ISO212P
5
DISCUSSION
OF SPECIFICATIONS
The ISO212P is intended for applications where isolation
and input signal conditioning are required. Best signal-to-
noise performance is obtained when the input amplifier gain
setting is such that V
OUT
has a full scale range of
±
5V. The
bandwidth is typically 1kHz, making the device ideal for use
in conjunction with sensors that monitor slowly varying
processes. To power external functions or networks, 5mA at
±
8V typical is available at the isolated port.
LINEARITY PERFORMANCE
The ISO212P offers linearity performance compatible with
12-bit resolution systems (0.025%). Note that the specifica-
tion is based on a best-fit straight line.
OPTIONAL OFFSET VOLTAGE ADJUSTMENT
In many applications, the untrimmed input offset voltage
will be adequate. For situations where it is necessary to trim
the offset, a potentiometer can be used. See Figure 1 for
details. It is important to keep the traces to the offset adjust
pins as short as practical, because noise can be injected into
the input op amp via this route.
INPUT PROTECTION
If the ISO212P is used in systems where a transducer or
sensor does not derive its power from the isolated power
available from the device, then some input protection must
be present to prevent damage to the input op amp when the
ISO212P is not powered. A resistor of 5k
should be
included to limit the output impedance of the signal source.
Where the op amp is configured for an inverting gain, then
R
IN
of the gain setting network can be used. For non-
FIGURE 1. Power Supply and Signal Connections Shown for Non-Inverting, Unity Gain Configuration.
0.1μF
100k
Offset
Adjust
8
7
5
6
–V
Out
SS 1
+V
Out
SS 1
1
2
+I/P
Com 1
5k
V
IN
V
OUT
38
37
32
O/P High
O/P Low
Com 2
34
35
Clock
Out
Clock
In
31
+V
CC
(1)
+
+
(2)
(2)
–I/P
f
B
3
4
Input Ground Plane
Output Ground Plane
Isolation
Barrier
10μF
10μF
10μF Tantalum
+
100μH
inverting configurations, a separate resistor is required.
Neglecting this point may also lead to problems when
powering on the ISO212P.
USING
±
V
SS1
TO POWER EXTERNAL CIRCUITRY
The DC/DC converter in the ISO212P runs at a switching
frequency of 25kHz. Internal rectification and filtering is
sufficient for most applications at low frequencies or with no
external networks connected.
The ripple on
±
V
SS1
will typically be 100mVp-p at 25kHz.
Loading the supplies will increase the ripple unless extra
filtering is added externally; a capacitor of 1
μ
F is normally
sufficient for most applications, although in some cases
10
μ
F may be required. Noise introduced onto
±
V
SS1
should
be decoupled to prevent degraded performance.
THEORY OF OPERATION
The ISO212P has no galvanic connection between the input
and output. The analog input signal referenced to the input
common (Com 1) is multiplied by the gain of the input
amplifier and accurately reproduced at the output. The
output section uses a differential design so either the HI or
LO pin may be referenced to the output common (Com 2).
This allows simple input signal inversion while maintaining
the high impedance input configuration. A simplified dia-
gram of the ISO212P is shown in Figure 2. The design
consists of a DC/DC converter, an uncommitted input opera-
tional amplifier, a modulator circuit and a demodulator
circuit. Magnetic isolation is provided by separate trans-
formers in the power and signal paths.
The DC/DC converter provides power and synchronization
signals across the isolation barrier to operate the operational
amplifier and modulator circuitry. It also has sufficient
capacity to power external input signal conditioning net-
NOTES: (1) Optional voltage offset adjust compo-
nents. (2) 10
μ
F decoupling to be used with external
loads connected.