COMPARATOR BASICS AND 

TYPES 
10.10.2019 
─ 

PRIYANSHU PRAKHAR 
F-238 
70031117055 
NMIMS SHIRPUR CAMPUS 

Comparator Basics 
A comparator is an electronic circuit, which compares the two inputs that are applied to it 
and produces an output. The output value of the comparator indicates which of the inputs 
is greater or lesser. 

 
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(Note that the input signal here is actually exceeding the maximum negative input voltage 
for the LM393 when run from a single supply, which likely accounts for the distorted 
waveform on the input pin) 

 
However, noisy or slow-moving input signals can easily cause false triggering, resulting in 
many rapid pulses at the comparator’s output: 
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The idea is to set different high (Vth) and low (Vtl) thresholds so that small voltage changes 
on the input don’t cause the comparator’s output to flip back and forth. Such a scheme is 
commonly known as a​ Schmitt trigger​. 

Calculation 
The resistor R2 feeds some of the output signal back to the input pin, hence the voltage 
seen at the comparator’s input is actually a combination of the original input signal and the 
comparator’s output. 

When the comparator output is low R2 acts as a pull-down resistor, and when the 
comparator’s output is high R2 acts as a pull-up resistor; the stronger R2 is, the harder the 
input signal needs to push in order to drive the comparator’s input voltage above or below 
the threshold voltage. 

By changing the ratio of the​ ​resistor divider​ formed by R1 and R2, we can control how 
much effect the comparator’s output has on the voltage seen at the input. Larger values of 
R2 feed less of the output back to the input and vice versa, so for back-of-the-napkin 
calculations, larger R1/R2 ratios will provide a larger difference between the high (Vth) and 
low (Vtl) voltage thresholds. 
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The following formulas can be used to calculate the appropriate R1/R2 ratio and Vref 
voltage for the desired Vth and Vtl values (equations derived here): 

Different Types Of Comparators 

The comparator is a simple circuit and moves the signals from analog to digital. The 
comparators are used to compare the two analog signals to produce the one-bit digital 
signal. It should satisfy some conditions which are like when the positive voltage is greater 
than the negative voltage, then the output bit should be one or if the positive voltage is 
smaller than the negative voltage, then the output bit is one.  
The different types of comparators are following: 

● Mechanical Comparator 
● Electrical – Electronic Comparator 
● Read type Comparator 
● Pneumatic Comparator 
● Mechanical – optical Comparator 

Mechanical Comparator 
The mechanical comparator is designed in the year 1930 by the “Johnson Company” in 
Sweden and this comparator is also known as Microcator. In this type of comparator, the 
magnification is occurred by the mechanical devices and mechanical linkage. The 
mechanical comparator is a measuring instrument, the mechanism of this instrument is 
tape spring twisted and it is positioned in the middle part. The rotation of the middle part is 
fixed angle upon tension which can be observed in the figure. By using relative contact 
method the comparator is used for linear measurement. 
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There are different types of mechanical comparators which are following: 

● Dial Gauge Comparator 

● Johansson Mikrokator Comparator 
● Reed Type Comparator 
● Sigma Comparator 

Advantages 

● The prices are very low by comparing with the other devices 
● It doesn’t require any external​ ​power supply​ ​like air, electricity 
● The  linear  scales  are  present  in  the  mechanical  comparators  and  they  are  easily 
understandable 
● These comparators are easy to handle and compact 

Disadvantages 

● The range of the instrument is limited as the pointer moves over a fixed scale 
● Error due to parallax is possible as the moving pointer moves over a fixed scale 

Electrical Comparator 
 
The  principle  of  the  electrical  comparator is to convert linear displacements into an electric 
output.  In  this  comparator,  we  will  use  the  wheatstone  bridge  circuit  and  the  working  of 
this  comparator  can  be  done  by  using  the  step  up  and  step  down  transformer.  There  are 
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three  components  required  for the electrical comparator which is like transducer, amplifier 

and display device as a meter. The working of the electrical comparator is described below. 

