Sharp Microelectronics is expanding its family of photocouplers by adding some components for specific models with transfer rates of 1Mbit, 10Mbit or 25 Mbit per second. Whereas all high-speed photocouplers function within an ambient temperature range of -40 to +85 degrees Celsius, the 1 Mbit coupler goes beyond this - it is designed to work in an expanded temperature range of -55 to +100 degrees Celsius. Depending on the type of photocoupler, the components provide voltage isolation of 3.75kV or 5.0kV. Today, the components are already free of hazardous substances and thus compliant with the RoHS Guidelines. Depending on the design, Sharp offers its photocouplers in both SOP 8 and DIP 8 housings. In November 2005, the 8-pin SOP models PC457S0NIP0F (1 Mbit/s), PC410S0NIP0F (10 Mbit/s) and PC4D10SNIP0F (10 Mbit/s) will go into series production. Samples are available.