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26
Standard characteristics
V
CE
= 5V
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
0.1
0.5
1
5
10
50
Sample A
Sample B
C
Forward Current I
F
(mA)
Figure 9. CTR vs. I
F
Characteristics (Standard Value)
Response Characteristics
The response characteristics of optocouplers are the same as those phototransistors. The fall time t
f
is expressed by:
t
f
R
L
h
FE
C
CB
R
L
: Load resistance
h
FE
: Amplification factor
C
CB
: Collector-base capacitance
If R
L
is too high, t
f
becomes too high to be fit for high-speed signal transmission. Select the proper load resistance for the desired
signal rate. Similarly, the collector current must fully satisfy the minimum value of the CTR, CTR vs. T
A
characteristics, and CTR
vs. time characteristics. Otherwise, the phototransistor will operate unsaturated, causing lower response characteristics and
malfunction.
Figures 10 to 13 show the response-time vs. forward current characteristics and response-time vs. V
CC
characteristics, using load
resistance and ambient temperature as parameters.
CTR vs. I
F
Characteristics (I
F
: Forward Current Flowing Through the LED)
The current transfer ratio (CTR) depends upon the magnitude of a forward current (I
F
). When I
F
goes lower or higher than a
proper magnitude, the CTR becomes smaller. Figure 9 shows the CTR vs. I
F
characteristics.
Note that rate changes of CTRs are very diffrent at low I
F
magnitude (approx. 5 mA), middle I
F
magnitude (approx. 5 mA), and
high I
F
magnitude (approx. 20 mA). Namely, the CTR depends heavily upon the magnitude of forward current I
F
in lower and
higher current ranges.
For low-input and high-output switching, see Chapter 4.