Scribd
Upload
93 views26 pages

Mixed-Signal-Electronics: PD Dr.-Ing. Stephan Henzler

This document discusses comparators and their use in mixed-signal electronics. It describes the ideal comparator and its static and dynamic characteristics such as gain, saturation voltages, offset voltage, propagation delay, and input common mode range. It also discusses using operational amplifiers as comparators and the tradeoff between gain and bandwidth. Discrete time comparators and track and latch circuits are presented as techniques to reduce offset and increase speed. Memory effects are discussed and techniques for their elimination.

Uploaded by

Ahmed Hamouda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
93 views26 pages

Mixed-Signal-Electronics: PD Dr.-Ing. Stephan Henzler

This document discusses comparators and their use in mixed-signal electronics. It describes the ideal comparator and its static and dynamic characteristics such as gain, saturation voltages, offset voltage, propagation delay, and input common mode range. It also discusses using operational amplifiers as comparators and the tradeoff between gain and bandwidth. Discrete time comparators and track and latch circuits are presented as techniques to reduce offset and increase speed. Memory effects are discussed and techniques for their elimination.

Uploaded by

Ahmed Hamouda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 26

Mixed-Signal-Electronics

PD Dr.-Ing. Stephan Henzler

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 1


Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 2
Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 3
Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 4
Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 5
Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 6
Chapter 7
Comparators

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 7


Ideal Comparator
 Compare input signal to reference and provide binary output
signal

 Often same symbol as for opamp


(reasonable as open loop opamp behaves like a comparator)
 Comparator is essentially an amplifier with saturation,
ideal comparator means infinite gain in VCVS  not realistic
Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 8
Static Characteristics of Comparator
 Comparator gain

 Maximum voltage for negative saturation VDL


 Minimum voltage for positive saturation VDH
 Comparator resolution: (min. voltage increment, determines comparator gain)

 Offset voltage: Horizontal shift of characteristic


 Input common mode range

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 9


Dynamic Characteristics of Comparator
Note:
Comparators work in large signal mode of operation
– basic circuit theory to reveal trade-offs and mechanisms
– simulation to determine actual performance figures
 Main dynamic performance figure: propagation delay td

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 10


Operational Amplifier as Comparator
 Opamp in open-loop configuration is comparator
– asynchronous
– relatively slow due to high gain and stability requirement
– offset error (may be compensated by correlated double sampling,
but this also means synchronous operation)

– Consider DC operating point at input for a reference voltage ≠ 0


– Compensation cap may be disconnected during latching
Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 11
OpAmp Comparator Dynamics
 Gain-Bandwidth trade-off
– gain determined by desired resolution
– bandwidth determined by desired propagation delay
 Amplifier model Response of Stable 1st Order Linear System
1
-0.1
-2.0
0.9
-0.5
-1.0
0.8
-1.0
-0.5
0.7

output signal [norm]


 Step response 0.6
-2.0
-0.1

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1
 Propagation Delay 0
0 2 4 6 8 10
time [AU]

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 12


Comparator Propagation Delay
 Linear mode of operation

Propagation delay for small input signals is determined by


linear small signal dynamics of amplifier

 Slew rate limited mode of operation

Propagation delay for large input signals is dominated by


slew rate of opamp output stage

 Propagation delay for slew rate limited operation

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 13


Discrete Time Comparators
 In some applications comparator function only desired
– during certain intervals
– at certain discrete time instances

 Allows for offset compensation via auto-zeroing


and other switched capacitor benefits
 Allows for amplifiers in positive feedback configuration

– full level always reached


– gain boosting (reuse one amplifier by cyclic amplification
Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 14
Track & Latch Circuit I

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 15


Track & Latch Circuit II

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 16


Principle of Track-and-Latch Stage

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 17


Linear Dynamic of Latch
 Linear small signal analysis (ref. Schaltungstechnik 2)
 Node voltages

 Differential voltage 1
Response of Instable 1st Order Linear System (Latch)

0.9 0.4

0.8

0.7 0.1

output signal [norm]


0.6

 Propagation delay 0.5

0.4
0.01

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
time [AU]

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 18


Latched Comparators I

 Standard architecture for high-speed comparators


 Latch offset voltage limits resolution of latch-only comparator
 Two step approach:
– analog pre-amplifier stage(s)
– regenerative track and latch stage

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 19


Latched Comparators II

 Pre-amplifier:
– 1-3 amplifier stages
– low gain, high-speed
– delay along amplifier chain
– separation of input from latch to reduce loading and avoid
kickback effect

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 20


Latched Comparators III

 Track & latch circuit:


– amplifies signal in track mode
– restores (regenerates) signal to full rail in regenerative
latch mode (positive feedback)

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 21


Input Referred Offset of Latch

 Input referred offset error of latch stage is reduced by gain A


of pre-amplifier

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 22


Current Mode (CML) Latch
 Combines amplifier and
latch functionality

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 23


Memory and Hysteresis in Comparators
 Hysteresis:
Switching threshold is different when switching from low to
high and from high to low, respectively.
Useful to avoid bouncing outputs for small (noisy) signals
near comparator threshold

 Memory effect:
Kind of hysteresis that causes the comparator decision to be
dependent on previous decisions.
Has to be strongly avoided in Nyquist rate ADCs such as
flash converters.
Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 24
Elimination of Memory Effect

 Precharge and equalize circuit elements eliminate all


information from previous cycles and decisions

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 25


Switched Capacitor Comparator

 Offset compensated
 Threshold determined by capacitynce ratio

Stephan Henzler Mixed-Signal-Electronics 2011/12 26

You might also like