Comparators

The PIC10F204/206 microcontrollers have a built-in comparator which can be utilized to detect different discrete voltage levels. This technical brief describes one technique for detecting two or more such voltages as different trip points.

The LTC1042 is a monolithic CMOS window comparator manufactured using Linear Technology’s enhanced LTCMOS silicon gate process. Two high impedance voltage inputs, CENTER and WIDTH/2, define the middle and width of the comparison window. Whenever the input voltage, V_IN, is inside the window the WITHIN WINDOW output is high. The ABOVE WINDOW output is high whenever V_IN is above the window. By interchanging V_IN and CENTER, the ABOVE WINDOW output becomes BELOW WINDOW and is high if V_IN is below the window.

The AN13 is an extensive discussion of the causes and cures of problems in very high speed comparator circuits. A separate applications section presents circuits, including a 200ns 0.01% sample-hold, a 0.025% accurate 1Hz to 30MHz V/F converter, and a 10MHz fiber-optic receiver. Five appendices covering related topics complete this note.

The LT1715 is an UltraFast™ dual comparator optimized for low voltage operation. Separate supplies allow independent analog input ranges and output logic levels with no loss of performance. The input voltage range extends from 100mV below VEE to 1.2V below VCC. Internal hysteresis makes the LT1715 easy to use even with slow moving input signals. The rail-to-rail outputs directly interface to CMOS and TTL.

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The LT6700-1/LT6700-2/LT6700-3 combine two micropower, low voltage comparators with a 400mV reference in a 6-lead SOT-23 or tiny DFN package. Operating with supplies from 1.4V up to 18V, these devices draw only 6.5μA typical, making them ideal for low voltage system monitoring. Hysteresis is included in the comparators, easing design requirements to insure stable output operation.