WORKING 7

ISOLATION AMPLIFIERS

1. Generalities

Measuring amplifiers are required to measure signal acquisition and processing near the
signal source but eliminate any galvanic coupling with output circuits that are usually
connected to other electronic or automation devices.
An isolation amplifier contains a floating table input amplifier, a separation stage, and an
output amplifier. In applications, the input circuit mass must be avoided at the output circuit
board. Transmitting the signal between the two separate galvanic parts is done by an
electromagnetic field (transformer coupling or optical coupling), thus creating an insulation
barrier. Constant miniature transformers in a wide range of frequencies (102 ... 106 Hz) and
insulation of windings for 1 ... 5 kV voltages can be made.
Transformer coupling is made with very high precision and good linearity. There are also
assemblies of light-emitting diodes with photodiodes or phototransistors mounted in metallic
or plastic DIL capsules, isolated for working voltages of 1 ... 2,5 Kv. Interconnecting an
electroluminescent diode and a photodiode with an optical cable (electrical insulating) and
feeding the input side with its own batteries, amplifiers with galvanic separation for 105 ...
106 V voltages can be built. Various adjacent components or electronic circuits can be
encapsulated in the optocoupler. The optical coupler is designed for high response and
broadband speeds. A special case of insulation amplifier is that based on thermal coupling.

2. Importance of common mode voltage rejection

Common mode tensions occur due to:
- internal energy (radiofrequency or electromagnetic effects);
- the difference between the potential of the mass of the transducer and the measuring system;
- Measuring potential of the transducer (eg thermocouple).
Since these three disturbances occur on industrial measurements, common mode voltage
rejection is required.
Note: For each increase of the CMR by 20 dB, the effects of the common mode voltage
decrease by a factor of 10. Thus, at a common mode voltage of 100 V and a useful signal to
measure 25 mV, we have the following errors:

for 60 dB 100 mV meaning 400%

80 dB 10 mV meaning 40%
100 dB 1 mV meaning 4%
140 dB 10 5 V meaning 0.04%
160 dB 106 V meaning 0.004%

When designing a measuring amplifier, it is necessary to know the maximum common

mode voltage in the measuring circuit (transducers) and the common mode voltage allowed at
the next stage input, which is usually the multiplexer (usually ≈ 10 V in common mode).
Using the relationship:

1
 Admissible error % = (CMRR x Voltage MC x 100) / Voltage in. urm,

then we can calculate: CMR = - 20 log CMRR in dB.

In applications where common mode voltages are large, insulation amplifiers are used to
reduce the effect of these voltages on the outputs. The main situations are as follows:
- isolation of sensors and preamplifiers in medical devices, where specific patient protection
conditions are required;
- for the protection of certain measuring equipment;
- for injection of a signal in multiple circuits, without coupling between them, when the
potential of both terminals is very high in relation to the mass;
- conventional or nuclear power plants;
- process control systems for industrial processes, etc.

3. Transfer function of an optocoupler

Optically coupled isolation amplifiers have an optocoupler configuration with a bipolar
transistor to amplify the signals obtained on the FD (fig. 7.1). The transfer function is given
by the following relation:
n
I 
I C  K x  F'  , where:
 IF 

- IC = collector current for a precisely value of the LED current (IF);

- IF’ = LED current where n was calculated;
- K = collector current value if IF = IF’;
 
n = characteristic slope for I C  f I F in logarithmic coordinates with an order of magnitude
'

of about 2 per current I = 16 mA.

LED optocouplers and photodiode were used, for which the characteristic I C  f  I LED  is
required to be drawn. This is accomplished with the scheme of fig. 7.2, where the resistor R3
is variable at the current change by LED.
On the printed wiring there are measured points for the currents through the LED and
through the transistor collector at the static operating point. After lifting this characteristic we
determine the point around which we have a more linear region, the value being used in later
applications.

