H21A1 / H21A2 / H21A3

PHOTOTRANSISTOR
OPTICAL INTERRUPTER SWITCH
PACKAGE DIMENSIONS DESCRIPTION
0.972 (24.7) The H21A1, H21A2 and H21A3 consist of a
0.957 (24.3)
0.472 (12.0)
Ø 0.133 (3.4)
Ø 0.126 (3.2)
gallium arsenide infrared emitting diode
0.457 (11.6)
(2X)
CL coupled with a silicon phototransistor in a
0.249 (6.35) + D
CL
plastic housing. The packaging system is
0.243 (6.15)
E +
0.39 (1.00) designed to optimize the mechanical
0.34 (0.85)
0.755 (19.2)
0.745 (18.9) resolution, coupling efficiency, ambient light

0.129 (3.3)
rejection, cost and reliability. The gap in the
.073 (1.85)
.133 (3.38) 0.119 (3.0)
housing provides a means of interrupting the
Optical
0.433 (11.0)
CL signal with an opaque material, switching the
0.422 (10.7)
output from an “ON” to an “OFF” state.
SCHEMATIC
0.125 (3.2)
0.315 (8.0)
0.119 (3.0)
FEATURES
CL 1 4
.295 (7.5) 0.110 (2.8)
.272 (6.9) 0.091 (2.3) • Opaque housing

PIN 1 ANODE • Low cost

PIN 2 CATHODE
2 3 PIN 3 COLLECTOR • .035” apertures 2 3
1 4 PIN 4 EMITTER
• High IC(ON)
0.020 (0.51) (SQ)

NOTES:
1. Derate power dissipation linearly 1.33 mW/°C above 25°C.
1. Dimensions for all drawings are in inches (mm). 2. RMA flux is recommended.
2. Tolerance of ± .010 (.25) on all non-nominal dimensions 3. Methanol or isopropyl alcohols are recommended as cleaning
unless otherwise specified. agents.
4. Soldering iron tip 1/16” (1.6mm) minimum from housing.

ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS (TA = 25°C unless otherwise specified)

Parameter Symbol Rating Unit
Operating Temperature TOPR -55 to +100 °C
Storage Temperature TSTG -55 to +100 °C
Soldering Temperature (Iron)(2,3 and 4) TSOL-I 240 for 5 sec °C
Soldering Temperature (Flow)(2 and 3) TSOL-F 260 for 10 sec °C
INPUT (EMITTER)
IF 50 mA
Continuous Forward Current
Reverse Voltage VR 6 V
Power Dissipation (1) PD 100 mW
OUTPUT (SENSOR)
VCEO 30 V
Collector to Emitter Voltage
Emitter to Collector Voltage VECO 4.5 V
Collector Current IC 20 mA
Power Dissipation (TC = 25°C)(1) PD 150 mW

 2001 Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation

DS300290 5/02/01 1 OF 5 www.fairchildsemi.com
 H21A1 / H21A2 / H21A3
PHOTOTRANSISTOR
OPTICAL INTERRUPTER SWITCH
ELECTRICAL / OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICS (TA =25°C)(All measurements made under pulse condition)
PARAMETER TEST CONDITIONS SYMBOL DEVICES MIN TYP MAX UNITS
INPUT (EMITTER)
IF = 60 mA VF All — — 1.7 V
Forward Voltage
Reverse Breakdown Voltage IR = 10 µA VR All 6.0 — — V
Reverse Leakage Current VR = 3 V IR All — — 1.0 µA
OUTPUT (SENSOR)
IF = 100 µA, Ee = 0 BVECO All 6.0 — — V
Emitter to Collector Breakdown
Collector to Emitter Breakdown IC = 1 mA, Ee = 0 BVCEO All 30 — — V
Collector to Emitter Leakage VCE = 25 V, Ee = 0 ICEO All — — 100 nA
COUPLED H21A1 0.15 — —
IF = 5 mA, VCE = 5 V H21A2 0.30 — —
H21A3 0.60 — —
H21A1 1.0 — —
On-State Collector Current IF = 20 mA, VCE = 5 V IC(ON) H21A2 2.0 — — mA
H21A3 4.0 — —
H21A1 1.9 — —
IF = 30 mA, VCE = 5 V H21A2 3.0 — —
H21A3 5.5 — —
IF = 20 mA, IC = 1.8 mA H21A2/3 — — 0.40 V
Saturation Voltage VCE(SAT)
IF = 30 mA, IC = 1.8 mA H21A1 — — 0.40 V
Turn-On Time IF = 30 mA, VCC = 5 V, RL = 2.5 KΩ ton All — 8 — µs
Turn-Off Time IF = 30 mA, VCC = 5 V, RL = 2.5 KΩ toff All — 50 — µs

