LM2901EP
Low Power Low Offset Voltage Quad Comparators
General Description
The LM2901EP consists of four independent precision volt-
age comparators with an offset voltage specification as low
as 2 mV max for all four comparators. These were designed
specifically to operate from a single power supply over a
wide range of voltages. Operation from split power supplies
is also possible and the low power supply current drain is
independent of the magnitude of the power supply voltage.
This comparator also has a unique characteristic in that the
input common-mode voltage range includes ground, even
though operated from a single power supply voltage.
Application areas include limit comparators, simple analog to
digital converters; pulse, squarewave and time delay gen-
erators; wide range VCO; MOS clock timers; multivibrators
and high voltage digital logic gates. The LM2901EP was
designed to directly interface with TTL and CMOS. When
operated from both plus and minus power supplies, it will
directly interface with MOS logic — where the low power
drain of the LM2901EP is a distinct advantage over standard
comparators.
ENHANCED PLASTIC
•Extended Temperature Performance of −40˚C to +85˚C
•Baseline Control - Single Fab & Assembly Site
•Process Change Notification (PCN)
•Qualification & Reliability Data
•Solder (PbSn) Lead Finish is standard
•Enhanced Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS)
Support
Features
nWide supply voltage range
nLM2901: 2 to 36 V
DC
or ±1to±18 V
DC
nVery low supply current drain (0.8 mA) — independent
of supply voltage
nLow input biasing current: 25 nA
nLow input offset current: ±5nA
nOffset voltage: ±3mV
nInput common-mode voltage range includes GND
nDifferential input voltage range equal to the power
supply voltage
nLow output saturation voltage: 250 mV at 4 mA
nOutput voltage compatible with TTL, DTL, ECL, MOS
and CMOS logic systems
Advantages
nHigh precision comparator
nReduced V
OS
drift over temperature
nEliminates need for dual supplies
nAllows sensing near GND
nCompatible with all forms of logic
nPower drain suitable for battery operation
Applications
nSelected Military Applications
nSelected Avionics Applications
Ordering Information
PART NUMBER VID PART NUMBER NS PACKAGE NUMBER (Note 3)
LM2901MEP V62/04743-01 M14A
(Notes 1, 2) TBD TBD
Note 1: For the following (Enhanced Plastic) version, check for availability: - LM2901MXEP, LM2901NEP. Parts listed with an "X" are provided in Tape
& Reel and parts without an "X" are in Rails.
Note 2: FOR ADDITIONAL ORDERING AND PRODUCT INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT THE ENHANCED PLASTIC WEB SITE AT: www.national.com/
mil
Note 3: Refer to package details under Physical Dimensions
January 2005
LM2901EP Low Power Low Offset Voltage Quad Comparators
© 2005 National Semiconductor Corporation DS201139 www.national.com
One-Shot Multivibrator with Input
Lock Out
20113912
LM2901EP
www.national.com 2
Absolute Maximum Ratings (Note 4)
If Military/Aerospace specified devices are required, please contact the National Semiconductor Sales Office/
Distributors for availability and specifications.
Supply Voltage, V
+
36 V
DC
or ±18 V
DC
Differential Input Voltage (Note 12) 36 V
DC
Input Voltage −0.3 V
DC
to +36 V
DC
Input Current (V
IN
<−0.3 V
DC
),
(Note 7) 50 mA
Power Dissipation (Note 5)
Molded DIP 1050 mW
Small Outline Package 760 mW
Output Short-Circuit to GND,
(Note 6) Continuous
Storage Temperature Range −65˚C to +150˚C
Lead Temperature
(Soldering, 10 seconds) 260˚C
Operating Temperature Range
LM2901 −40˚C to +85˚C
Soldering Information
Dual-In-Line Package
Soldering (10 seconds) 260˚C
Small Outline Package
Vapor Phase (60 seconds) 215˚C
Infrared (15 seconds) 220˚C
ESD rating (1.5 kΩin series with 100 pF) 600V
Electrical Characteristics (Note 14)
(V
+
=5V
DC
,T
A
= 25˚C, unless otherwise stated)
Parameter Conditions LM2901 Units
Min Typ Max
Input Offset Voltage (Note 13) 2.0 7.0 mV
DC
Input Bias Current I
IN(+)
or I
IN(−)
with Output in 25 250 nA
DC
Linear Range, (Note 9), V
CM
=0V
Input Offset Current I
