2/9/2021 4N25 Optocoupler: A Simple Application Circuit [With Example]

The internal circuit structure of the photocoupler 4N25 is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. 4N25 internal circuit structure

The chip is a dual in-line device, with 6 outer leads, and the input end light emitter is composed of light emitting diodes.
1 pin is Anode

2 pin is Cathode

3 pin is NC

4 pin is Emitter

5 pin is Collector

6 pin is Base

When the device Ta=25℃, its limit parameters are:

The forward current of the LED is 80mA;

The phototransistor set-to-beam voltage is 30V;

The total power consumption is 250mW;

The insulation withstand voltage between input and output is 2500VDC;

Working temperature -55℃～100℃.

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2/9/2021 4N25 Optocoupler: A Simple Application Circuit [With Example]

2.2 4N25 Transmission Features

When the power supply voltage in the circuit is Vcc=5V, the collector resistance Rc=1kΨ and the base is open, through
Ca te gori e s P roduct Te chni ca l Arti cl e s Ma nufa cture rs El e ctroni c Com pone nts a nd P a rts S e a rch Tool s
the online test of the photocoupler 4N25, the data is shown in Table 1.

I ndustry Ne w s

Its transmission features have the following features:

1. When the input current IF=0, the output current IS=0. Indicates that the light-emitting diode does not emit light, and
the phototransistor is cut off without light;

2. When the input current IF=0.5mA, the output current IC=0.22mA, IF>IC. Indicates that the light-emitting diode has
begun to emit light, and the phototransistor has weak light and is out of the cut-off area;

3. When the input current IF is 1～4mA, the output current IC is 0.7～4.19mA, IF

4. When the input current IF=4.5mA, the output current IC=4.4mA, IF>IC. It shows that IC cannot continue to change
linearly when IF increases to a certain extent. After that, the current transfer ratio drops and the photocoupler begins
to enter a saturated state.

From the above analysis, it can be seen that the size of IF determines the working state of the circuit. If the IF is too
large or too small, the circuit works in the nonlinear region of the output features. Only in a certain range, it works in the
linear region of the output features

III 4N25 Application Circuit

The application circuit composed of the photocoupler 4N25 is shown in Figure 2.

R1 is the DC bias resistor. R1 is used to adjust the static operating point of the circuit. After the circuit IF and VF are
determined, the resistance of R1 depends on the value of the bias VI, that is, R1=(VI-VF)/IF. In the formula, the value
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2/9/2021 4N25 Optocoupler: A Simple Application Circuit [With Example]

of VI must be at least 2 times of VF.

R2 is the collector resistance. The output signal is taken out by R2. The selected resistance of R2 is related to the
driving ability of the input signal. The driving ability is strong, and the resistance can be smaller. On the contrary, the
resistance value can be larger, and generally can be selected between several hundred to several thousand Ψ.

R3 is the base shunt resistance. R3 is used to change the sensitivity to incident light to improve the dynamic
performance of the circuit and improve the quality of signal transmission. Its value is generally about several hundred
kΨ.

C1 is the coupling capacitor. C1 plays the role of blocking the direct communication, and its value is determined by
the fundamental frequency of the signal, generally about tens of microfarads.

3.1 4N25 Non-linear Application

Figure 2. 4N25 application circuit

From the circuit shown in Figure 2:
If the resistance of the DC bias resistor R1 is selected to be large, the input static operating current IF is small. At this
time, the light emitting diode is in a slightly conducting state.
Then, when the input signal is low, the output collector current IC is also very small, the collector-to-emitter voltage UCE
is the largest, and the output signal is high.

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2/9/2021 4N25 Optocoupler: A Simple Application Circuit [With Example]

Conversely, when the input signal is at a high level, the light-emitting diode operating current IF is the largest, the output
collector current IC is also the largest, the collector-emitter voltage UCE is the smallest, and the output signal is at a low
level.
If the input is a continuous digital signal, the circuit works in saturation and cut-off state, and the output signal changes
with the change of the high and low levels of the input signal, the phase is opposite, and the amplitude is determined by
the size of the power supply voltage Vcc.
When the circuit is in a non-linear application, the input can have 2 driving modes:
Biased indirect drive. That is, the input signal is added through the coupling capacitor.

Unbiased DC drive. That is, R1 and C1 are not used, and the input signal is directly added through the current
limiting resistor.

The difference between the two drive circuits is that the former requires a weak drive capability of the input signal, while
the latter requires a strong drive capability of the input signal.
In the non-linear application of the photocoupler 4N25, the value of the base shunt resistance R3 has a greater impact on
the signal transmission quality.
Its value cannot be too small or too large.
Too small is not conducive to the current transfer ratio. Because it will prolong the saturation process of the
phototransistor, the bottom of the falling edge of the output waveform will slow down.
Too large is not conducive to the fast cut-off of the phototransistor. Because, it will cause the top of the rising
edge of the output waveform to slow down.
Therefore, the resistance of R3 must be appropriate. The influence of R3 resistance on the output waveform is shown in
Figure 3.

Figure 3. The influence of R3 resistance on the output waveform

3.2 4N25 Linear Application

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2/9/2021 4N25 Optocoupler: A Simple Application Circuit [With Example]

In the circuit shown in Figure 2, if the DC bias resistor R1 is selected, the static operating point voltage UCEQ of the
phototransistor at the output end is exactly at the midpoint of the linear region of the load line.
Then, when the circuit is working dynamically, when the input sine wave signal is of the right size, the voltage and
current of each point in the circuit will be based on the static operating point.
UF=UFQ+uiSinwt
UCE=UCEQ+UceSin(wt-180°), or
IF=IFQ+IfSinwt
IC=ICQ+IcSinwt
A change corresponding to the input signal occurs.
It can be seen that the static operating point is the guarantee for the circuit to work linearly.
When the power supply voltage Vcc=5V and the collector resistance R2=1kΨ, the passing test circuit has the following
features:
1. When the input sine wave signal frequency f=1kHz, Ui=10mV, the maximum undistorted output voltage Uo=812mV.
It can be seen that the circuit has a certain amplification capability.

2. From the comparison of input and output waveforms, the circuit can significantly inhibit the noise interference
superimposed in the input waveform, so that the output waveform becomes smooth and stable, and the output signal-
to-noise ratio is improved.

3. If the frequency of the input signal is changed, when the circuit amplification factor drops to 0.707 times, the upper
limit frequency fh=30kHz, and the lower limit frequency fl=30Hz. It can be seen that the circuit has wider amplitude-
frequency features.

IV Conclusion

In non-linear applications, the photocoupler 4N25 is a high and low level signal because the input and output of the circuit
are both high and low levels. Therefore, it is not necessary to set or set a lower static operating point, and the circuit
works in a non-linear state. In linear applications, because the signal is transmitted without distortion. Therefore, a
suitable static operating point should be set according to the requirements of dynamic work, and the circuit works in a
linear state. In addition, the input and output AC and DC circuits of the circuit cannot share the ground, otherwise, it will
lose its application features.
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