Schmitt Trigger

In electronics, a Schmitt trigger is a comparator circuit with hysteresis,

implemented by applying positive feedback to the noninverting input of a
comparator or differential amplifier. It is an active circuit which converts an
analog input signal to a digital output signal. The circuit is named a "trigger"
because the output retains its value until the input changes sufficiently to
trigger a change. In the non-inverting configuration, when the input is higher
than a certain chosen threshold, the output is high. When the input is below a
different (lower) chosen threshold, the output is low, and when the input is
between the two levels, the output retains its value. This dual threshold action
is
called hysteresis and
implies
that
the
Schmitt
trigger
possesses memory and can act as a bi- stable circuit (latch or flip-flop). There
is a close relation between the two kinds of circuits: a Schmitt trigger can be
.converted into a latch and a latch can be converted into a Schmitt trigger
Schmitt trigger devices are typically used in signal conditioning applications to
remove noise from signals used in digital circuits, particularly
mechanical switch bounce. They are also used in closed loop negative
feedback configurations to implement relaxation oscillators, used in function
.generators and switching power supplies

Implementation

Fundamental idea

Block diagram of a Schmitt trigger circuit. It is a system with positive

feedback in which the output signal fed back into the input causes the
amplifier A to switch rapidly from one saturated state to the other when
the
input
crosses
a
threshold.
:A > 1 is the amplifier gain :B < 1 is the feedback transfer function .

Circuits with hysteresis are based on the fundamental positive feedback

idea: any active circuit can be made to behave as a Schmitt trigger by
.applying a positive feedback so that the loop gain is more than one
The positive feedback is introduced by adding a part of the output voltage to
the input voltage; so, these circuits contain an attenuator (the B box in the
figure on the right) and a summer (the circle with "+" inside) in addition to an
amplifier acting as a comparator. There are three specific techniques for
implementing this general idea. The first two of them are dual versions (series
and parallel) of the general positive feedback system. In these configurations,
the output voltage increases the effective difference input voltage of the
comparator by decreasing the threshold or by increasing the circuit input
voltage; the threshold and memory properties are incorporated in one
element. In the third technique, the threshold and memory properties are
.separated

Dynamic threshold (series feedback): when the input voltage crosses the
threshold in some direction the very circuit changes its own threshold to the
opposite direction. For this purpose, it subtracts a part of its output voltage
from the threshold (it is equal to adding voltage to the input voltage). Thus the
output affects the threshold and does not impact on the input voltage. These
circuits are implemented by a differential amplifier with series positive
feedback where the input is connected to the inverting input and the output to the non-inverting input. In this arrangement, attenuation and summation are
separated: a voltage divider acts as an attenuator and the loop acts as a
simple series voltage summer. Examples: the classic transistor emitter.coupled Schmitt trigger, op-amp inverting Schmitt trigger, etc

Modified input voltage (parallel feedback): when the input voltage crosses
the threshold in some direction the circuit changes the very input voltage in
the same direction (now it adds a part of its output voltage directly to the input
voltage). Thus the output "helps" the input voltage and does not affect the
threshold. These circuits can be implemented by a single-ended non-inverting
amplifier with parallel positive feedback where the input and the output
sources are connected through resistors to the input. The two resistors form a
weighted parallel summer incorporating both the attenuation and summation.
Examples: the less familiar collector-base coupled Schmitt trigger, op-amp
.non-inverting Schmitt trigger, etc

Two different unidirectional thresholds are assigned in this case to two

separate open-loop comparators (without hysteresis) driving an RS trigger (2input memory cell). The trigger is toggled high when the input voltage crosses
down to up the high threshold and low when the input voltage crosses up to
down the low threshold. Again, there is a positive feedback but now it is
concentrated only in the memory cell. Examples: 555 timer, switch debounce
.circuit

Transistor Schmitt triggers

A symbol of Schmitt trigger shown with a non-inverting hysteresis curve

embedded in a buffer. Schmitt triggers can also be shown with inverting
hysteresis curves and may be followed by bubbles. The documentation for the
particular Schmitt trigger being used must be consulted to determine whether
the device is non-inverting (i.e., where positive output transitions are caused
by positive-going inputs) or inverting (i.e., where positive output transitions are
caused by negative-going inputs).