IN(+)
−I
IN(−)
,V
CM
= 0V 5 50 nA
DC
Input Common-Mode V
+
=30V
DC
0V
+
−1.5 V
DC
Voltage Range (Note 10)
Supply Current R
L
=∞on all Comparators, 0.8 2.0 mA
DC
R
L
=∞,V
+
= 36V, 1.0 2.5 mA
DC
Voltage Gain R
L
≥15 kΩ,V
+
=15V
DC
25 100 V/mV
V
O
=1V
DC
to 11 V
DC
Large Signal V
IN
= TTL Logic Swing, V
REF
= 300 ns
Response Time 1.4 V
DC
,V
RL
=5V
DC
,
R
L
= 5.1 kΩ,
Response Time V
RL
=5V
DC
,R
L
= 5.1 kΩ, 1.3 µs
(Note 11)
Output Sink Current V
IN(−)
=1V
DC
,V
IN(+)
= 0, 6.0 16 mA
DC
V
O
≤1.5 V
DC
Saturation Voltage V
IN(−)
=1V
DC
,V
IN(+)
= 0, 250 400 mV
DC
I
SINK
≤4mA
Output Leakage V
IN(+)
=1V
DC
,V
IN(−)
= 0, 0.1 nA
DC
Current V
O
=5V
DC
LM2901EP
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Electrical Characteristics (Note 14)
(V
+
= 5.0 V
DC
) (Note 8)
Parameter Conditions LM2901 Units
Min Typ Max
Input Offset Voltage (Note 13) 9 15 mV
DC
Input Offset Current I
IN(+)
−I
IN(−)
,V
CM
= 0V 50 200 nA
DC
Input Bias Current I
IN(+)
or I
IN(−)
with Output in 200 500 nA
DC
Linear Range, V
CM
= 0V (Note 9)
Input Common-Mode V
+
=30V
DC
0V
+
−2.0 V
DC
Voltage Range (Note 10)
Saturation Voltage V
IN(−)
=1V
DC
,V
IN(+)
= 0, 400 700 mV
DC
I
SINK
≤4mA
Output Leakage Current V
IN(+) =
1V
DC
,V
IN(−)
= 0, 1.0 µA
DC
V
O
=30V
DC
Differential Input Voltage Keep all V
IN
’s ≥0V
DC
(or V
−
,36V
DC
if used), (Note 12)
Note 4: Absolute Maximum Ratings indicate limits beyond which damage to the device may occur.
Note 5: For operating at high temperatures, the LM2901EP must be derated based on a 125˚C maximum junction temperature and a thermal resistance of 95˚C/W
which applies for the device soldered in a printed circuit board, operating in a still air ambient. The low bias dissipation and the “ON-OFF” characteristic of the outputs
keeps the chip dissipation very small (PD≤100 mW), provided the output transistors are allowed to saturate.
Note 6: Short circuits from the output to V+can cause excessive heating and eventual destruction. When considering short circuits to ground, the maximum output
current is approximately 20 mA independent of the magnitude of V+.
Note 7: This input current will only exist when the voltage at any of the input leads is driven negative. It is due to the collector-base junction of the input PNP
transistors becoming forward biased and thereby acting as input diode clamps. In addition to this diode action, there is also lateral NPN parasitic transistor action
on the IC chip. This transistor action can cause the output voltages of the comparators to go to the V+voltage level (or to ground for a large overdrive) for the time
duration that an input is driven negative. This is not destructive and normal output states will re-establish when the input voltage, which was negative, again returns
to a value greater than −0.3 VDC (at 25˚)C.
Note 8: These specifications are limited to −40˚C ≤TA≤+85˚C, for the LM2901EP.
Note 9: The direction of the input current is out of the IC due to the PNP input stage. This current is essentially constant, independent of the state of the outputso
no loading change exists on the reference or input lines.
Note 10: The input common-mode voltage or either input signal voltage should not be allowed to go negative by more than 0.3V. The upper end of the
common-mode voltage range is V+−1.5V at 25˚C, but either or both inputs can go to +30 VDC without damage independent of the magnitude of V+.
Note 11: The response time specified is a 100 mV input step with 5 mV overdrive. For larger overdrive signals 300 ns can be obtained, see typical performance
characteristics section.
Note 12: Positive excursions of input voltage may exceed the power supply level. As long as the other voltage remains within the common-mode range, the
comparator will provide a proper output state. The low input voltage state must not be less than −0.3 VDC (or 0.3 VDCbelow the magnitude of the negative power
supply, if used) (at 25˚C).
Note 13: At output switch point, VO.1.4 VDC,R
S=0Ωwith V+from 5 VDC to 30 VDC; and over the full input common-mode range (0 VDC to V+−1.5 VDC), at 25˚C.
