Compared to previous generation products with an input range of +/-200 mV, the ACPL-C799 enables the use of a smaller shunt resistor with one-quarter the value, thereby eliminating 75 percent (75%) of shunt resistor’s power losses. Despite the reduced input voltage range, the device delivers superb SNR, ENOB and offset drift performance, enabling a high precision motor control in space constrained, high temperature environments.

The ACPL-C799 is a 1-bit, second-order sigma-delta (Σ-Δ) modulator that converts an analog input signal into a high-speed data stream with galvanic isolation based on optical coupling technology. The ACPL-C799 operates from a 5V power supply with dynamic range of 77 dB with an appropriate digital filter. The differential inputs of ±50 mV (full scale ±80 mV) are ideal for direct connection to shunt resistors or other low-level signal sources in applications such as motor phase current measurement.

The analog input is continuously sampled by a means of sigma-delta over-sampling using an on-board clock. The signal information is contained in the modulator data, as a density of ones with data rate of 10 MHz, and the data are encoded and transmitted across the isolation boundary where they are recovered and decoded into high-speed data stream of digital ones and zeros. The original signal information can be reconstructed with a digital filter. The serial interface for data and clock has a wide supply range of 3 V to 5.5 V.

Combined with superior optical coupling technology, the modulator delivers high noise margins and excellent immunity against isolation-mode transients. With 0.5 mm minimum distance through insulation (DTI), the ACPL-C799 provides reliable reinforced insulation and high working insulation voltage, which is suitable for fail-safe designs. This outstanding isolation performance is superior to alternatives including devices based on capacitive- or magnetic-coupling with DTI in micro-meter range. Offered in a Stretched SO-8 (SSO-8) package, the isolated ADC delivers the reliability, small size, superior isolation and over-temperature performance motor drive designers need to accurately measure current at much lower price compared to traditional current transducers.