Classic emitter-coupled circuit

The original Schmitt trigger is based on the dynamic threshold idea that is
implemented by a voltage divider with a switchable upper leg (the collector
resistors RC1 and RC2) and a steady lower leg (RE). Q1 acts as
a comparator with a differential input (Q1 base-emitter junction) consisting of
an inverting (Q1 base) and a non-inverting (Q1 emitter) inputs. The input
voltage is applied to the inverting input; the output voltage of the voltage
divider is applied to the non-inverting input thus determining its threshold. The
comparator output drives the secondcommon collector stage Q2 (an emitter
follower) through the voltage divider R 1-R2. The emitter-coupled transistors Q1
and Q2 actually compose an electronic double throw switch that switches over

the upper legs of the voltage divider and changes the threshold in a different
.(to the input voltage) direction

This configuration can be considered as a differential amplifier with series

positive feedback between its non-inverting input (Q2 base) and output (Q1
collector) that forces the transition process. There is also a smaller negative
feedback introduced by the emitter resistor R E. To make the positive feedback
dominate over the negative one and to obtain a hysteresis, the proportion
between the two collector resistors is chosen R C1 > RC2. Thus less current
flows through and less voltage drop is across R E when Q1 is switched on than
in the case when Q2 is switched on. As a result, the circuit has two different
.thresholds in regard to ground (V- in the picture)

Operation

Initial state. For NPN transistors as shown, imagine the input voltage is below
the shared emitter voltage (high threshold for concreteness) so that Q1 baseemitter junction is backward-biased and Q1 does not conduct. Q2 base
voltage is determined by the mentioned divider so that Q2 is conducting and
the trigger output is in the low state. The two resistors R C2 and RE form
another voltage divider that determines the high threshold. Neglecting V BE, the
.high threshold value is approximately

The output voltage is low but well above the ground. It is approximately equal
to the high threshold and may not be low enough to be a logical zero for next
digital circuits. This may require additional shifting circuit following the trigger
.circuit

Crossing up the high threshold. When the input voltage (Q1 base voltage)
rises slightly above the voltage across the emitter resistor R E (the high
threshold), Q1 begins conducting. Its collector voltage goes down and Q2
begins going cut-off, because the voltage divider now provides lower Q2 base
voltage. The common emitter voltage follows this change and goes down thus
making Q1 conduct more. The current begins steering from the right leg of the
circuit to the left one. Although Q1 is more conducting, it passes less current
through RE (since RC1 > RC2); the emitter voltage continues dropping and the
effective Q1 base-emitter voltage continuously increases. This avalanche-like
process continues until Q1 becomes completely turned on (saturated) and Q2
turned off. The trigger is transitioned to the high state and the output (Q2
collector) voltage is close to V+. Now, the two resistors R C1 and RE form a
.voltage divider that determines the low threshold. Its value is approximately

Crossing down the low threshold. With the trigger now in the high state, if the
input voltage lowers enough (below the low threshold), Q1 begins cutting-off.
Its collector current reduces; as a result, the shared emitter voltage lowers
slightly and Q1 collector voltage rises significantly. R 1-R2 voltage divider
conveys this change to Q2 base voltage and it begins conducting. The voltage
across RE rises, further reducing the Q1 base-emitter potential in the same
avalanche-like manner, and Q1 ceases to conduct. Q2 becomes completely
.turned on (saturated) and the output voltage becomes low again

Op-amp implementations

BJT bistable collector-base coupled circuit can be converted to a Schmitt

trigger by connecting an additional base resistor to one of the bases
Schmitt triggers are commonly implemented using an operational amplifier or
the more dedicated comparator. An open-loop op-amp and comparator may
be considered as an analog-digital device having analog inputs and a digital
output that extracts the sign of the voltage difference between its two
inputs. The positive feedback is applied by adding a part of the output voltage
to the input voltage in series orparallel manner. Due to the extremely high opamp gain, the loop gain is also high enough and provides the avalanche-like
.process
Non-inverting Schmitt trigger

In this circuit, the two resistors R1 and R2 form a parallel voltage summer. It
adds a part of the output voltage to the input voltage thus "helping" it during
and after switching that occurs when the resulting voltage is near the ground.
This parallel positive feedback creates the needed hysteresis that is controlled
by the proportion between the resistances of R1 and R2. The output of the
parallel voltage summer is single-ended (it produces voltage in respect to
ground); so, the circuit does not need an amplifier with a differential input.
Since conventional op-amps have a differential input, the inverting input is
.grounded to make the reference point zero volts

The output voltage always has the same sign as the op-amp input voltage but
it does not always have the same sign as thecircuit input voltage (the signs of
the two input voltages can differ). When the circuit input voltage is above the
high threshold or below the low threshold, the output voltage has the same

sign as the circuit input voltage (the circuit is non-inverting). It acts like a
comparator that switches at a different point depending on whether the output
of the comparator is high or low. When the circuit input voltage is between the
thresholds, the output voltage is undefined; it depends on the last state (the
.circuit behaves as an elementary latch)

For instance, if the Schmitt trigger is currently in the high state, the output will
be at the positive power supply rail (+VS). The output voltage V+ of the
:resistive summer can be found by applying the superposition theorem

