We'll begin this week with a discussion on Precision Comparators:
Op-Amp Comparators from www.electronics-tutorials.ws
.
This is a great video on Comparator Applications from Texas Instruments (17:29 WATCH this video).
Before we discuss the Precision Comparators, we need to spend a few minutes introducing Open Collector Outputs, in this case, from EvilMadScientist.com
Comparators: LM-339 Data Sheet or here as a pdf:
The LM339 Comparator & LM34 Temperature Sensor Lab is posted here. The website that inspired the LM339 & LM34 Comparator lab is: ermicroblog. There are some typos on the schematics and their description of the circuit operation is misleading, which will be pointed out in class and when we build these circuits in lab. Actually, aside from the circuits, this site isn't so great. LOL
A video comparator summary from bristolwatch.com (21:38). This is a good video which you should watch. The content is mostly good, but it is a bit annoying that he doesn't pronounce "comparator" properly!
This week we'll finish the discussion on Op-Amps from Week #9 and then begin to investigate Differential Amplifiers and Instrumentation Amplifiers, including the lab exercise found here.
The Op-Amp Difference Amplifier.
Differential and Instrumentation Amplifiers from Electronics-Tutorials.
The Instrumentation Amplifier
For repetition, here is the homework assignment on Gain Calculations.
These are two Excel files to help with calculations and a demonstration of Differential Amplifier operation.
This file will perform the calculations for Differential Mode, Common Mode and CMRR for the Differential Amplifier Circuit built in lab.
A bit about SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio).
This file will show how the Differential Amplifier can be used to extract and amplify a low level signal out a field of noise, attenuating the noise.