DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name of the faculty : D Saritha
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : D.A.E.I.E
Institute : Govt Polytechnic, Kothagudem
Year/Semester : V Semester
Subject : Linear IC Applications
Sub-Code : AEI-505
Topic : Other Applications of OP-Amp
Duration : 100 min
Sub-Topic : Basic Comparator
Teaching Aids : Diagrams
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 Objectives

Upon the completion of this topic the student

will be familiar with

• Basic Comparator circuit

• Non-inverting comparator
• Inverting comparator

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 Comparator
• A comparator compares a signal voltage on one input of
an op-amp with a known voltage called the reference
voltage on the other input

• In simple a comparator is an open-loop op-amp, with two

analog inputs and a digital output; the output may be (+)
or (-) saturation voltage depending on which input is the
larger

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 Applications

Comparators are used in circuits such as

• Digital interfacing,
• Schmitt triggers,
• Discriminators,
• Voltage-level detectors and
• Oscillators

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 Non-inverting comparator

• An op-amp is called a Non-inverting comparator

when a fixed reference voltage Vref of 1V is applied to
the (-) input i.e, non-inverting input, and the other
time-varying signal voltage vin is applied to the (+)
i.e, inverting input.

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Circuit diagram of non-inverting
comparator

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 Working

• When Vin is less than Vref, the output voltage V0 is at

– Vsat ( = - VEE) because the voltage at the (-)
inverting input is higher than that at the (+) non-
inverting input.

• When Vin is greater than Vref, the non-inverting input

becomes positive with respect to the inverting input,
and V0 goes to +Vsat(= +Vcc). Thus Vo changes from
one saturation level to another whenever Vin = Vref.

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Input and output waveforms

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• The comparator is a type of A-D converter.
• At any given time the vo wave form shows whether vin is
greater or less than vref
• The comparator is sometimes also called a voltage -
level detector.

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 Construction
• The diodes D1 and D2 protect the op-amp from damage
due to excessive input voltage Vin .

• The difference input voltage Vid of the op-amp is clamped

to either 0.7 v or - 0.7v, hence the diodes are called
clamp diodes.
• The resistance R in series with Vin is used to limit the
current through D1 and D2.
• To reduce offset problems a resistance R is connected
between inverting input and Vref.
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• When the reference voltage is negative with respect
to ground, with sinusoidal signal applied to the (+)
input, the output voltage vo is at +vsat when vin>vref
and vo is at –vsat when vin<vref

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 Inverting comparator

• In inverting comparator the reference voltage Vref is

applied to the non-inverting input (+) and Vin is
applied to the inverting input (-)

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Circuit diagram of inverting comparator

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 Construction
• The Vref is obtained by using a 10kΩ potentiometer that
forms a voltage divider with the dc supply voltages +Vcc
and –VEE and wiper connected to the non-inverting input.

• As the wiper is moved toward –VEE, Vref becomes more

negative, while if it is moved toward +VCC, Vref becomes
more positive.

• Thus a Vref of a desired amplitude and polarity can be

obtained by simply adjusting the 10-kΩ potentiometer
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 Working

• When Vin is less than Vref, the output voltage V0 is at +

Vsat( = + Vcc) because the voltage at the (-) inverting
input is less than that at the (+) non-inverting input.

• When Vin is greater than Vref, the inverting input

becomes positive with respect to the non-inverting
input, and V0 goes to -Vsat(= - VEE). Thus Vo changes
from one saturation level to another whenever Vin =
Vref.
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Input and output waveforms

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 SUMMARY
We have discussed about

• Basic comparator
• Circuit diagram of non-inverting comparator and input-
out put waveforms
• Circuit diagram of inverting comparator and input-output
waveforms

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 Quiz

1. Comparator is also known as

c) D/A converter
d) A/D converter
e) None of the above

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1) The comparator is in non-inverting mode when the
reference voltage is applied to the

a) Non-inverting terminal
b) Inverting terminal
c) None of the above

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• In the inverting comparator the time varying
signal vin is applied to the

a) Non-inverting terminal
b) Inverting terminal
c) None of the above

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1) The diodes used in non-inverting
comparator are called as

c) Clipping diodes
d) Clamping diodes
e) None of the above

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 Frequently asked questions

2. Draw the circuit of non-inverting comparator and

explain with waveforms

4. Draw the circuit of inverting comparator and explain

with waveforms

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