Skip to main content

PhotoMOS (semiconductor relay) – a component of great importance that lies concealed inside industrial equipment and automotive devices (Vol. 2)

In the previous article, we discussed the PhotoMOS, a lesser-known Panasonic product with a high market share.
To see the previous article, visit this link to Vol. 1

This article will discuss a CC Type PhotoMOS relay which emphasizes three key features: small size, low power consumption, and high-temperature operation.

Panasonic_PhotoMOS (PhotoMOS relay)

Among the lineup of Panasonic PhotoMOS products, the CC type is a particularly special type that is worth a detailed introduction.

small_low_current_semiconductor_relay_25a026201a84a77893e511c6bca5a2032d5ed50f.jpg
Small-sized, low-current consumption semiconductor relay "PhotoMOS relay CC type"
(Released by Panasonic in May 2015)

The CC type has been designed based on a new product concept different from other existing products. This new product concept gives the CC type three features: small size, low-power consumption, and high-temperature operation.

  • [Small size] 1.8 mm×1.95 mm×0.8 mm
  • [Low-current consumption]
    • 0.2 mA for input voltage 5.0 V, *ratio to conventional products in current consumption is 1:25
    • 0.1 mA for input voltage 3.3 V, *ratio to conventional products in current consumption is 1:50
  • [High-temperature operation]
    • CC type's highest ambient operating temperature is 105°C, whereas conventional types' is 85°C.

* Ratio against Panasonic's conventional relay products adopting optical insulation systems

The CC type products have advanced greatly in terms of size and power consumption, compared with conventional PhotoMOS series products. Using these new advantages, the CC type can be applied widely to mobile equipment and devices requiring high-density mounting. In the industrial equipment field, such as semiconductor testers and probe cards, in particular, various inspection devices are increasing their usage of the CC type PhotoMOS.

This benefits of the CC type are a result of newly introduced technologies. The CC type adopts an original capacitance insulation mechanism in place of the LED, while the conventional PhotoMOS relay has an LED making up its primary circuit.

The CC type has a basic structure in which a special driver IC containing an insulating capacitor and an oscillation circuit keeps the input side electrically insulated from the output side. A MOSFET operates on the output side in the same manner as with conventional types.

This similarity in basic structure with the conventional type allows you to use the CC type in a similar way you use the traditional PhotoMOS. Additionally, since the CC type is voltage-driven, it does not require a current limiting resistor connected to the input side.

Lastly, the CC type consumes less current because it does not contain an LED and achieves a maximum ambient operating temperature of 105°C, which is 20°C higher than that of the conventional type.

Related information:
・Web information on the CC type
・PhotoMOS-related information provided in the Pearls of Wisdom on the Panasonic website

Panasonic Industry Company contributes towards a new future and a richer society by providing various high quality and reliable industrial products. On DesignSpark we will introduce new products and provide technical information. パナソニック インダストリー社は、新しい未来と豊かな社会に貢献する会社を目指し、高い性能、信頼性を実現した商品を多数扱っております。DesignSparkでは弊社商品や技術記事についてご紹介いたします。
DesignSpark Electrical Logolinkedin