HCPL-5500

The HCPL-5500 is a high-linearity analog optocoupler from Broadcom, engineered to provide precise galvanic isolation for analog signals in industrial, aerospace, and defense systems. This single-channel device integrates an aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) LED with a high-speed photodetector and transimpedance amplifier within an 8-pin DIP package, achieving exceptional linearity with a typical nonlinearity of 0.01% and a bandwidth extending to 100 kHz. Key attributes include low temperature coefficient, high common-mode transient immunity, and stable current transfer ratio across a wide operating temperature range, making it suitable for applications that demand faithful reproduction of analog waveforms across an isolation barrier.

Typical end-use scenarios include isolated analog voltage and current sensing in motor drives, feedback loops in switch-mode power supplies, and signal conditioning in industrial process control equipment. In defense and avionics subsystems, the HCPL-5500 is often employed for isolated data acquisition, eliminating ground loops and protecting sensitive low-voltage circuitry from high common-mode voltages. Procurement engineers should note that Broadcom maintains long-term availability of this mature optocoupler family, with options for commercial, industrial, and full military-grade processing. When high-reliability specifications are required, variants screened to MIL-PRF-38534 or similar standards are available, supporting use in program-critical applications with extended lifecycles and mandated traceability. The DIP package facilitates through-hole assembly or socket mounting, and the device’s heritage in high-rel designs ensures continuity of supply for legacy systems and new ruggedized designs alike.