Analog Devices is introducing a family of digital isolators designed to operate in electrically challenging automotive environments. According to the company, it is tuning its proprietary iCoupler digital isolation technology to meet the reliability and quality needs of emerging electric-hybrid vehicles.

Unlike the relatively low-voltage signals powering most in-car entertainment, safety, and power train systems, hybrid-vehicle batteries can operate at voltages in excess of 600 V, which creates a need to galvanically isolate system-critical electronics.

Analog Devices ADuM120xW, ADuM130xW and ADuM140xW digital isolators were developed for electric-hybrid vehicle systems, such as motor drives and battery management systems.

According to Analog Devices, these new iCoupler products are the first digital isolators to carry an AEC-Q100 qualified -40°C to +125°C automotive temperature rating.

"Until today, the only isolation available for hybrid car and truck batteries was in the form of optocouplers, which are notorious for being difficult to manage and operate at temperatures over 105°C," said Robbie McAdam, vice president, Analog Semiconductor Components Division, Analog Devices. "In an application where fuel economy and battery capacity are everything, ADI's digital isolators not only remove the limitations of optocouplers, they do so at 90 percent less power consumption."

Features of the ADuM1xxxW Digital Isolators

The two-channel ADuM120xW, three-channel ADuM130xW and four-channel ADuM140xW digital isolators are based on Analog Devices' proprietary iCoupler chip-scale micro-transformer technology. The automotive products provide multiple isolation channels in a variety of channel configurations and data rates up to 25 Mbps.

The CMOS-based parts operate with the supply voltage on either side ranging from 3.0 V to 5.5 V, providing compatibility with lower voltage systems as well as enabling voltage translation across the isolation barrier.

Pricing and availability

The ADuM120xW, ADuM130xW and ADuM140xW digital isolators are available now for sampling and volume production. The new digital isolators are available in 8-lead narrow-body or 16-lead wide-body SOIC (small-outline integrated circuit) packages and are priced starting at $0.55 per channel in OEM quantities.

For more information, visit

• http://www.analog.com/pr/ADuM120xW
• http://www.analog.com/pr/ADuM130xW
• http://www.analog.com/pr/ADuM140xW