5–1
FEATURES
• CTR Minimum
MCA230/255, 100%
MCA231, 200%
• Isolation T est V oltage, 5300 V AC
RMS
• Coupling Capacitance, 0.5 pF
• Fast Rise Time, 10
µ
s
• Fast Fall Time, 35
µ
s
• Underwriters Lab File #E52744
• VDE #0884 Available with Option 1
DESCRIPTION
The MCA230/231/255 are industry standard opto-
couplers, consisting of a Gallium Arsenide infrared
LED and a silicon phototdarlington. These opto-
couplers are constructed with a high voltage insu-
lation, double molded packaging process which
offers 7.5 KV withstand test capability.
Maximum Ratings
Emitter
Reverse Voltage .................................................6 V
Continuous Forward Current ........................ 60 mA
Power Dissipation at 25
°
C..........................135 mW
Derate Linearly from 25
°
C......................1.8 mW/
°
C
Detector
Collector-Emitter Breakdown Voltage
MCA230/231.................................................30 V
MCA255........................................................55 V
Emitter-Collector Breakdown Voltage ................7 V
Collector-Base Breakdown Voltage
MCA230/231.................................................30 V
MCA255........................................................55 V
Power Dissipation at 25
°
C..........................210 mW
Derate Linearly from 25
°
C......................2.8 mW/
°
C
Package
Total Package Dissipation at 25
°
C
(LED plus Detector)................................260 mW
Derate Linearly from 25
°
C......................3.5 mW/
°
C
Storage Temperature .................. –55
°
C to +150
°
C
Operating Temperature .............. –55
°
C to +100
°
C
Lead Soldering Time at 260
°
C....................10 sec.
Isolation Test Voltage ........................5300 VAC
RMS
Isolation Resistance
V
IO
=500 V, T
A
=25
°
C..................................10
12
Ω
V
IO
=500 V, T
A
=100
°
C................................10
11
Ω
Characteristics
(T
A
=25
°
C)
Symbol Min. Typ. Max. Unit Condition
Emitter
Forward Voltage V
F
1.1 1.5 V I
F
=50 mA
Reverse Current I
R
10
µ
AV
R
=3 V
Junction
Capacitance C
J
50 pF V
R
=3 V
Detector
BV
CEO
MCA230/231
MCA255
30
30 V
VI
C
=100
µ
A, I
F
=0 mA
I
C
=100
µ
A, I
F
=0 mA
BV
ECO
7VI
E
=10
µ
A, I
F
=0 mA
BV
CBO
MCA230/231
MCA55
30
55 V
VI
C
=10
µ
A, I
F
=0 mA
I
C
=10
µ
A, I
F
=0 mA
I
CEO
100 nA V
CE
=10 V, I
F
=0 mA
Package
V
CEsat
0.8
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.2
V
V
V
V
V
I
CE
=2 mA, I
F
=16 mA
I
C
=I
F
=50 mA
I
C
=2 mA, I
F
=1 mA
I
C
=10 mA, I
F
=5 mA
I
C
=50 mA, I
F
=10 mA
DC Current
Transfer Ratio
MCA230/255
MCA231 CTR
CTR 100
200 %
%V
CE
=5 V, I
F
=10 mA
V
CE
=5 V, I
F
=1 mA
Capacitance
Input to Output C
IO
0.5 pF
Switching Times t
on
t
off
10
35
µ
s
µ
sR
L
=100
Ω
V
CE
=10 V
Dimensions in inches (mm)
1
2
3
6
5
4
Base
Collector
Emitter
Anode
Cathode
NC
.010 (.25)
.014 (.35)
.110 (2.79
)
.150 (3.81
)
.130 (3.30)
.150 (3.81)
.020 (.051) min.
.300 (7.62)
typ.
.031 (0.80)
.035 (0.90)
.100 (2.54) typ.
.039
(1.00)
min.
.018 (0.45)
.022 (0.55)
.
248 (6.30)
.
256 (6.50)
.335 (8.50)
.343 (8.70)
Pin One ID.
6
5
4
12
3
18° typ.
.300 (7.62)
.347 (8.82)
4°
typ.
MCA230/231/255
PHOTODARLINGTON
OPTOCOUPLER
5–2
MCA230/231/255
Figure 1. Forward voltage versus forward current
Figure 2. Normalized non-saturated and saturated
CTRce at T
A
= 25
°
C versus LED current
Figure 3. Normalized non-saturated and saturated
collector-emitter current versus LED current
Figure 4. Normalized collector-base photocurrent
versus LED current
100101.1
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
IF - Forward Current - mA
VF - Forward Voltage - V
Ta = -55°C
Ta = 25°C
Ta = 85°C
.1 1 10 100 1000
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
Vce =1V
Vc e = 5 V
I F - LED Cu r r ent - mA
NCTRce - Nor m ali z ed CTR
Vce = 5 V
IF = 10 mA
Ta = 2 5 °C
Normalized t o:
100
101.1
.001
.01
.1
1
10
Vce = 1V
Vce = 5 V
IF - LED Current - mA
NIce - Normalized Ice
Ta = 25°C
IF = 10 mA
Vce = 5 V
Normalized to:
.1 1 10 100
.001
.01
.1
1
10
IF - LED Current - mA
NIcb - Normalized Icb
Ta = 25°C
Vcb = 3.5 V
IF = 10 mA
Normalized to:
Figure 5. Non-saturated and saturated HFE versus base current
Figure 6. Low to high propagation delay versus
collector load resistance and LED current
Figure 7. High to low propagation delay versus
collector load resistance and LED current
Figure 8. Switching timing waveform and schematic
.01 .1 1 10 100
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000 Vce = 5 V
Vce = 1 V
Ib - Base Current - µA
HFE - Forward Transfer Gain
Ta = 25°
C
0 5 10 15 20
0
20
40
60
80 Ta = 25°C, Vcc = 5
V
Vth = 1.5 V
220Ω
470Ω
1KΩ
IF - LED Current - mA
tpLH - Low/High Propagation
Delay - µs
100Ω
0 5 10 15 20
0
5
10
15
20
100Ω
1KΩ
IF - LED Current - mA
tpHL - High/Low Propagation
delay - µs
Ta = 25°C
Vcc = 5 V
Vth = 1.5 V
IF
tR
V
O
tD
tStF
tPHL
tPLH
VTH=1.5 V
VCC=5
V
V
O
RL
I
F=10 mA
F=10 KHz,
DF=50%
