5000Vrms reinforced isolation in a 16-SOIC
The Maxim Integrated MAX12931BAWE+ is a two-channel, unidirectional digital isolator using capacitive coupling to deliver 5000Vrms of galvanic isolation in a 16-SOIC wide-body package. It supports data rates up to 25Mbps across the isolation barrier, making it a fit for isolating SPI, UART, or general-purpose digital signals in industrial motor drives, medical equipment, and power-conversion systems where safety isolation is required.
Package and mounting
The 5000Vrms isolation rating is the headline spec for this part — it qualifies the device for reinforced insulation per IEC 60747-5-5, which is the threshold medical and industrial safety standards demand. The 25Mbps data rate comfortably handles isolated SPI clock lines at 20 MHz or two UART channels running at 1 Mbps each, with margin. Propagation delay is a maximum of 33.6 ns (tpHL), and pulse-width distortion stays under 4 ns — tight enough to avoid skew issues on a shared clock or data bus. Common-mode transient immunity is rated 50kV/µs (typical), which is the number to watch when the isolator sits between a microcontroller and a motor-drive power stage. Fast switching transients on the high-voltage side can couple through parasitic capacitance; a CMTI below 25 kV/µs would risk bit errors in that environment. This part's 50 kV/µs gives a solid margin for 600 V motor drives and SiC/GaN inverter stages. Supply voltage spans 1.71V to 5.5V on both sides, so it can bridge a 1.8V MCU domain to a 5V sensor interface without a level shifter.
Package and rework considerations
The 1.27 mm pitch leaves room for a standard iron tip or hot-air nozzle without bridging adjacent pins. The wide-body SOIC also provides the creepage distance needed to maintain the 5000Vrms rating across the board; keep the PCB slot under the isolator per the layout guidelines.
Lifecycle and compliance
No PCN or LTB schedule has been issued for this part as of the current date.