Signal isolators using micro-transformers

A digital logic isolator, comprising:

• a. a micro-transformer having a primary winding referenced to a first ground and a secondary winding referenced to a second ground isolated from the first ground;
• b. means for providing to the primary winding signals of a first type in response to transitions of a first type in an input logic signal;
• c. means for providing to the primary winding signals of a second type different from the signals of the first type in response to transitions of a second type in the input logic signal;
• and
• d. means for receiving from the secondary winding signals corresponding to the signals of the first and second types and for reconstituting the input logic signal from them.

A method of providing an isolated logic signal output in response to a logic signal input, comprising:

• a. providing a micro-transformer having a primary winding referenced to a first ground and a secondary winding referenced to a second ground isolated from the first ground;
• b. providing to the primary winding signals of a first type in response to transitions of a first type in the input logic signal;
• c. providing to the primary winding signals of a second type different from the signals of the first type in response to transitions of a second type in the input logic signal;
• and
• d. receiving from the secondary winding signals corresponding to the signals of the first and second types and reconstituting the input logic signal from them.

A logic isolator comprising:

• a. a micro-transformer comprising, on a substrate, vertically stacked, a bottom winding and a top winding disposed over and insulated from the bottom winding;
• b. a damping network connected across the top winding;
• c. a transmitter circuit receiving a logic input signal and driving a signal to said bottom winding;
• and
• d. a receiving circuit connected to receive from the top winding a signal corresponding to the signal driving the bottom winding and generating an output comprising a reconstituted logic input signal.

A logic isolator comprising:

• a. a micro-transformer comprising, on a substrate, vertically stacked, a bottom winding and a top winding disposed over and insulated from the bottom winding;
• b. a damping network connected across the top winding;
• c. a transmitter circuit receiving a logic input signal and providing a transformer driving signal;
• d. a receiving circuit connected to receive from the transformer a signal corresponding to the driving signal and generating an output comprising a reconstituted logic input signal;
• and
• e. means for programming the isolator by coupling the driving signal to a selected one of the windings and coupling the receiving circuit to the other one of the windings.

A dual-channel, bi-directional isolator comprising:

• a. first and second micro-transformers arranged on a first substrate, each transformer having a top winding and a bottom winding;
• b. a first transmitter circuit connected to drive the bottom winding of the first transformer;
• c. a second transmitter circuit connected to drive the top winding of the second transformer;
• d. a first receiver circuit connected to receive signals from the bottom winding of the second transformer;
• e. a second receiver circuit connected to receive signals from the top winding of the first transformer.

A single channel bi-directional isolator comprising:

• a. a micro-transformer arranged on a first substrate, the transformer having a top winding and a bottom winding;
• b. a first transmitter circuit connected to drive the bottom winding;
• c. a second transmitter circuit and connected to drive the top winding;
• d. a first receiver circuit connected to receive signals from the top winding;
• e. a second receiver circuit connected to receive signals from the bottom winding;
• and
• f. the first and second transmitter circuits transmitting so as to avoid interfering with each other.

A logic isolator comprising:

• a. a micro-transformer comprising, on a substrate, vertically stacked, a bottom winding and a top winding disposed over and insulated from the bottom winding;
• b. a damping network connected across the top winding;
• c. a first module coupled to the top winding capable of either receiving a logic input signal and providing a transformer driving signal or receiving from the transformer a signal corresponding to the driving signal and generating an output comprising a reconstituted logic input signal;
• d. a second module coupled to the bottom winding capable of either receiving a logic input signal and providing a transformer driving signal or receiving from the transformer a signal corresponding to the driving signal and generating an output comprising a reconstituted logic input signal;
• e. means for programming the isolator such that the first module operates in the transformer drive mode while the second circuit operates in the receive mode or that the first module operates in the receive mode while the second module operates in the transformer drive mode.