A comparator circuit has two (analogue) inputs and one (digital) output. The voltages at the two inputs are compared and the output depends on which of the inputs is greater. The two inputs can have any value and are therefore analogue. The output is either on or off and is therefore digital. The comparator circuit is a very simple analogue to digital converter. Comparator circuits are usually based on Operational Amplifiers (Op-Amps). This lesson looks at Op-Amps and then considers comparator circuits. It is important to know about potential dividers and potentiometers before working through this lesson.
Reading: Read about operational amplifiers. Learn the names of the two inputs and be able to recognise these on a circuit diagram. Understand what an Op-Amp actually does and appreciate that if the inputs are different by even a very small voltage, the output is saturated either fully positive or fully negative. Learn the circuit symbol for the Op-Amp.
Reading: Read the first three sections of the webpage about comparators covering the introduction, basic functionality and four examples. Make sure you fully understand the four examples before going any further. Read the summary at the end of the examples and update your notes as necessary.
Video (9 min): Watch the video about the basic operation of a comparator, using an LDR as an input device and using a potentiometer to set a threshold voltage. (Apologies for the poor sound quality).
Reading: Read about using LDRs and Thermistors with a comparator and understand the two examples. Consider how an Op-Amp can act as a current source or as a current sink and understand the examples given. Finally, read about and understand the range detector circuit which makes use of a pair of Op-Amps. Update your notes. Pay particular attention to the ideas of current sources and current sinks.
Video (6 min): Watch the video demonstrating current source and current sink for an Op-Amp circuit.
Reading: Finish by consider the eight examples of how a comparator circuit can be designed. Note that four of the circuits come ON when the temperature goes up and four of the circuits go OFF when the temperature goes up. In this example there are four different ways to design a comparator circuit to do the same task.
Video (5 min): Watch the white board example of how to design a comparator circuit to do a particular task, in this case light up an LED when it gets dark.
Exercise: Complete the exercises about comparator circuit design and then use the answers to check your understanding.
Review your learning by working through the presentations or notes which summarise the website content.
Presentation: Powerpoint download. A detailed explanation with each example explained and then a series of questions to check your understanding.
Notes: PDF download. The website notes about operational amplifiers.
Notes: PDF download. The website notes about comparators including numerical examples.
Complete either the questions (pdf download) OR the on-line quiz. They are the same questions.
Questions: PDF download. Questions about comparator circuits.
Quiz: On-line quiz about comparators.
I can:
© Paul Nicholls
December 2020
Electronics Resources by Paul Nicholls is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
