Encyclopedia of Electronic Components Volume 2

Chapter 6. comparator

integrated circuit

analog

comparator

Although a comparator has the same schematic symbol as an op-amp, their applications differ and they are described in separate sections of this encyclopedia.

This entry describes an analog comparator. A digital comparator is very different, being a logic chip that compares two binary numbers that can be referred to as A and B. Outputs from the chip indicate whether A>B or A<B or A=B. The digital comparator does not have an entry in this encyclopedia.

Other related components

• op-amp (see Chapter 7)

What It Does

A comparator is an integrated circuit chip that compares a variable voltage on one input pin with a fixed, reference voltage on a second input pin. Depending which voltage ...