Optocouplers can challenge other isolators

摘要

Apart from classical opto-isolators and optocouplers, which use light, other devices use either capacitive or magnetic coupling. Such devices require the distance between the transmitting and receiving parts to be as small as possible. The voltage difference between them is called the isolation voltage, and is limited to a few kilovolts. In harsh industrial environments where there are strong external magnetic or electric fields, these devices require additional shielding, especially from rapidly pulsing magnetic fields, which makes these devices a less desirable design option.