Electronic – Techniques for analyzing Comparator circuits

analysiscomparatorhysteresis

I'm looking for some general guidelines/equations I can use to analyze circuits which use comparators. In particular, I'm interested in hysteresis.

For example, take the following open collector/drain comparator circuit with hysteresis:

inverting hysteresis

How did they derive the equations for calculating hysteresis? I tried doing some analysis assuming op-amp like behavior (assumed that input terminals source/sink negligible current, did not assume that the input terminals have equal voltages, clamped output voltage to [Vee, Vcc]), but I wasn't able to get the desired output results.

Best Answer

I generally first make an assumption about the state of the comparator (is it sinking, or is it high impedance) then do the derivations.

First assume the comparator is sinking. Because it's sinking, assume that pin 2 is at \$V_{EE} \$ potential. You may also assume that the comparator is able to sink enough current through \$R_{PULL-UP}\$ as to not allow it to source any current onto the R1-R2 net. The voltage at pin 10 becomes a simple voltage divider.

Next assume the comparator is high-impedance. Now you have a net with three resistors and two voltage sources (\$V_{REF}\$ and \$V_{PULL-UP}\$), since the comparator is (ideally) out of the equation now. Find the total current in the branch and calculate the voltage.