OpenCollectorAusgänge

OpenCollectorAusgänge, often translated as open-collector outputs, are a type of digital output circuit used in electronics. This configuration allows multiple devices to share a common output line without interfering with each other. The key characteristic of an open-collector output is that it can actively pull the output line down to a low voltage (ground) or effectively disconnect from the line, leaving it in a high-impedance state.

When an open-collector output is active, it sinks current, pulling the output line low. When it is inactive, it is essentially an open circuit, meaning it does not actively drive the output high. To achieve a high logic level on the output line, an external resistor, known as a pull-up resistor, is required. This resistor connects the output line to the positive supply voltage. When all connected open-collector outputs are inactive, the pull-up resistor pulls the line high. When any one of the outputs becomes active, it overrides the pull-up resistor and pulls the line low.

This shared bus capability makes open-collector outputs useful in applications like I2C communication protocols, where multiple devices need to communicate on the same data and clock lines. It simplifies wiring and allows for easy expansion of the system by adding more devices to the bus. However, the need for external pull-up resistors is a consideration in circuit design.