IN Brief:
- Vishay has introduced VOWA617A and VOWA618A automotive-grade optocouplers for high-voltage isolation.
- The devices provide ≥11mm creepage and clearance, 1500Vpeak VIORM, 1060VRMS VIOWM, and 5300VRMS isolation voltage.
- Target applications include on-board chargers, DC/DC converters, battery management systems, and solar inverters.
Vishay Intertechnology has introduced two automotive-grade optocouplers with phototransistor output, aimed at signal transmission with high galvanic isolation in electric vehicles and solar inverter systems.
The Vishay Semiconductors VOWA617A and VOWA618A are supplied in a widebody SMD-8 package with a comparative tracking index of 600. Both devices provide VIORM of 1500Vpeak, VIOWM of 1060VRMS, isolation voltage of 5300VRMS, VIOTM of 8000Vpeak, and external creepage and clearance distances of at least 11mm.
The AEC-Q102 qualified devices are intended for grid-connected on-board chargers, DC/DC converters, and battery management system isolation stages, where board-level spacing and reinforced insulation are central to system safety. Vishay says the ≥11mm creepage distance provides a higher safety margin than typical 8mm solutions, giving designers more headroom in high-voltage vehicle and energy systems.
Each optocoupler consists of an infrared emitting diode optically coupled to a silicon planar phototransistor detector. The 600 CTI rating places the devices in Material Group 1, while an 80V collector-emitter voltage rating adds flexibility in signal-interface design. The VOWA617A supports a current transfer ratio range from 50% to 600% at 5mA input current, while the VOWA618A supports the same CTR range at 1mA.
Operating temperature spans -40°C to +125°C, with junction temperature capability up to +145°C. Samples and production quantities are available now, with stated lead times of eight weeks.
Isolation components are facing renewed scrutiny as EV platforms, charging hardware, and solar conversion systems move to higher voltages and tighter packaging. Battery packs, OBCs, traction auxiliaries, and grid-connected inverters all need safe signal transfer across voltage domains, but space around the isolation barrier remains limited. Wider creepage and clearance help, but they must be delivered without turning every control board into a packaging compromise.
Recent Vishay developments have also extended into sensing for harsh industrial environments, including non-contact Hall-effect position sensing for motion-control and medical robotic systems. Across both product areas, the engineering direction is similar: components are being pushed toward higher reliability in environments where electrical stress, temperature, vibration, and safety validation are no longer edge cases.
Power electronics is also becoming more mixed in its device requirements. Wide-bandgap switching devices can reduce losses and improve conversion density, but the supporting isolation, sensing, gate-drive, and protection components still define how safely those systems can be deployed. For high-voltage EV and solar designs, an optocoupler is not a legacy afterthought. It remains part of the safety boundary that allows low-voltage control electronics to coexist with high-energy conversion stages.
