Document Number: 83718 For technical questions, contact: optocoupleranswers@vishay.com www.vishay.comRev. 1.5, 11-Feb-11 1

Manufacturing and Reliability

Manufacturing and ReliabilityVishay Semiconductors

THE IMPORTANCE OF OPTOCOUPLERRELIABILITYBecause of the widespread use of optocouplers as aninterface device, optocoupler reliability has been of majorimportance to circuit designers and component engineers.Published studies of comparative tests have indicated a lackof manufacturing consistency with individual manufacturers,as well as from manufacturer to manufacturer. This hasresulted in user uncertainty about designing withoptocouplers; however, these devices often offer the bettercircuit solution.This application note is intended to demonstrate Vishay’sconcern, efforts, and results in addressing thesemanufacturing issues to assure users of the quality(out-going) and reliability (long-term) of our opto-isolatedproducts. First, aspects of optocoupler characteristics arediscussed along with the measures Vishay has taken toassure their quality and reliability. Second, the reliabilitytests used to approximate worst-case conditions and thelatest results of these tests are described

OPTOCOUPLER OUTPUT There are a variety of outputs available in optocouplers. Astandard bipolar phototransistor is the most common. Theyare available with different ratings to fit most applications,including versions without access to the base of thetransistor to reduce noise transmission. Darlingtontransistor outputs offer high gain with reduced input currentrequirements, but typically trade off speed. Logicoptocouplers provide speed but trade off working voltagerange. Logic couplers are normally only used in datatransmission applications. Silicon controlled rectifier (SCR)devices allow control of much higher voltages and typicallyare applied to control AC loads. They are also offered ininverse-parallel (anti-parallel) SCR (TRIAC) configurations sothat both cycles of an AC sinusoid can be switched. InVishay’s manufacturing flow, all these devices are 100 %monitored at a high-temperature hot rail (see figure 1) toeliminate potential failures due to marginal die attaches andlead bends, resulting in a more reliable product. Vishayoffers all the above types of products.In optocouplers, especially the transistor, the slow changeover several days in the electrical parameters when voltageis applied is termed the field effect. This process is extremeparticularly at high temperatures (100 °C) and with a high DCvoltage (1 kV). Changes in the electrical parameters of thesilicon phototransistor can occur due to the release ofcharge carriers. In this way, a similar effect as takes place ina MOS transistor (inversion at the surface) is caused by thestrong electrical field. This may result in changes in the gain,the reverse current, and the reverse voltage. In this case, thedirection of the electrical field is a decisive factor.In Vishay's optocouplers, the pn junctions of the siliconphototransistor are protected by a transparent ion screenfrom influences of the electrical field. In this way, changes ofelectrical parameters by the electrical field are limited to anextremely low value or do not occur at all.

OPTOCOUPLER INPUT The area of greatest concern in optocoupler reliability hasbeen the infrared LED. The decrease in LED light outputpower over current flow time has been the object ofconsiderable attention in order to reduce its effects. (Circuitdesigns which have not included allowances for parametricchanges with temperature, input current, phototransistorbias, etc. have been attributed to LED degradation. Toinsure reliable system operation over time, the variation ofthe circuit from data sheet conditions must be considered).Vishay has focused on the infrared LED to improve CTRdegradation and consequently achieved a significantimprovement in coupler reliability. The improvements haveincluded die geometry to improve coupling efficiency,metallization techniques to increase die shear strength andto increase yields while reducing user cost, and junctioncoating techniques to protect against mechanical stresses,thus stabilizing long-term output.

CURRENT TRANSFER RATIO The current transfer ratio (CTR) is the amount of outputcurrent derived from the amount of input current. CTR isnormally expressed as a percent. For example, if 10 mA ofinput current is applied to the input (LED) and 10 mA ofcollector current is obtained, then the CTR is 100, or 100 %.CTR is affected by a variety of influences, including LEDoutput power, hFE of the transistor, temperature, diodecurrent, and device geometry. If all these factors remainconstant, the principle cause of CTR degradation is thedegradation of the input LED. As mentioned earlier, Vishay has made tremendousprogress in manufacturing techniques to reduce CTRdegradation. Vishay's manufacturing techniques maximizecoupling efficiency, which realizes high transfer ratios andlow input current requirements. Additionally, this allows alarge variety of standard CTR values, and the capability ofspecial selection in production volumes.

ISOLATION BREAKDOWN VOLTAGE Isolation voltage is the maximum voltage which may beapplied across the input and output of the device withoutbreaking down. This breakdown will not normally occurinside the package between the LED and the transistor, butrather on the boundary surfaces across which partialdischarges can occur. Vishay uses a double moldmanufacturing technique where the LED and transistor areencapsulated in an infrared transparent inner mold. The nextstep in the process is an epoxy over mold. The double-moldtechnique lengthens the leakage path for high-voltagedischarges appreciably, allowing the device to achieve veryhigh isolation voltages. All of Vishay's optocouplers are builtusing UL-approved processes. A standard line ofVDE-approved optocouplers is also available in the AgencyTable section.

www.vishay.com For technical questions, contact: optocoupleranswers@vishay.com Document Number: 837182 Rev. 1.5, 11-Feb-11

Manufacturing and ReliabilityVishay Semiconductors Manufacturing and Reliability

COLLECTOR-TO-EMITTER BREAKDOWNVOLTAGE Collector-emitter breakdown voltage (BVCEO) can bethought of as a transistor's working voltage. Whenconsidering the application, the selection should be made toinclude a safety margin to insure the device is off when it issupposed to be off. Vishay transistor technology in waferprocessing offers a variety of BVCEO devices. Each isparametrically tested to insure proper operation (see figure1).

