Optocouplers (also known as optical couplers or optoisolators) are
electronic components which transmit electrical information, without electrical connection, between a light source (emitter) and a light detector (receiver). Optocouplers provide an electrically isolated link between two
circuits through the use of an optical emitter and an optical detector which may be operated at vastly different electrical potentials. Optocouplers are becoming increasingly important in a wide variety of applications where it is desired to provide coupling between circuits operating at different electrical potentials. An optocoupler is generally used for causing outgoing light from an end face of an optical fiber to fall on another optical fiber. Optocoupler are employed in
power supplies,
telecommunications, computer interfacing, control systems, and a wide variety of other applications. Optocouplers are also commonly used in circuits as indicators, or as control devices, wherein the light-responsive transistors are energized to control other circuits. An optocoupler comprises an optical signal
transmitter, for example a
light-emitting diode or laser diode, and an optical signal receiver, for example light sensitive
transistors, thyristors, triacs, and other similar
semiconductor devices which may be triggered by light, or which have light sensitive gain characteristics.
