Skip to main content

Insulating High Speed Communications Device "PhotoIC Coupler" - Fundamental for IoT

Photocouplers, which are widely used as a means for transmitting on/off signals for equipment safety design applications, come in various forms. While some of them operate at low speed and are used for general purposes, others are enhanced for faster response and are dedicated to high-speed communications in which a transmission rate may reach the Mbps level.

Such high-speed Photocouplers are well known in specific industrial fields and are sometimes called "digital Photocouplers" or "communication Photocouplers." Panasonic has named its original high-speed Photocoupler under the name, "PhotoIC Coupler" which is now available in the market.

The Photocoupler has a structure in which the input is electrically insulated from the output and sends signal through light transmission. This structure prevents malfunctioning or failure of the Photocoupler in equipment and makes the Photocoupler highly resistant to noise generated from the equipment itself or nearby external devices. In addition, the Photocoupler has another advantage in that a voltage differential between the input and output sides do not pose any issues.  This allows the Photocoupler to connect circuit blocks of varying source voltages to each other.

Information on Panesonic PhotoIC Coupler models

Click here to access product information

An insulating communication device used as a fundamental element in the IoT era.

The Photocoupler provides electrical insulation and yet transmits switching signals which allows it to be used in various circuits of high-speed communications equipment. The PhotoIC Coupler takes an active part in preventing damage to these circuits in factory equipment/machines such as factory automation equipment, robotics, and machine tools by eliminating noise-related malfunctioning of these devices. As factory automation equipment including machine tools and industrial equipment become capable of communicating to each other online in systems based on the Industrial 4.0 concept, it is expected that demand for devices involved in high-speed communications, such as the PhotoIC Couplers, will grow steadily. 

Panasonic's PhotoIC CouplerPanasonic's PhotoIC Coupler

The PhotoIC Coupler has the same basic structure as that of an ordinary photocoupler.

Using the same basic structure as a general-purpose photocoupler, the PhotoIC Coupler turns an electric signal it receives at the input side through a light through a light-emitting diode (LED). The LED sends the light to the output side, where a light-receiving element absorbs the incoming light.

The internal structure of the PhotoIC Coupler

The internal structure of the PhotoIC Coupler

Panasonic's PhotoIC Coupler uses an original light-receiving element for achieving high speed response. Transmission rates achieved by the PhotoIC Coupler currently available in the market range from kbps to Mbps which are capable of achieving the necessary communication speed for all high speed applications.

PhotoIC Coupler is ideal for ordinary serial signal transmissions in applications involving UART, SPI, I2C, etc. 

Panasonic provides PhotoIC Coupler models for use in either 20 Mbps and 50 Mbps ranges. The PhotoIC Coupler model that allows a transmission rate of 50 Mbps which is the best operation speed in the industry allowing for usage in high-end products that require such high-speed communications.

Panasonic PhotoIC Couplers have a light-receiving element protected with a shield, offering high noise resistance. The light-emitting element (LED) can endure high temperatures that reach up to 105°C.  Even under the harshest conditions at manufacturing sites and various service environments, the PhotoIC Coupler remains very robust.

Related information

Pearls of WISDOM on Automation controls
From basic information to applications of Automation Controls. Filled with valuable information helpful for engineers!

▼Introduction to Relays – What are PhotoMOS?

▼Panasonic Relays, Connectors, Switches SELECTION GUIDE
Please use for product comparison and selection!

YH

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