So can Optical isolators be used to, for example, drive a higher voltage LED from a control Hub digital output. These Opto-isolation modules have no physical electrical connection between input and output.
This is not the Q&A, but as the Competition Manual is written today probably not. It makes no real differentiation between devices that do it right versus devices that do it wrong - the manual conservatively believes all consumer devices do it wrong. I think it would require an exclusion list in the manual (or inclusion list?).
But….
If the input and output were implemented separately, separated by a small airspace, I would think it should be legal the input to the Opto is an IR LED, driven from the digital output of the hub. The output is a IR sensor driven LED circuit, driven from either the 12V supply or separate battery pack. the two circuits are not physically connected… how would this violate the rules??
It’s a “right hand, left hand” kind of thing. The rule states…
COTS USB battery packs … may be used provided they are:
…
B. not used by any devices receiving control signals from the ROBOT control system (i.e., COTS USB battery packs must remain electrically isolated from the ROBOT power systems.). Exceptions to part B of this rule are:
- i. powered USB Hubs, and
- ii. ROBOT CONTROLLER smartphones.
So the B part of the rule says not used by any devices receiving control signals from the ROBOT control system - that says opto-isolators are illegal. Then the paren goes on to say, (i.e., COTS USB battery packs must remain electrically isolated from the ROBOT power systems.) - that clarifies that the rule assumes no devices can electrically isolate the control signal and the power.
Or does it just dictate that by and large inspectors cannot reliably tell the difference, and thus all devices might as well not be able to electrically isolate?
Anyway, in my professional opinion it’s illegal until the rule is changed. But this forum isn’t the Q&A.