Question
What happens when the level of a comparator’s input signal crosses the threshold voltage?
Answer Options
- A) The IC input can be damaged
- B) The comparator changes its output state
- C) The reference level appears at the output
- D) The feedback loop becomes unstable
Correct Answer: B
Explanation
A comparator is fundamentally a one-bit analog-to-digital converter. Its sole purpose is to determine which of its two inputs (the signal or the reference voltage) is higher and translate that comparison into a corresponding digital output state (a logic ‘1’ or a logic ‘0’).
When the level of a comparator’s input signal crosses the predetermined threshold voltage (the reference level), the comparator immediately changes its output state from one binary level (e.g., high) to the other (e.g., low). This rapid transition is the basis of its function in applications like level detection, zero-crossing detection, and converting sine waves into digital square waves.
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