2
 To measure the bandwidth of this simple amplifier, a sinusoidal voltage with amplitude of
500 mV is applied to the input at the middle of the band (eg at 1 kHz) and the behavior of the
output for different frequencies is studied, connections 1 - 2 and 3 - 4 were made.
The maximum input voltage of  500 mV provide a current of  2,5 mA around the
polarization current in a region that can be considered linear. The linearity can be appreciated
by the distortions introduced by the optocouplers, which we measure at the input of the circuit
and its output with the distortion meter.To measure the bandwidth of this simple amplifier, a
sinusoidal voltage with amplitude of 500 mV is applied to the input at the middle of the band
(eg at 1 kHz) and the behavior of the output for different frequencies is studied, connections 1
- 2 and 3 - 4 were made.

Remarks:
a) It is absolutely necessary to use a tube that does not allow the natural light to pass through
to the FD in order not to alter the optical transfer between LED and FD;
b) Component values were chosen so that total amplification is equal to 1.

4. Optical coupler servoamplifier made with AO

The principle of operating the circuit (fig. 7.3) is based on the servo action, in the sense
that two identical optocouplers are used which will follow each other with the input signal.
This signal, amplified by A1, controls the upper optocoupler LED in the range of 14 ... 18 mA
for a variation of ± 5 V of input voltage. The A2 amplifier compares the collector outputs of
the two optocouplers and controls the LED below, forcing it to track the brightness of the
other LED. By default, the voltage at the repeater output will track the input voltage. The
repeater works linearly, even if the optocouplers do not have a linear transfer characteristic,
which is due to the operation at any time under identical conditions for optocouplers.

Resistors R2, R3 make the null adjustment of the circuit: if Vin = 0 than Vout = 0.
Resistor R4 makes the circuit gain adjustment. Thus, after the null adjustment of R4 is set a
unit gain for the circuit (repeater).

3
Note: The non-coupling of the coefficients K does not influence the non-linearity, the transfer
character is given by the relation:

 n1

 Vin  n2 
Vout  R4  12   1    1
 R1  I 1  
 

The frequency band and the distortions introduced are measured. Important is CMR
measurement at the 1 kHz frequency.
For comparison, the performance of a servoamplifier made with integrated HCPL 2530
optocoupler:
- frequency band: 0 ... 25 kHz;
- linearity of 1%;
- gain variation -0,03% / C
- CMR = 46 dB at 1 kHz.

5. Differential amplifier with optical coupling

The scheme of fig. 7.4 is used for input differential signals, with high impedance due to
input repeater configurations. Resistors R1, R2 and current source I allow the circuit to adapt to
the dynamic range of the input signal.

The operating principle is based on the fact that there is an optocoupler operating area
where gain gain on an optocoupler is offset by the decrease in gain on the other optocoupler.
If n1 = n2, we have a perfect compensation, the transfer function being linear. The
electroluminescent diodes are polarized with a constant current IF = I / 2. The output stage
behaves like a differential current amplifier. By overlapping the effects of the two currents we
obtain:

4
   I n2
  V ID 
n2
R3  I   V ID  1 
n1 n

V0  R5  K 2  '  1    K 1  '  1   
  2 I F 2   RI  R4  2 I F 1   RI  


We adjust R3 such as V0 = 0 for VID = 0.

.
 V ID  n2  VID  n1 
V0  K R5 1 
'
  1   
 RI   RI  

For n1 = n2 = 2 a linear dependence will be obtained: V0  const. VID

The current I values for which this condition is met are selected from the current source
setting.
Note: Unmatched K values do not affect the linearity of the transfer function, but its variation
with temperature changes the value of the gain. The thermal effect is compensated by a
thermistor in the output circuit.
If the signal source generates alternate voltage and no way to close the polarization
currents on non-inverting inputs from A1 and A2, it is necessary to connect resistors to
provide a direct current path. In this case, the previous parameters, which can be compared
with those obtained with HCPL 2530:
- 3% nonlinearity;
- gain drift - 0.4% / C;
- CMR = 70 dB;
- 25 kHz frequency band.