Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Department of Radio Electronics

Brno University of Technology

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Pulse and Digital Techniques
Lecture 3

dr. Tomas Fryza

March 2013

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Contents

1 Voltage comparators

2 Flip-Flops

Bistable flip-flops
Monostable flip-flops
Astable flip-flops

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Voltage comparators

Contents

1 Voltage comparators

2 Flip-Flops

Bistable flip-flops
Monostable flip-flops
Astable flip-flops

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Voltage comparators

Comparators

Definition
Voltage comparators are circuits which compare the input voltage with a certain
reference value and, according to the result, give a switched or opened signal on
the output.
The input voltage of a comparator can change continuously, the output value
changes in step (a choice of two values) at the input voltage transition through
the reference value (decision level). Thus the comparator represents an interface
between the analogue and digital part of the system.
The comparators can be divided into two groups:
comparators with an asymmetric input circuit (with one input) such comparator
compares the input voltage with voltage created inside the comparator,
comparators with a symmetric input circuit (differential) compare two input voltages.

The basis of a comparator is an amplifier with a high amplification, so that

a part of its characteristics, where it works as an active element, is narrow enough
for its width to be neglected.

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Voltage comparators

Comparator one step amplifier

Unlike the pulse signal amplifiers, whose dominant working area is the active area,
where the input signal is amplified, dominant working area for amplifiers used in
comparators is saturation or blocking area of the active element, where the
output voltage of the comparator does not change at small changes of the input
voltage.

Figure: Comparator as transistor amplifier (switch) and transfer characteristic.

The simplest comparator can be a plain transistor amplifier (switch).

Decision level is given by the threshold value of the base-emitter junction,
U = 0.65 V.
Amplification about ten to hundred corresponds with a considerable width of
the active area. Temperature dependence of voltage on B-E junction.

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Voltage comparators

Comparator two step amplifier

Figure: Comparator two step amplifier.

Bigger amplification hundred to thousand.

Still temperature dependence of voltage on first transistor B-E junction
solution: differential inputs.
Due to parasitic parameters the circuit can oscillate solution: positive feedback
with a resistor Rv .
Hysteresis in transfer characteristic.
The comparators with discrete transistors are used only in the simplest cases.
Even though it would be possible to use this method for creating a more
sophisticated connection, for this purpose are nowadays used almost entirely
integrated amplifiers.

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Voltage comparators

Comparators with Integrated Amplifiers

Temperature dependence of decision levels is significantly reduced with the use of
differential amplifier input, where the base emitter voltage changes of both
input transistors are mutually compensated.

Figure: Simplified internal structure of the comparator LM 311.

Input differential stage, differential amplifier (converting signal into asymmetric

form), output stage (transistor with open collector and emitter).
Operating range (LM311) of input voltage from UCC + 0.5 V to UCC + 1.5 V
if the UCC = 0 V, the zero level is out of range.

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Voltage comparators

Comparators with one decision level

Figure: Typical connection of comparator LM311 non-inverting (and transfer characteristic).

Figure: Typical connection of comparator LM311 inverting.

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Voltage comparators

Comparators with one decision level (shifted)

Figure: Inverting connection of comparator LM311 with shifted decision level.

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Voltage comparators

Comparators with two decision levels

Figure: Inverting connection of comparator LM311 with hysteresis.

Inverting character, feedback (Rv ), reference voltage divider, decision levels:

U1HL =
U1LH =

R2
R2 +...
R2 ||Rv
R2 ||...

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Voltage comparators

Comparators with two decision levels

Figure: Part of LM311 data sheet.

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Voltage comparators

Other types of comparators

The pair of comparators whose output voltages are as logical quantities being
processed in a logical AND circuit creates a window comparator.
High level voltage at the output of a AND circuit input voltage is in the range from
Ur 1 to Ur 2 .

Precision comparator with hysteresis:

The output signals from the pair of comparators are being processed by the RS flip-flop
(presented later).
Comparator does not invert and the decision levels are given by reference voltages Ur 1
and Ur 2 .

Figure: Precision comparator with hysteresis.

A precision comparator with hysteresis is manufactured in integrated version

called timer labelled as 555. In the connection according to it can be used as
a comparator with a relatively well defined input voltage thresholds.
(Timer 555 is designed especially for applications with lower frequencies, as
a square signal generator it can operate up to frequencies in order of hundreds of
kHz. A circuit of a similar type faster by one or two orders is NE 521.)

