Operational Amplifier Fundamentals Unit 8 – Voltage Comparators
NEW TERMS AND WORDS
voltage comparator - A circuit that compares an input voltage to a reference voltage.
level detectors - circuits that compare the level of a signal to a reference level.
hysteresis - a small amount of feedback that provides stability.
threshold voltage - a narrow voltage band centered between the positive and negative switching
levels of a comparator.
trip point - the point within the threshold band where the output of a comparator switches from
one level to the other.
Schmitt trigger - comparator type that uses hysteresis to provide stability around a circuit trigger
point.
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
F.A.C.E.T. base unit
Multimeter
Oscilloscope, dual trace
OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIER FUNDAMENTALS circuit board
Generator, sine/square wave