What Is an Isolator?
Isolators are devices designed to separate or insulate components or systems. They play critical roles across various industries, including electrical and electronics, construction, and pharmaceuticals, by isolating analog signals, insulating buildings from earthquakes, and protecting against external contaminants.
Uses of Isolators
The application of isolators varies significantly by industry:
1. Electronics Industry
Used for surge voltage protection and signal separation, isolators in electronics ensure the integrity of signal-receiving equipment.
2. Construction Industry
In construction, isolators serve as earthquake-resistant supports under buildings, utilizing high-elasticity materials like rubber to dissipate vibrations.
3. Pharmaceutical Industry
Pharmaceutical isolators provide sterile environments for drug development and patient care, employing negative pressure systems and gas sterilization to prevent contamination.
Principle of Isolators
The operational mechanisms of isolators vary across different fields:
1. Electronics Industry
Electrical signal isolation involves amplifying and converting input signals for output, serving also as signal converters.
2. Construction Industry
Vibration-dissipating structures in construction use materials like seismic isolation rubber to reduce building movement during earthquakes.
3. Pharmaceutical Industry
Isolators in pharmaceuticals maintain sterile conditions through negative pressure and gas sterilization, similar to draft chambers.
Types of Isolators
Isolators are categorized into optical and digital types:
1. Optical Isolators
Using LEDs and light-receiving elements, optical isolators transmit signals via light, offering simple, reliable, and cost-effective solutions.
2. Digital Isolator
Digital isolators isolate using capacitors or coils to transmit digital signals, known for their long life and high performance but limited to digital applications.
How to Select Isolators
Selection depends on application requirements:
1. Optical Isolator
Chosen for their distance transmission capability, optical isolators suffer from efficiency drops at temperature variations.
2. Digital Isolator
Preferred for applications requiring high performance and longevity, digital isolators are evolving, with costs and variety being considerations. They are used in applications that are difficult to handle with photocouplers.