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Flip-Flops

Contents

1 Voltage comparators

2 Flip-Flops

Bistable flip-flops
Monostable flip-flops
Astable flip-flops

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Flip-Flops

Types of flip-flops
Flip-flops are circuits that can be found in two stable balanced states circuit
values (voltages, currents) do not change.
Stable either permanently (change only due to an external pulse) or temporarily
(after a certain time change into other state spontaneously).
The circuit state when the voltages are changing is called non-stable.
Flip-flops can be divided into the following groups, according to the character of
the stable balanced states:
bistable both states are permanently stable,
monostable (often called one-shots) one of the states is permanently stable, the other
one is stable only temporarily,
astable both states are temporarily stable.

The basis for the flip-flops is an amplifier with a positive feedback (pair of simple
transistor amplifying stages, one amplifying stage and a transformer for creating
the positive feedback, etc.).
In digital technique pair of inverters or logical elements with similar behaviour
are often used.
In practice, flip-flops made of discrete transistors are rarely used today.
Being constructed on the basis of different types of integrated circuits, such as timer
555 (integrated circuit most commonly used for this purpose).

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Flip-Flops
Bistable flip-flops

Bistable flip-flops

Figure: Construction of bistable flip-flop from two transistor amplifying stages.

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Flip-Flops
Bistable flip-flops

Bistable flip-flop with driving transistors

Figure: Bistable flip-flop with driving transistors (setting, resetting inputs).

There is a traditional circuit connection with transistor amplifying stages T1 , T2 ,

to which the driving transistors Ta1 , Ta2 are connected. The circuit has two
outputs main one uq , complementary one uq and two driving inputs setting
and resetting.
If us > 0.65 Ta1 is switched (saturating region), T2 blocked (cut-off
operating region), T1 switched, Ta2 blocked, uq UCC .

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Flip-Flops
Bistable flip-flops

Bistable flip-flop logical symbol

Figure: Bistable flip-flop with driving transistors (setting, resetting inputs).

From the point of view of the logical meaning, both transistors of each half of the
circuit (an amplifier and a corresponding driving transistor) represent inverters
and their interconnected collectors represent a circuit for realization of a logical
product AND could be replaced by NOR circuits.

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Flip-Flops
Bistable flip-flops

Bistable flip-flop logical symbol

Figure: Bistable flip-flop from NOR circuits.

Table: Functional table for bistable FF.

State description

0
0
1
1

0
1
0
1

q
0
1
0

q
1
0
0

Remember state.
Resetting state.
Setting state.
Outputs are not complementary.

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Flip-Flops
Monostable flip-flops

Monostable flip-flops

Figure: Connection of monostable flip-flop (so called one-shot) with driving transistor.

In bistable flip-flops, the positive feedback loop transfers always the DC signal
component. If we use a network transferring only the AC component in this loop,
we obtain either a monostable or an astable flip-flop. If we connect
a differentiating RC network between the collector of the transistor T1 and the
base of the transistor T2 we receive a classical connection of a transistor
monostable flip-flop.
Activation of this circuit can be organized as for a bistable circuit with transistor
Ta1 .

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Flip-Flops
Monostable flip-flops

Operating of monostable flip-flops

It is obvious that in the quiescent state the

current from the supply voltage is running
through the resistor RB2 into the base of
the transistor T2 , therefore this transistor
in the quiescent state is switched and the
transistor T1 is blocked.
Time of switched/saturated transistor T2 :
ti = RB2 C ln 2
Recovery time.
Figure: Voltage waveforms in monostable
flip-flop.

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Flip-Flops
Astable flip-flops

Astable flip-flops

Figure: Connection of astable flip-flop.

An astable flip-flop is created from a bistable flip-flop by substituting both DC

couplings between transistor collectors and bases by couplings that do not
transfer the DC component, i.e. by CR networks.
Pulse time on collectors of both transistors Tj : tij = RBj Cj ln 2, where j = 1, 2.
If circuit is symmetrical, output signal frequency is: f =
RB = RB1 = RB2 and C = C1 = C2 .

1
,
2RB C ln 2

for

Voltage Comparators, Flip-Flops

Flip-Flops
Astable flip-flops

Operating of monostable flip-flops

Figure: Voltage waveforms in monostable flip-flop.

Astable flip-flops are used for square signal generating, again mainly in an
integrated version.