rejection (CMR)
for NEGATIVELY sloped common
mode transients but requires t
PHL
> t
PLH
for proper operation. A
NOR flip-flop has infinite CMR for
POSITIVELY sloped transients
but requires t
PHL
< t
PLH
for proper
operation. An exclusive-OR flip-
flop has infinite CMR for common
mode transients of EITHER
polarity and operates with either
t
PHL
> t
PLH
or t
PHL
< t
PLH
.
With the line driver and
transmission line shown in Figure
(c), t
PHL
> t
PLH
, so NAND gates are
preferred in the R-S flip-flop. A
higher drive amplitude or
Polarity Reversing Drive
A single HCPL-2602/12 can also
be used with polarity reversing
drive (Figure b). Current reversal
is obtained by way of the
substrate isolation diode
(substrate to collector). Some
reduction of data rate occurs,
however, because the substrate
diode stores charge, which must
be removed when the current
changes to the forward direction.
The effect of this is a longer t
PHL
.
This effect can be eliminated and
data rate improved considerably
by use of a Schottky diode on the
input of the HCPL-2602/12.
For optimum noise rejection as
well as balanced delays, a split-
phase termination should be used
along with a flip-flop at the
output (Figure c). The result of
current reversal in split-phase
operation is seen in Figure (c)
with switches A and B both
OPEN. The coupler inputs are
Polarity Non-Reversing
Drive
High data rates can be obtained
with the HCPL-2602/12 with
polarity non-reversing drive.
Figure (a) illustrates how a
74S140 line driver can be used
with the HCPL-2602/12 and
shielded, twisted pair or coax
cable without any additional
components. There are some
reflections due to the “active
1-325
HP [ AGILENT(HEWLETT-PACKARD) ]
