tions where synchronization of
signals on parallel data lines is a
concern. If the parallel data is
being sent through a group of
optocouplers, differences in
propagation delays will cause the
data to arrive at the outputs of the
optocouplers at different times. If
this difference in propagation
delays is large enough, it will
determine the maximum rate at
which parallel data can be sent
through the optocouplers.
signals at the inputs and outputs
of the optocouplers. To obtain the
maximum data transmission rate,
both edges of the clock signal are
being used to clock the data; if
only one edge were used, the
clock signal would need to be
twice as fast.
Propagation Delay, Pulse-
Width Distortion and
Propagation Delay Skew
Propagation delay is a figure of
merit which describes how
quickly a logic signal propagates
through a system. The propaga-
tion delay from low to high (tPLH
)
is the amount of time required for
an input signal to propagate to
the output, causing the output to
change from low to high.
Similarly, the propagation delay
from high to low (tPHL) is the
amount of time required for the
input signal to propagate to the
output causing the output to
change from high to low (see
Figure 8).
Propagation delay skew repre-
sents the uncertainty of where an
edge might be after being sent
through an optocoupler. Figure
20 shows that there will be
Propagation delay skew is defined
as the difference between the
minimum and maximum
propagation delays, either tPLH or
tPHL, for any given group of
optocouplers which are operating
under the same conditions (i.e.,
the same drive current, supply
voltage, output load, and
uncertainty in both the data and
the clock lines. It is important
that these two areas of uncertainty
not overlap, otherwise the clock
signal might arrive before all of
the data outputs have settled, or
some of the data outputs may
start to change before the clock
signal has arrived. From these
considerations, the absolute
minimum pulse width that can be
sent through optocouplers in a
parallel application is twice tPSK. A
cautious design should use a
slightly longer pulse width to
ensure that any additional
Pulse-width distortion (PWD)
results when tPLH and tPHL differ in
value. PWD is defined as the
difference between tPLH and tPHL
and often determines the
maximum data rate capability of a
transmission system. PWD can be
expressed in percent by dividing
the PWD (in ns) by the minimum
pulse width (in ns) being
operating temperature). As
illustrated in Figure 19, if the
inputs of a group of optocouplers
are switched either ON or OFF at
the same time, tPSK is the
difference between the shortest
propagation delay, either tPLH or
tPHL, and the longest propagation
uncertainty in the rest of the
circuit does not cause a problem.
transmitted. Typically, PWD on
the order of 20-30% of the
delay, either tPLH or tPHL
.
minimum pulse width is tolerable;
the exact figure depends on the
particular application (RS232,
RS422, T-l, etc.).
As mentioned earlier, tPSK can
determine the maximum parallel
data transmission rate. Figure 20
is the timing diagram of a typical
parallel data application with both
the clock and the data lines being
sent through optocouplers. The
figure shows data and clock
The tPSK specified optocouplers
offer the advantages of
guaranteed specifications for
propagation delays, pulsewidth
distortion and propagation delay
skew over the recommended
temperature, input current, and
power supply ranges.
Propagation delay skew, tPSK, is
an important parameter to
consider in parallel data applica-
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