Diodes Incorporated has introduced the API772x RobustISO family of dual-channel digital isolators, marking the company’s entry into the isolation device market and targeting applications that demand high levels of safety, reliability, and signal integrity. The new devices are designed for use in environments such as industrial automation, new energy power systems, and data center power supplies, where electrical noise and high voltages present persistent design challenges.
According to Diodes, the API772x series is engineered to meet reinforced and basic isolation requirements across multiple international standards, including VDE, UL, and CQC. The devices offer a 5,000VRMS isolation rating for one minute in compliance with UL 1577, along with an 8,000VPK isolation rating under DIN EN IEC 60747-17 (VDE 0884-17). In addition, the isolators provide a maximum surge isolation voltage of 12,800VPK, delivering a breakdown voltage exceeding 12kV. This performance level places the devices above many comparable products in the market, which typically offer breakdown voltages below 10kV.
At the core of the RobustISO family is a capacitive isolation barrier with a thickness greater than 25µm. Diodes stated that this barrier is designed to deliver an operational lifetime exceeding 40 years, surpassing standard service life expectations for equipment operating in demanding conditions. Digital data is transferred across the barrier using an ON-OFF keying (OOK) modulation scheme, which contributes to both long-term reliability and consistent signal integrity.
The API772x isolators support data rates of up to 100Mbps, enabling compatibility with a wide range of digital communication protocols. To address the challenges of electrically noisy environments, the devices provide strong electromagnetic immunity and low emissions, with a minimum common-mode transient immunity (CMTI) of 150kV/µs. This level of EMI resistance is intended to ensure stable signal transmission in high-voltage and high-switching-speed systems.
In terms of power and timing performance, the devices operate over a supply voltage range of 2.5V to 5.5V and feature low power consumption, typically drawing 2.1mA per channel at 1Mbps. A typical propagation delay of 11ns supports fast and predictable signal transfer, which is critical in time-sensitive control and monitoring applications.
The RobustISO family also offers design flexibility through multiple channel-direction configurations and default output options. The API7720 features both channels in the same direction, while the API7721 and API7722 provide opposite-direction channel configurations. Devices with an “F” suffix default to a low output state, while standard versions default to high.
The API772x digital isolators are supplied in an SO-8W (Type CJ) package and are available now, with pricing starting at $0.46 in 1,000-piece quantities.
