Smart optocoupler monitors VCE and VDS of the switching transistor

Toshiba in its effort to make its gate driver photocouplers further smarter, it has added a new member to its family of isolated drivers. The new TLP5222 is a 2.5A output smart gate driver photocoupler feature automatic recovery function to protect the devices. In switching transistors either a MOSFET or a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), when the current through these devices rise, there is increasing voltage across drain and source (VDS) in case of FET or collector and emitter (VCE) in case of BJT. What TLP5222 does is, it continuously monitor the VDS or VCE of the device it is driving, where the built-in protection circuitry designed to turn off the power device when it exceeds some rated voltage. TLP5222 also features automatic recovery function where it resets the product to normal operation within 25.5μs (typ.) after once interrupted by the overcurrent function. This device also transmit a fault signal to the controller through its FAULT status feedback function whenever the overcurrent event occur. TLP5222 has built-in active Miller clamp function to prevent short-circuit of any other power devices connected serially in the power module or separately. This saves design engineers from building external circuitry for doing this function. TLP5222 is available in 10.3 × 10 mm SO16L package offering creepage and clearance distances of 8mm and also make it elig...