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How Opto-couplers Work

From Voltage Multipliers, Inc.

The HV diode is commonly referred to as the "photo diode". The photo diode junctions are light sensitive, which means when the diode is exposed to light while reverse biased, the leakage current through it goes up. The brighter the light from the LED, the higher the leakage current through the HV diode.

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Photodiodes
Photodiodes are used for the detection of optical power (UV, Visible, and IR) and for the conversion of optical power to electrical power.
Optocouplers
Optocouplers are capable of transferring an electrical signal between two circuits while isolating the circuits from each other.
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