Comparators

by: RINAJIN RUDILLAS

HILLARY BUSQUE
What is a Comparator ?
A comparator is a specialized op-amp circuit that compares two input
voltages and produces an output that is always at either one of two
states, indicating the greater or less than relationship between the
inputs.

A comparator is a device that compares two voltages or currents and

outputs a digital signal indicating which is larger. It has two analog
input terminals and and one binary digital output .
 Comparator Unit

(a) Basic unit (b) Typical application

The output is a digital signal that stays at a high voltage level when the noninverting (+)
input is greater than the voltage at the inverting (-) input and switches to a lower
voltage level when the noninverting input voltage goes below the inverting input voltage.
Zero-level detection
One application of an op-amp used as a comparator is to
determine when an input voltage exceeds a certain level.
Nonzero-level detection
The zero-level detector in Figure 131 can be modified to detect positive and
negative voltages by connecting a fixed reference voltage source to the inverting
input, as shown in Figure 132(a). A more practical arrangement is shown in
Figure 132(b) using a voltage divider to set the reference voltage, VREF, as
follows:

The circuit in Figure 132(c) uses a zener diode to set the reference voltage (
VREF =VZ). As long as Vin is less than VREF, the output remains at the maximum
negative level. When the input voltage exceeds the reference voltage, the output
goes to its maximum positive voltage, as shown in Figure 132.
Reference Voltage ( Vref )

To get the reference voltage,

Example of Comparators

LM 311
The LM311 is a single comparator.
741 Op-amp as a Comparator

Pin 2 reference input

Pin 3 noninverting input
Pin 4 negative dc supply voltage
Pin 7 positive dc supply voltage
Pin 6 - output
The input Vi going even a fraction of a millivolt
above the 0-V reference level will be amplified
by the very high voltage gain (typically over
100,000), so that the output rises to its positive
output saturation level and remains there, while
the input stays above Vref = 0 V.
When the input drops just below the 0-V
reference level, the output is driven to its lower
saturation level and stays there, while the
input remains below Vref = 0 V.
Figure clearly shows that the input signal is
linear, whereas the output is digital.
 LM 339

The 339 IC is a quad comparator

containing four independent voltage
comparator circuits connected to external
pins
Each comparator has inverting and
noninverting inputs and a single output.
Operation of one 339 comparator circuit as a zero crossing detector.

It shows one of the 339 comparator

circuits connected as a zero-crossing
detector.
Whenever the input signal goes
above 0 V, the output switches to V(+) .
The output switches to V(-) only when the
input goes
below 0 V.
 If the negative input is set at a reference level Vref , and if the positive input goes
above Vref , this results in a positive differential input with output driven to the open-
circuit state. When the noninverting input goes below Vref , resulting in a negative
differential input, the output will be driven to V(-) .
If the positive input is set at the reference level, the inverting input going below Vref
results in the output open circuit, whereas the inverting input going above Vref results
in the output at V(-) .
 Application :
Oscillator Circuit Using Positive Feedback
Over-Temperature Sensing Circuit