One-Wire Serial Bus Carries Isolated Power And Data

Medical and industrial applications often require galvanic isolation of 2500 V ac or higher for the safety of patients and equipment operators. The isolation barrier conveys not only power to the sensing element, but also data to or from that element.

Each data signal crossing the barrier-requires isolation. Consequently, designers can typically save costs in these applications by choosing a serial bus rather than a parallel bus. Serial buses include SPI, I²C, and the Dallas 1-Wire bus.

The Dallas 1-Wire requires only one data line (plus ground) for bidirectional-communications. Because optoisolators are unidirectional devices, typical 1-Wire applications require two optos—one for each direction of data flow. (SPI and I²C applications require a minimum of three optos.)

The 1-Wire bus not only allows bidirectional data flow, it also can transfer power in its "parasitic power mode." An isolated converter supplies power for the sensing element. Thus, most 1-Wire designs require two optos for the data interface: one opto for feedback to the isolated power supply, and a transformer for power-supply isolation.

The circuit shown in the figure , implemented with an isolated transformer driver (U1) and a single optocoupler (U3), minimizes the component count required for isolation while maintaining a two-wire pigtail design (data plus ground to the 1-Wire sensing element).

U1 provides isolated and pseudoregulated power, and it enables the master to transmit data to the 1-Wire device across an isolated interface. The single opto's location in the receive datapath lets the master receive isolated data from the 1-Wire device.

Note the following observations: U1 and transformer T1 generate approximately 4.0 V at the V_ISOL node (upper right corner of the schematic). D1 and D2 implement a half-bridge rectifier for the transformer secondary.

The connection between FS and V_CC on U1 causes that device to switch at a nominal 860 kHz. Capacitor C2 filters the output and maintains the output level between positive cycles. R1 is included to discharge capacitor C2.

The master microcontroller transfers data to the 1-Wire device by modulating U1's SD pin on and off. When data isn't being transferred, U1 is normally on and supplying power to the 1-Wire device, representing a logic high to the 1-Wire device. The V_ISOL node is approximately 4.0 V at that time.

To initiate communication, the master asserts a Reset Pulse by forcing SD high, turning off U1. With U1 off, the voltage at V_ISOL drops to the logiclow level of the 1-Wire device. Select R1, R2, R3, and C2 to permit V_ISOL to fall below the logic-low threshold (0.8 V) in less than 5µs or so. (R1 = R2 = 1.00 kΩ, R3 = 2.00 kΩ, and C2 = 4.7 nF will yield a starting point for testing. But final values depend on the opto selected.) While U1 is active, these four values must not allow V_ISOL to dip below the logic-high threshold of the 1-Wire device (2.4 V).

For the master to receive data from the 1-Wire device, the opto (U3) is modulated by the level of V_ISOL or the data pin of the 1-Wire device (DQ). When U1 is ON, the LED in U3 is ON. This forces Rx low.

When the 1-Wire device pulls DQ low, the LED turns off and Rx goes high. Rx also goes high when U1 turns off, causing V_ISOL to drop and turn off the LED. (Tx and Rx logic for the microcontroller is the inverse of that for the 1-Wire device.)

So one opto, a transformer, and a Dallas 1-Wire serial link form an isolated sensor interface between a master microcontroller and a precision 1-Wire thermometer. By keeping wiring and component costs to a minimum, the circuit supports highvolume medical and industrial applications.