Analog Circuits and Systems

Prof. K Radhakrishna Rao

Lecture 34: Regenerative Comparators and

Non-Sinusoidal Oscillators

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Review
—  Negative feedback amplifiers
—  Negative feedback systems
—  Filters
—  Oscillators
—  All of these can be considered best as second order differential
equations forming second order filters.
—  In the case of feedback amplifiers and negative feedback systems the
transient response can be optimized when Q=1

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Review (contd.,)
—  The steady state response can be optimized when Q = 1 / 2
—  Filters are designed for a variety of Qs and pole frequencies for
frequency shaping
—  Oscillators have Q= ; they require frequency and amplitude
stability
—  Frequency compensation methodology is common to all the above
—  The topic that is going to be covered in the present lecture focuses
on Positive Regenerative Feedback

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Comparators v/s opamp ICs
—  Comparators as an element has already been introduced in
Lecture 9.
—  Comparator is an interface component
—  Its input is analog and its output is digital (1/0 or high/low).
—  It is a one-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC)
—  The output changes its state when the input voltage crosses a
reference value.

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Comparator (contd.,)
Voltage Comparator Current Comparator

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 Ideal Comparator
—  Ideal comparator has infinite gain in the active region while transiting
from one state to the other
—  LM311 comparator (made available by most IC manufacturers &
costs $0. 2 in>1k quantities)
Parameter Value

1 Total Supply Voltage 3.5 to 30 V

2 Rise Time 115 ns

3 Common Mode Input Voltage 0.5 to 28 V

4 Input Offset Voltage 7.5 mV (max)

5 Input Offset Current 70 nA (max)

6 Input Bias Current 300 nA (max)

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Offset Voltage
Input offset voltage (7.5 mV in case of 311)

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Commercial Comparators
—  are designed to have a
forward gain of the order of Vu - VL
Vioffset +
100 A0
—  Active transition region will be
⎛ Vu − VL ⎞ ⇒ input referredoffset
⎜ ⎟
⎝ A0 ⎠
instead of zero in case of infinite
gain

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Commercial comparators (contd.,)

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Regenerative Positive Feedback (Schmidt Trigger)
R1
β=
R1 + R 2
(βVo − Vi ) A = Vo
Vo A
=−
Vi 1 − Aβ

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Regenerative Positive Feedback (contd.,)
Unlike the negative feedback non-inverting amplifier
⎛ A ⎞ R2 ⎛ 1 ⎞
designed as a VCVS ⎜ ⎟ of gain 1 + ⎜= ⎟
⎝ 1 − Aβ ⎠ R1 ⎝ β ⎠
This positive feedback circuit gives
Vo A
=− ;0 < Aβ < 1
Vi 1 − Aβ
Aβ results in a highly sensitive
amplifier (sensitivity to Aβ)
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Regenerative Positive Feedback (contd.,)
—  Rarely used in amplifier topologies.
—  Used in comparator design when active region is only a transition
region.
—  Ab>1, regenerative comparator or Schmitt trigger.
—  Most important mixed mode or digital circuit which is used to
convert analog to digital or cleanup distorted (due to transmission
line and noise) digital signal.

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Regenerative Positive Feedback (contd.,)
—  For Ab>>1, it develops hysteresis in
its input output characteristic.
—  This hysteresis is an integral part of
all ON-OFF control systems
◦  Class-D power amplifiers
◦  Switched mode power suppliers
◦  A to D converters
◦  Function generators
◦  Astable multivibrators
◦  Timers

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Simulation 1
—  R1=R2=1k;Vs=10; opamp=TL082

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Simulation 2
—  Vi is a triangular waveform with Vp=10V; f = 1000Hz

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Regenerative Comparator

Output =Vn(noise) ⎡1 + Aβ + ( Aβ ) + L ⎤
2

⎣ ⎦
an infinite series.
If Aβ < 1 it is convergent and appears as
− AVn
Vo = − AVn ⎡⎣1 + Aβ + L ⎤⎦ =
1 − Aβ
If Aβ > 1 it is divergent series, it goes to
infinity and in this case it goes to ± Vs
This is known as regenerative action

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Regenerative Comparator (contd.,)
—  It cannot be remaining stably at any value in between whatever be
the input value.
—  Within the hysteresis it is either Vs and beyond that it is one of
the saturation states.
—  A comparator is called as limiter by communication engineers and
as zero crossing detector by power electronics engineers if one end
of the input is connected to ground.

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Regenerative Comparator (contd.,)

Vref (1 − β) ± βVs = Vi

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Regenerative Comparator (contd.,)
PWM Hysteresis

for low β values

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PWM (Linear)
—  The output waveform is τ Vp − VR (1 − β )
a rectangular wave of the =
T2 Vp
same frequency but
having a duty cycle.
—  Using similar triangles τ 1 ⎛
= ⎜1 −
VR (1 − β ) ⎞
⎟
abc and ade T 2 ⎜⎝ Vp ⎟
⎠
—  This circuit is a duty
cycle generator (DCG)
or pulse width
modulator (PWM)
for low β values
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Uses
—  Switched mode —  Analog multiplication using PWM and PAM
power supplies
—  Class D power
amplifiers
—  Analog multiplier
—  DC to DC
converters

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Simulation 1
Vref=10V ; b=1/2

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Simulation 2
Vref=20V ; b=1/2

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Pulse Width Modulator (PWM)
—  Used in DC to DC convertors and Class D power Amplifiers
—  Vref=10; b=1/2

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PWM (contd.,)
—  Vref=-10; b=1/2

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Frequency Shift Keying (FSK)
—  Modulating Frequency: Square Wave – 100 Hz; 7V

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Frequency Modulator or FM Generator
—  Modulating Frequency: Sine Wave – 100 Hz; 8V

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Inverting Schmitt trigger

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Non-inverting Schmitt trigger

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Hysteresis

Now change of state at

the output occurs when
R1
β=
R1 + R 2
Vi (1 − β ) + Voβ = VR
Vi (1 − β ) ± Voβ = VR
Vsβ VR
Vi = m +
1−β 1−β

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Simulation 1

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Simulation 2

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Conclusion

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