COMPARATORS

Function:
Compares two input voltages
and produces an output in either
of two states indicating the
greater than or less than
relationship of the inputs.

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 What is a Comparator ?
 The comparator is an op-amp circuit that
compares two input voltages and produces an
output indicating the relationship between them.
The inputs can be two signals (such as two sine
waves) or a signal and a fixed dc reference
voltage.
 Often used as an interface between digital and
analog signals.

Problem Solution

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 Symbol & Transfer
Characteristics
Vin
+
Vout
Vref _

Vout Vout

VH VH

Vin Vin
0 Vref 0 Vref
VL VL

Ideal transfer Practical transfer

characteristic characteristic
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 Threshold Comparators

 The voltage at which a comparator changes

from one level to another is called the
crossover (or threshold) voltage.
 Its value can be adjusted by adding
resistors, as shown in the non-inverting
comparator.
RF
Vref

R1
+
V+
V- _
VS Vin
R Vout

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 From the superposition theorem, the voltage at
V+ is given by
R1 RF
V  Vref  Vin
R1  RF R1  RF

Ideally, the crossover will occur when V+

= 0. That is
R1Vref  RFVin  0

which gives the low threshold voltage VLt = Vin as

R1
VLt   Vref Vout
RF
V
H
Thus, the output voltage becomes high
(VH) at the positive saturation voltage. VL
t 0 Vi
(+Vsat) when V+ > 0 (i.e. Vin > VLt) n

VL 5
 If the input signal is connected to the inverting
terminal, the output will change from high (VH) to
low (VL).

The high threshold voltage VHt = Vin is given by

R1
Vout VHt  Vref
R1  RF

VH
Thus, the output voltage becomes
low (VL) at the negative saturation
VH voltage :-
t
Vin
0 (-Vsat) when Vin > V+ (i.e. Vin > VHt)
VL
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 BASIC COMPARATOR
CIRCUITS

 COMPARATOR WITH ZERO

REFERENCE
 COMPARATOR WITH NONZERO
REFERENCE
 COMPARATOR WITH HYSTERESIS

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 NONLINEAR CIRCUITS

 Nonlinear circuits such as comparators,

wave shapers and active-diode circuits.
 Linear circuits like voltage amplifier,
current sources, and active filters.
 The output of nonlinear op-amp circuits
usually has a different shape from the
input signal. This is due to the op-amp
saturates during part of the input cycle.

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 ZERO REFERENCE
 The simplest way to build a comparator is to
connect op-amp without feedback resistors.

Vout
+V
_
Vin +Vsat
Vout
+
Vin
0
-V
-Vsat

a) Comparator with zero

reference b) Input/output response

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 ZERO REFERENCE
 Because of the high open-loop gain,
positive input voltage produces positive
saturation (+Vsat), and a negative input
voltage produces negative saturation (-
Vsat).
 This comparator is called a zero-crossing
detector.
 The minimum input voltage that produces
saturation is:

 Vsat
Vin (min) 
Aol
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 ZERO REFERENCE
 If a sinusoidal input voltage applied to
the non-inverting input of this circuit,
the result will look like this:

Vin

0 t

Vout +Vsat

0 t

-Vsat

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 ZERO REFERENCE

 Let Vsat = 15V, Aol = 100,000.

Then the input voltage needed
to produce saturation is:

 15V
Vin (min)   0.015mV
100,000
Vin > +0.015 mV  +Vsat

Vin < -0.015 mV  -Vsat

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 ZERO REFERENCE

The output is a two-state output,

either +Vsat or –Vsat
This comparator can be used as a
squaring circuit (i.e. produce
square wave from sine wave).

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 ZERO REFERENCE
Bounded Output
 The output swing of a zero-crossing
detector may be too large in some
applications.
 We can bound the output by using a
zener diode.
 There are three types:
1.Bounded at positive value
2.Bounded at negative value
3.Double bounded

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 ZERO REFERENCE
1.Bounded at positive value

Dz

_ +V
+Vz
Vin
R + Vout
0
-V -0.7V

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 ZERO REFERENCE
2.Bounded at negative value
Dz

_ +V
+0.7V
Vin R
+ Vout 0
-V -Vz

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 ZERO REFERENCE
3.Double-bounded

Dz1 Dz2

+V Vz2 + 0.7V
_
Vin
R 0
+ Vout
- (Vz1 + 0.7V)
-V

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 NON-ZERO REFERENCES

 In some applications a threshold

voltage different from zero may be
preferred. By biasing either input,
we can change the threshold
voltage as needed.
 It also known as non-zero level
detection

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 NON-ZERO REFERENCES
Positive Threshold
+V Vout

R1 +V
+Vsat
Vref _
Vout
R2 Vin
Vin + Vref
-V -Vsat

R2 •When Vin > Vref, Vout is High (+Vsat)

Vref  (V )
R1  R2 •When Vin < Vref, Vout is Low (-Vsat)

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 NON-ZERO REFERENCES

Negative threshold
Vout
 If a negative limit is
preferred, connect –V
to the voltage divider. +Vsat

Vref Vin

-Vsat

•When Vin > Vref, Vout is High (+Vsat)

•When Vin < Vref, Vout is Low (-Vsat)
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 NON-ZERO REFERENCES

CONDITIONS:
Using Zener diode
• Vref = Vz
•When Vin is less than Vref, the output remains at the max negative level
•When Vin is more than Vref, the output goes to the max positive level

+V

Vref
R +V Vin t
Vz _
Vout
Vin + +Vsat
-V Vout t
-Vsat
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