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 H21A1 / H21A2 / H21A3
PHOTOTRANSISTOR
OPTICAL INTERRUPTER SWITCH
Figure 1. Output Current vs. Input Current
10
8
6
4

ICE(on), NORMALIZED OUTPUT CURRENT

2

1
.8
.6
.4 NORMALIZED TO
I F = 20 mA
.2 VCE = 5 V
PULSED
.1 PW = 100 µsec
.08 PRR = 100 pps
.06
.04

.02

.01
1 2 4 6 8 10 20 40 60 80 100 200 400 600 1000

IF , INPUT CURRENT (mA)

Figure 2. Output Current vs. Temperature

10
8 NORMALIZED TO VCE = 5 V, I F = 20 mA, TA = 25 °C
INPUT PULSED
6
IF = 100 mA
ICE(on), NORMALIZED OUTPUT CURRENT

4
IF = 60 mA

2
IF = 30 mA

1 IF = 20 mA
.8
.6
IF = 10 mA
.4

.2 IF = 5 mA

.1
-55 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100

TA , AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (°C)

Figure 3. VCE(SAT) vs. Temperature

3

IC 1.8 mA
NORMALIZED TO =
IC 1.8 mA IF 20 mA
2 = , TA = 25°C
IF 30 mA IC 3.6 mA
=
PULSED IF 60 mA
VCE(SAT), NORMALIZED

PW = 100 µs, PRR = 100 pps

1
IC 1.8 mA
=
IF 30 mA
0.8
IC 0.9 mA
=
IF 15 mA
0.6

-50 -25 0 25 50 75 100

TA , AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (°C)

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 H21A1 / H21A2 / H21A3
PHOTOTRANSISTOR
OPTICAL INTERRUPTER SWITCH

Figure 4. Leakage Current vs. Temperature

DETECTOR EMITTER

103 103

IR, NORMALIZED LEAKAGE CURRENT

ICEO, NORMALIZED DARK CURRENT

102 VCE = 25 V 102

VCE = 10 V

101 101

1 1
NORMALIZED TO NORMALIZED TO
VCE = 25 V VR = 5 V
TA = 25 °C TA = 25 °C

0.1 0.1
25 50 75 100 25 50 75 100

T A, AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (°C) T A, AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (°C)

Figure 6. Output Current vs. Distance

d, DISTANCE (mils)
Figure 5. Switching Speed vs. RL
4.5 78.7 157.5 236.2 315 393.7
1.00
4
PW = 300 µs
ICE(on), NORMALIZED OUTPUT CURRENT

3 PRR = 100 pps

75 ton .1
tON, AND tOFF NORMALIZED

IF = AMPS, VCC = 5V NORMALIZED

RL toff TO VALUE WITH
2 NORMALIZED TO SHIELD
RL = 2.5 KΩ BLACK REMOVED
1.5 SHIELD
.01
+ D
d
E + o BLACK
SHIELD
1
.9 RL
+ d
.8 .001
o
.7 IF VCC
.6
.5
.45 .0001
1K 2K 3K 4K 5K 6K 7K 8K 9K 10K 0 2 4 6 8 10

d, DISTANCE (mm)
R L , LOAD RESISTANCE (Ω)

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 H21A1 / H21A2 / H21A3
PHOTOTRANSISTOR
OPTICAL INTERRUPTER SWITCH

DISCLAIMER
FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE TO
ANY PRODUCTS HEREIN TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY, FUNCTION OR DESIGN. FAIRCHILD DOES NOT ASSUME
ANY LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF THE APPLICATION OR USE OF ANY PRODUCT OR CIRCUIT DESCRIBED
HEREIN; NEITHER DOES IT CONVEY ANY LICENSE UNDER ITS PATENT RIGHTS, NOR THE RIGHTS OF
OTHERS.

LIFE SUPPORT POLICY

FAIRCHILD’S PRODUCTS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR USE AS CRITICAL COMPONENTS IN LIFE SUPPORT
DEVICES OR SYSTEMS WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN APPROVAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF FAIRCHILD
SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION. As used herein:

1. Life support devices or systems are devices or
systems which, (a) are intended for surgical
implant into the body,or (b) support or sustain life,
and (c) whose failure to perform when properly
used in accordance with instructions for use provided
in labeling, can be reasonably expected to result in a
significant injury of the user.
2. A critical component in any component of a life support
device or system whose failure to perform can be
reasonably expected to cause the failure of the life
support device or system, or to affect its safety or
effectiveness.

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