Note 14: "Testing and other quality control techniques are used to the extent deemed necessary to ensure product performance over the specified temperature
range. Product may not necessarily be tested across the full temperature range and all parameters may not necessarily be tested. In the absence of specific
PARAMETRIC testing, product performance is assured by characterization and/or design."
Note 15: The LM139 within this data sheet’s graphics is referenced because of it’s a similarity to the LM2901, however is not offered in this data sheet.
LM2901EP
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Typical Performance Characteristics
Supply Current Input Current
20113939 20113940
Output Saturation Voltage
Response Time for Various Input Overdrives
— Negative Transition
20113941 20113942
Response Time for Various Input Overdrives
— Positive Transition
20113943
LM2901EP
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Application Hints
The LM2901EP is a high gain, wide bandwidth device which,
like most comparators, can easily oscillate if the output lead
is inadvertently allowed to capacitively couple to the inputs
via stray capacitance. This shows up only during the output
voltage transition intervals as the comparator changes
states. Power supply bypassing is not required to solve this
problem. Standard PC board layout is helpful as it reduces
stray input-output coupling. Reducing this input resistors to
<10 kΩreduces the feedback signal levels and finally,
adding even a small amount (1 to 10 mV) of positive feed-
back (hysteresis) causes such a rapid transition that oscilla-
tions due to stray feedback are not possible. Simply socket-
ing the IC and attaching resistors to the pins will cause
input-output oscillations during the small transition intervals
unless hysteresis is used. If the input signal is a pulse
waveform, with relatively fast rise and fall times, hysteresis is
not required.
All pins of any unused comparators should be tied to the
negative supply.
The bias network of the LM2901EP series establishes a
drain current which is independent of the magnitude of the
power supply voltage over the range of from 2 V
DC
to 30
V
DC
.
It is usually unnecessary to use a bypass capacitor across
the power supply line.
The differential input voltage may be larger than V
+
without
damaging the device. Protection should be provided to pre-
vent the input voltages from going negative more than −0.3
V
DC
(at 25˚C). An input clamp diode can be used as shown
in the applications section.
The output of the LM2901EP is the uncommitted collector of
a grounded-emitter NPN output transistor. Many collectors
can be tied together to provide an output OR’ing function. An
output pull-up resistor can be connected to any available
power supply voltage within the permitted supply voltage
range and there is no restriction on this voltage due to the
magnitude of the voltage which is applied to the V
+
terminal
of the LM2901EP package. The output can also be used as
a simple SPST switch to ground (when a pull-up resistor is
not used). The amount of current which the output device
can sink is limited by the drive available (which is indepen-
dent of V
+
) and the βof this device. When the maximum
current limit is reached (approximately 16 mA), the output
transistor will come out of saturation and the output voltage
will rise very rapidly. The output saturation voltage is limited
by the approximately 60ΩR
SAT
of the output transistor. The
low offset voltage of the output transistor (1 mV) allows the
output to clamp essentially to ground level for small load
currents.
Typical Applications (V
+
= 5.0 V
DC
) (Note 15)
Basic Comparator Driving CMOS Driving TTL
20113903
20113904
20113905
AND Gate
20113908
OR Gate
20113909
LM2901EP
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Typical Applications (V
+
=15V
DC
) (Note 15) (Continued)
Squarewave Oscillator Basic Comparator
20113916
20113921
Limit Comparator
20113924
Comparing Input Voltages
of Opposite Polarity
20113920
Output Strobing
20113922
* Or open-collector logic gate without pull-up resistor
Crystal Controlled Oscillator
20113925
LM2901EP
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Split-Supply Applications (V
+
= +15 V
DC
and V
−
= −15 V
DC
) (Continued)
Zero Crossing Detector Comparator With a Negative Reference
20113932 20113933
Schematic Diagram
20113901
LM2901EP
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Connection Diagrams
Dual-In-Line Package
20113902
See NS Package Number M14A and N14A
LM2901EP
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Physical Dimensions inches (millimeters)
unless otherwise noted
S.O. Package (M)
NS Package Number M14A
Molded Dual-In-Line Package (N)
NS Package Number N14A
LM2901EP
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Notes
National does not assume any responsibility for use of any circuitry described, no circuit patent licenses are implied and National reserves
the right at any time without notice to change said circuitry and specifications.
For the most current product information visit us at www.national.com.
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LM2901EP Low Power Low Offset Voltage Quad Comparators
