Schmitt Trigger with Controllable Hysteresis Using Current Conveyors

Active elements working in the current or mixed mode are still attractive for the design of analog functional blocks. The current conveyor (CC) was defined already in 1968. This paper deals with hysteresis comparators using second generation current conveyor. The comparator is basically a pulse circuit. In these circuits, the maximum rate of change in the output voltage is required during switching from one state to another. In comparators with operational amplifiers the switching time is given by the slew rate of the operational amplifier used, which is not too high. If a current conveyor is used, the time of switching the comparator gets shorter. The comparator is capable to operate at a higher frequency bands and if it is used, for example, in converters, a higher operating frequency can be reached. The connection of an inverting and a non-inverting comparator with adjustable hysteresis is shown as a practical implementation. Using the AD844, results of experimental measurements are presented that confirm the theoretical assumptions and the results of computer simulation.