BLOCKING VOLTAGE Blocking voltage (VDRM, expressed in peak value) is usedwhen describing the working voltage for SCR or TRIAC typedevices. Vishay offers products through 800 V of blockingcapability.

DV/DT RATING dV/dt, an important safety specification, describes a TRIACtype device's capability to withstand a rapidly rising voltagewithout turning on or false firing. Vishay's TRIAC typedevices have the highest available dV/dt rating offered onthe market. Vishay's manufacturing process yields a10 000 V/μs dV/dt rating. This rating eliminates the need forsnubber (RC) networks which negatively affect loadssensitive to leakage currents, while reducing componentcount for circuit implementation and cost. An example ofsuch a load would be neon indicator lamps. Vishay's TRIACtype devices also carry a load current rating three times theindustry standard. This 300 mA current capability allows thedevice to drive most AC loads without the need for afollow-on TRIAC or interposing an electromechanical relay.Vishay manufactures this device with or withoutzero-crossing detector logic.

QUALITY AND RELIABILITY TESTS The tests in figure 1 were performed on Vishayoptocouplers. The tests allow early detection of weak pointsand provide information regarding the reliabilitycharacteristics of the component.From the life test information, assumptions of useful lifeexpectancy can be obtained. All quality and reliability testsare performed in conditions that either exceed or areequivalent to the limits defined in our data sheets.International standards are also considered. Assuming thatno additional failure mechanisms are created by the stressconditions, the results of the stress test will correlate toconditions in the field and can be used to estimate usefullifetime. The environmental stress tests ensure Vishay’smanufacturing capabilities will provide package integrity inthe most rigorous conditions. The life test results highlightour ability in packaging and electrical performance toachieve MTTF hours which meet or exceed the highestindustry standards for the semiconductor.

PACKAGE INTEGRITY Although packaged in standard IC configurations,optocouplers have some unique package considerations.The use of two-chip and internal-light-transfer mediumsrequire careful selection of materials to insure compatibilityunder a variety of operating conditions. In addition to thehigh isolation voltages achieved by Vishay optocouplers,our devices are tested to assure high levels of mechanicalintegrity and moisture resistance.

TABLE 1 - RELIABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR OPTOCOUPLER ENVIRONMENTAL TESTS

TESTAPPLICABLEREFERENCE

TEST CONDITIONS

Thermal climatic IEC 60068 TC = - 55 °C to + 150 °C,(see datasheet)

Solderability J-STD-002B 245 °C/3 s SMD lead (Pb)-free

TABLE 2 - LIFE TESTS

TESTTEST CONDITIONS

TEMP. (°C) RH (%) BIAS TIME (h)

Electrical life test Tj max. < 60Derated

max. rating

1000

Temp/humidity life 85 85 0 1000

High temperaturereverse bias

Accordingdata sheet < 60

80 % of max.

voltage rating

1000

Document Number: 83718 For technical questions, contact: optocoupleranswers@vishay.com www.vishay.comRev. 1.5, 11-Feb-11 3

Manufacturing and ReliabilityManufacturing and Reliability Vishay Semiconductors

PACKAGE DENSITY Board space has become increasingly important in theelectronic industry. Vishay uses a plate molding techniqueto achieve reduction in cost, allowing us to offer a wideselection of packages. These consist of single-channeloptocouplers in 4, 6, 8, and 16 pin packages, dual-channeldevices in 8 pin DIP or SMD packages, and quad-channeldevices in 16 pin DIP packages. The above devices areavailable in two surface mount lead configurations, as well

as the standard through-hole lead. Vishay also has astandard single- and dual-channel optocoupler in anSOIC-8 package. The dual SOIC-8 package has the highestpackaging density of any high-volume standardoptocoupler available. All of these packages have beendesigned and tested to meet the highest quality andreliability expectations of the semiconductor industry.

Fig. 1 - Coupler Process Flow and Inspections

Operation

Inspection or test

Thermosonic wirebonding

High temp.conductive epoxy

DA Cure

Junctioncoat

Frame cut,coding

Innermold

QA Store

Postcure

Coupling

Postcure

Outermold

LeadfinishBlast Blast

Mark

Hotrail

(opt.)

Tempcycle(opt.)

Hi pot

Pack

Singulate

LBmonitor

DAmonitor

Couplingmonitor

Para-metric

Detector dieeutectic DA orAG epoxy DA

Emitter di eeutectic or

AG Epoxy DA

Package

Packagevisual

17934

visual