Working 

The  armature  is  placed  center  in  between  the  coils,  the  inductance  of  both  coils  is  equal 
and  opposite  direction  with  different  signs. Hence the bridge stone circuit is balanced, thus 
the  meter  will  read  zero,  but  it  is  not  possible  practically.  In  the  practical  cases,  the 
armature  will  be  lifted  up  and  lowered  down  through  the  plunger  when the measurement 
is done. 

Electrical Comparator 

Hence  this  will  be  unbalancing  the  Wheatstone  bridge  circuit.  Due  to  this  effect,  there  will 
be  changes  in  current  or  potential  will  be  induced  correspondingly,  at  this  time  the  meter 
will  indicate  some  values  as  a  displacement  and  the  indicated  value  is  a  small  or  large 
component.  If  the  induced  current  is  too  small  then  it  should  be  amplified  before 
displaying in the meter. 

Advantages 

● Very less number of moving parts are available in the electrical comparator 
● In this comparator there is high magnification and 
● The mechanism carrying the pointer is very light and not sensitive to vibrations 

Disadvantages 

I. It is more expensive than the mechanical comparator 

II. Heating of coils in the measuring unit may cause zero drift and alter the calibration 

Electronic Comparator 
The  electronic  comparator  has a base stand, powering unit, measuring unit, indication unit, 
and  amplification  unit. In this, the measuring contact progress is changed into the electrical 
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signal.  Hence  the  signal  is  recorded  by  a  device  which  can  be  adjusted  in terms of plunger 
movement.  This  comparator  compares  tough  stylus,  armature  iron  to  break  against  W  & 
spring  &  W1.  In  between  the  coils  of  W  &  W1  armature  is  located  thus  the  inductance  of 
this coil is equal. The​ ​Wheatstone bridge​ ​stands stable from the datum line. 

Electronic Comparator 

The  component  size  of  armature  should  be  raised  up or down and it overcomes the circuit 

of  Wheatstone  bridge  balance  and  the  result  will  be  as  unbalanced  current  flow.  The 
current  is  directly  tuned  into  the different sizes of the comparators and they are prolonged 
by  an  amplifier  specified  by  the  galvanometer.  The  precision  of  this  comparator  is  0.001 
mm. 

Advantages 

● In this comparator, there are no moving parts 

● They are sensitivity 
● The accuracy period of this comparator is very long 

Pneumatic Comparator 
The  working  principle  of  the  pneumatic  comparator  is  pressure  difference  is  generated by 
the  air  flow.  The  supplied  air  is  at  constant  pressure  from  the  jaw  and  air will escape from 
the  jets  through  a  restricted  space  which  is  applied from the back pressure. The difference 
in the back pressure is used to find the dimensions of a component. 
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Pneumatic Comparator 

Working 

The  figure  shows  the  air  is  compressed  in  the  compressor  with  a  high  pressure  and  it  is 
equal  to  the water head H. The overload air is escaping from the baddies and some specific 
amount  of  air  passes  through  the  orifice  with  a  constant  pressure.  Therefore,  due  to  a 
limited  area  at  the  A1  position, the back pressure is generated by the water head displaced 
at the tube of the manometer. 

To  mention  the  rotations  of  the  job,  it  is  rotated  along  the  jet  axis  and  if  there  is  no 
difference  in  the  pressure  reading  then  the  job  is  said  to  be  as  a  perfectly  circular  at  the 
position  of  A1.  Hence  the  same  procedure  is  repeated  at  different  positions like A2, A3, A4 
we can find pot different positions & variations in the pressure reading. 

Advantages 

● The operation is very simple and low price 

● Indicating & measuring is done at two different places 
● The gauging members are direct contact with the work 

Disadvantages 

● These comparators are very sensitive are temperature and humidity. 

● For different job, it requires different gauging heads 
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Applications Of Comparators 
The applications of comparators are following 

● Null detectors 
● Zero-crossing detectors 
● Relaxation oscillator 
● Level shifter 
● Analog-to-digital converters 
● Window detectors 

 
 

Bibliography- 

● https://www.efxkits.us 
● http://www.analogzoo.com