ADUM3221WARZ

Isolators are widely used in a variety of applications including industrial, automotive, medical, and consumer industries, to provide isolation between electronic components that are either sensitive to interference from external sources or may have different operating voltage levels. Gate Drivers, which use opto-isolators, are commonly used to increase the current and voltage capabilities of AC and DC power supplies, in order for them to safely drive heavy loads or to protect from short circuits. The ADUM3221WARZ from Analog Devices is an integrated, 5.5kVrms Isolator/Gate Driver IC that bridges the isolation barrier between two different domains and maintains data integrity throughout.

The ADUM3221WARZ is a mixed-signal integrated IC with one side that consists of three half-bridge gates and the other side has a USB-controller and a low-power core logic that outputs digital data through a high speed serial interface. The three half-bridge gates can drive up to 1A of current with a maximum operating voltage of 5V. This IC’s operating frequency range is 0Hz to 1.0GHz, with a maximum data rate of 2.5Gbps. The ADUM3221WARZ is available in a 16-lead EIAJ or a 24-pad WLCSP package.

The core of the ADUM3221WARZ is a highly integrated 5.5kVrms opto-isolator with open-collector outputs as well as Input/Output (I/O) protection features to ensure reliable operation in harsh environmental conditions. Opto-isolators are used to safely transfer digital signals between two sides of an isolation barrier, as they reject common-mode transients and noise. The ADUM3221WARZ has two internal Schmitt trigger level shifters, which translates logic levels of up to 0.8Vinputs and outputs on both sides of the barrier.

The ADUM3221WARZ also features a Direct Output mode, which enables direct interface/connection with AC/DC drivers such as relay drivers, FET drivers and others, by connecting the output of the opto-isolator to the driver on the high side as well as shorting the opto-isolator output on the low side. This Direct Output mode eliminates the need for a buffer IC when driving heavy loads. It also has protection features to avoid noise spikes on the data signals like ESD protection and overcurrent protection.

The ADUM3221WARZ also has a dedicated status pin that outputs an LED ON/OFF signal for monitoring the current status of the isolated gate driver. This allows system designers to easily adjust external components depending on the ADUM3221WARZ’s status outputs. The ADUM3221WARZ also features low-power operation to extend system battery life and is designed to meet the standards of the Safety Certification from Underwriters Laboratories, UL 1577.

The ADUM3221WARZ, though a relatively new IC, is gaining rapid market traction, offering a combination of high operating voltage, low power consumption and superior performance. It is specifically designed to provide reliable insulation and interface between two domains, thus making it highly suitable for devices such as portable medical devices, industrial equipment, and automotive systems in which durability and protection from noise and voltage transients is important.