Electronic – Does Analog Comparator mean Voltage Comparator

comparator

I was asked to define what an Analog Comparator was.

After doing research, it seems to me that Analog Comparator is the same as a Voltage Comparator.

Is this true?

Best Answer

In general, an analog comparator could be defined as any device intended to compare two analog quantities using analog circuit techniques. In most practical cases, the two analog quantities are voltages and the most common circuit technique is a voltage comparator. However, for example, you might need to compare two resistors for which a Wheatstone Bridge would be a suitable analog comparator device. Thus, a voltage comparator is an example of an analog comparator but not all analog comparators are voltage comparators.