FDA117 Photovoltaic MOSFET Drivers

IXYS Integrated Circuits' FDA117 is a photovoltaic MOSFET driver comprising an LED that is optically coupled to a photodiode array. The driver output is controlled by the efficient infrared LED at the input. When current is applied to the LED, its radiated light stimulates the photodiode array causing it to generate the voltage seen at the outputs. The photodiode array is capable of generating a floating power source with sufficient voltage and current to drive high-power MOSFETs. An integrated turn-off circuit within the photodiode array discharges the external MOSFET's gate when the LED current is removed. This eliminates the need for external components to facilitate discharging the gate. The optically coupled technology provides 5,000 V_RMS of input-to-output isolation.