Isolation amplifiers protect delicate computer components from electrical power fluctuations. They block unwanted electrical activity and allow necessary activity to pass. They are commonly used to keep electrical and data input systems separate and to protect potentially hazardous environments. They also keep two components of one system separate and protected from unwanted electrical surges in the other.
An isolation amplifier is used to protect certain computer components from the electrical power required to operate them. Many computer components are delicate and can be damaged by even small fluctuations in electrical power. Placing an isolation amplifier in a circuit separates the two sides of the circuit, allowing for precise control of the amount of energy transferred from one side to the other.
An isolation amplifier blocks unwanted electrical activity and allows necessary activity to pass. The device is designed to transmit signals that are within the permissible parameters. Information can be transmitted in analog form or it can be converted to digital before it is allowed to pass through the barrier. These amplifiers can also increase the amount of power supplied to the data input system if needed.
A common use for an isolation amplifier is to keep electrical and data input systems separate. Although a data-entry system requires electrical energy to operate, energy flows from a power source can damage the data-entry system. To protect delicate circuitry from these fluctuations, an isolation amplifier can be placed between them, allowing only safe levels of energy to pass through. Damage to one component can spread to nearby components, costing you a lot to repair.
Some data entry systems are used to monitor potentially hazardous environments. Sensors that detect dangerous gas levels, for example, must be protected against electrical surges as such surges could cause an explosion. Computer components that burn out can literally catch fire. Having an isolation amplifier is an important safety feature.
Another reason engineers install isolation amplifiers is to keep two components of one system separate and protected from unwanted electrical surges in the other. There are a number of systems that can harm each other with electrical energy. A common example of a machine that uses an isolation amplifier for this purpose is the electrocardiography (ECG) machine. When a patient is connected to this machine, they become part of the circuit and must be protected from electrical energy that may surge through the machine from the power supply. The machine must also be protected from the patient, because in the event of a cardiac arrest, the patient will be exposed to high levels of electrical energy from a defibrillator which can damage the ECG.
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