ISO6421: Pull-up question

Part Number: ISO6421

Hello TI associates and thanks in advance for your help.

We are thinking of using ISO6421 in our design to isolate 4 different UART ports.  Our current design is setup so that all 4 ports are pulled up to the same rail, 3.3V, of course with 10K pull-up resistors.  We found out that the current configuration is causing a lot of noise on the 3.3V rail when "all" 4 ports are toggling.  Meaning, when all 4 ports are receiving data, they cause noise on the 3.3V rail.  And so we are thinking to implement ISO6421 device.  However, we see that VCCI and VCCO are separated.  And so, our question to your team is, are the individual Tx and Rx pins also separated from the internal pull-up rail?  Meaning is Tx1 and Tx2 pulled up to separate rails?  Also, if Tx1 is toggling, will it be sensed or affected if Tx2 starts toggling as well?  We totally understand that ISO6421 is only 2 channel device, and so for our application will use the 4 channel counterpart of this device.  However, it’s super important that we confirm the channels internal pull-ups.  If the Tx and Rx channels are internally pulled up directly to the same rail, then I think we are accomplishing nothing at this point.

 

We would love to hear from your team and looking forward to it.  Our entire application has been paused due to this issue.  So your prompt response is greatly appreciated. 


Thank you.
Regards.

  • 您好,
    已经收到了您的案例,调查需要些时间,感谢您的耐心等待。

  • Hello,   

        There is not external pull up resistor for UART signal. 

        Yes,  ISO6421 have two isolated channels only.

        There is I/O internal structure in "8.5 Device I/O Schematics" that is suit for all INx and OUTx pins.

        ISO642x General-Purpose, Basic and Reinforced, Dual -Channel Digital Isolators datasheet

        Regarding "Figure 5-2" in ISO6421 datasheet ,it shows signal pairs with VCC1 and VCC2.  

       

  • Hello Alice.  Thank you for your reply.

    We understand that there are no external pull-up resistors, we see that in the datasheet, and that wasn't our question.  Our question is, internally, are all the channels connected to the same rail?  In other words, if for example channel 1 is very noisy (just an example), will it affect channel 2?  Or are they 100% isolated?  

    We are thinking of using this device solely for this reason.  We currently have 4 UART ports between 2 microcontrollers.  When all 4 are working (toggling), they start to affect one another because they are currently all pulled up to the same rail.  And so if we use this device, we are thinking that 100% isolation will be perfect so that each channel is in its own world, basically.

  • Hello Alice.  Thank you for your reply.

    We understand that there are no external pull-up resistors, and we see that in the datasheet.  However, that wasn't our question.  Our question is, internally, are all the channels connected to the same rail?  In other words, if for example channel 1 is very noisy (just an example), will it affect channel 2?  Or are they 100% isolated?  This is what we need to know.

    We are thinking of using this device solely for this reason.  We currently have 4 UART ports between 2 microcontrollers.  When all 4 are working (toggling), they start to affect one another because they are currently all pulled up to the same rail.  And so if we use this device, we are thinking that 100% isolation will be perfect so that each channel is in its own world, basically.

  • Hello,

    Our question is, internally, are all the channels connected to the same rail? 

    Please check my reply upside,  There is I/O internal structure in "8.5 Device I/O Schematics" that is suit for all INx and OUTx pins.

    In another word, OUTA and INB powered by VCC1 ; OUTB and INA powered by VCC2. 

    It depend on exact chip (F suffix) whether there is pull up resistor or not.

    Similar, If there are two INX channel in 4 channel chips, the INX also pull up to same VCC if there is pull up resistor in I/O structure.

    I hope I explain clearly.