Optocouplers use light sensitive interface for reliable isolation

The market introduction of its HCC100x series of radiation tolerant optocouplers has been announced by TT Electronics. The devices are suited for the isolation of electrical circuits within high-radiation deep spaceflight applications, including satellites, launch vehicles, space craft, and planetary rovers.

The HCC100x optocouplers use a light sensitive interface to offer high-reliability electrical isolation between input and output circuits.

They are highly robust and operate well in very harsh, dirty environments. The devices are TID (Total Ionising Dose) radiation tolerant to 100Krad (Si), extended to 300Krad, with a low dose rate (ELDRS) of 0.1rad/s and Neutron exposure of 1E12 neutrons/cm, extended to 2E12 neutron/cm.

The optocouplers’ rugged design consists of both an infrared LED and NPN silicon phototransistor, mounted in a choice of packages, either a hermetically sealed TO-78 metal can, 6-pin SMD, hermetically sealed ceramic 4-pin or 6-pin LCC, high-voltage isolator assembly, or a custom designed package. These devices feature 1kV electrical isolation and other optoisolator assemblies extending out to 50kV.

The HCC1000 and HCC1001 include a base supplied contact for conventional transistor biasing, while the HCC1002 features a hermetically sealed ceramic LCC 4-pin without base contact. Models are further available with choice of either a high-voltage isolator assembly or custom designed package. TX and TXV processing are available to MIL-PRF-19500 conformance requirements.

The HCC100x optocoupler series can also support ground loop elimination, level shifting, line receiver switching, power supply isolation, and motor control within high-voltage power systems, nuclear environments, and any other harsh industrial environment where the presence of radiation may pose added risks of electrical circuitry performance degradation.

Standard and custom versions of the HCC1000, HCC1001, and HCC1002 radiation capable optocouplers, area available direct from TT Electronics, in a variety of packaging and design options to meet customers’ exact needs.

Datasheets available:

TT Electronics Surface Mount Optically Coupled Isolator datasheet

TT Electronics Hi-Reliability Optically Coupled Isolator datasheet