Voltage drops when a signal is fed into op-amp comparator

function generatorimpedanceoperational-amplifier

I have a function generator SFG-2110 from GW Instek. I set it to generate a square wave with max/min of aroudn +- 1 V. And I checked with an oscilloscope.

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However, when I connected outputs of the function generator to an op-amp comparator with TL972IP from Texas Instrument, voltage significantly drops, even though I DID NOT make any change on the function generator.

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I think there's something wrong with circuit impedance. But I've only heard about that and have no idea how to adjust impedance of a circuit.

Why does an oscilloscope show a different voltage from a signal generator? says some generators have High Z mode. But, I can't find such a thing on my one.

Currently, my circuit looks like:

schematic

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

Will this problem be solved if I put a tiny resistor between (+) and (-) of the function generator?

If I am thinking wrong that impedance is a source of the problem, please point it out.

Best Answer

That op-amp (although it's not shown on the 'functional block diagram') almost surely has a network that looks something similar to back-to-back diodes across the inputs.

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Hence the absolute maximum input voltage of +/-1V.

Also, look at this:

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Putting 0V on the input with respect to the Vcc- does not damage the op-amp but it causes a whole whack of current to flow out of the input terminal.

You need to respect the common mode range of the amplifier- it is rail-to-rail on the output, not on the input, and when you go outside the input CM range or apply significant differential voltage then substantial currents can flow.

This is why it's often better not to try to use an op-amp as a comparator. If you reduce the input voltage to a few hundred mV and offset it so that it's within the input CM range (or give it a small negative supply) it should work okay. Note that if you are applying -1V you need a negative supply Vcc- of perhaps 2.5V.

Even without the quirkiness of this particular amplifier this would trip you up- even with a comparator that allows input voltages down to ground (or possibly a bit below), you should not apply voltages less than Vcc-. In the case of this particular part, you should not exceed the supply voltages- you should not even get closer than about 1.5V.

As Scott says this information is in the datasheet explicitly here:

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