Maxim Integrated Products

Analog comparators are always in the shadow of their more popular cousin, the ubiquitous op amp. Designers can draw on a wealth of application notes for op amps, but not so for comparators. One consequence of that scarcity is that customers call the Maxim applications line for help when adding comparator hysteresis. This note explains how to add hysteresis to some common comparator circuits, providing increased noise immunity and stability.