The comparator will switch when V +=0. Then

(the same
result can be obtained by applying the current conservation principle). So
must drop below

to get the output to switch. Once the comparator

output has switched to VS, the threshold becomes

to switch back to
high. So this circuit creates a switching band centered on zero, with trigger
levels
(it can be shifted to the left or the right by applying a bias
voltage to the inverting input). The input voltage must rise above the top of the
band, and then below the bottom of the band, for the output to switch on
(plus) and then back off (minus). If R1 is zero or R2 is infinity (i.e., an open
circuit), the band collapses to zero width, and it behaves as a standard
comparator. The transfer characteristic is shown in the picture on the right.
The value of the threshold T is given by

and the maximum value of the

.output M is the power supply rail

A unique property of circuits with parallel positive feedback is the impact on

the input source In circuits with negative parallel feedback (e.g., an inverting
amplifier), the virtual ground at the inverting input separates the input source
from the op-amp output. Here there is no virtual ground, and the steady opamp output voltage is applied through R 1 - R2 network to the input source. The
op-amp output passes an opposite current through the input source (it injects

current into the source when the input voltage is positive and it draws current
.from the source when it is negative)
A practical Schmitt trigger with precise thresholds is shown in the figure on the
right. The transfer characteristic has exactly the same shape of the previous
basic configuration, and the threshold values are the same as well. On the
other hand, in the previous case, the output voltage was depending on the
power supply, while now it is defined by the Zener diodes (which could also be
replaced with a single double-anode Zener diode). In this configuration, the
output levels can be modified by appropriate choice of Zener diode, and these
levels are resistant to power supply fluctuations (i.e., they increase
the PSRR of the comparator). The resistor R3 is there to limit the current
through the diodes, and the resistor R4 minimizes the input voltage offset
caused by the comparator's input leakage currents (seeLimitations of real op.amps)

Inverting Schmitt trigger

In the inverting version, the attenuation and summation are separated. The
two resistors R1 and R2 act only as a "pure" attenuator (voltage divider). The

input loop acts as a simple series voltage summer that adds a part of the
output voltage in series to the circuit input voltage. This series positive
feedback creates the needed hysteresis that is controlled by the proportion
between the resistances of R1 and the whole resistance (R 1 and R2). The
effective voltage applied to the op-amp input is floating; so, the op-amp must
.have a differential input
The circuit is named inverting since the output voltage always has an opposite
sign to the input voltage when it is out of the hysteresis cycle (when the input
voltage is above the high threshold or below the low threshold). However, if
the input voltage is within the hysteresis cycle (between the high and low
thresholds), the circuit can be inverting as well as non-inverting. The output
voltage is undefined; it depends on the last state and the circuit behaves as
.an elementary latch

To compare the two versions, the circuit operation will be considered at the
same conditions as above. If the Schmitt trigger is currently in the high state,
the output will be at the positive power supply rail (+V S). The output voltage
V+ of the voltage divider is:

The comparator will switch when V in = V+. So

must exceed above this
voltage to get the output to switch. Once the comparator output has
switched to VS, the threshold becomes
to switch back to
high. So this circuit creates a switching band centered on zero, with trigger
levels
(it can be shifted to the left or the right by connecting
R1 to bias voltage). The input voltage must rise above the top of the band,
and then below the bottom of the band, for the output to switch off (minus)
and then back on (plus). If R1 is zero (i.e., an short circuit) or R2 is infinity,
the band collapses to zero width, and it behaves as a standard
comparator.
In contrast with the parallel version, this circuit does not impact on the
input source since the source is separated from the voltage divider output
by the high op-amp input differential impedance.

Applications
Use as an oscillator

A comparator-based implementation of a relaxation oscillator

A Schmitt trigger is a bistable multivibrator, and it can be used to implement
another type of multivibrator, the relaxation oscillator. This is achieved by
connecting a single RC integrating circuit between the output and the input of
an inverting Schmitt trigger. The output will be a continuous square
wave whose frequencydepends on the values of R and C, and the threshold
points of the Schmitt trigger. Since multiple Schmitt trigger circuits can be
provided by a single integrated circuit (e.g. the 4000 seriesCMOS device type
40106 contains 6 of them), a spare section of the IC can be quickly pressed
into service as a simple and reliable oscillator with only two external
.components

Here, a comparator-based Schmitt trigger is used in its inverting configuration.

Additionally, slow negative feedback is added with an integrating RC network.
The result, which is shown on the right, is that the output automatically
oscillates from VSS to VDD as the capacitor charges from one Schmitt trigger
.threshold to the other

Output and capacitor waveforms for comparator-based relaxation oscillator

Noise immunity

One application of a Schmitt trigger is to increase the noise immunity in a

circuit with only a single input threshold. With only one input threshold,
a noisy input signal [nb 4] near that threshold could cause the output to switch
rapidly back and forth from noise alone. A noisy Schmitt Trigger input signal
near one threshold can cause only one switch in output value, after which it
would have to move beyond the other threshold in order to cause another
.switch
For example, an amplified infrared photodiode may generate an electric signal
that switches frequently between its absolute lowest value and its absolute
highest value. This signal is then low-pass filtered to form a smooth signal that
rises and falls corresponding to the relative amount of time the switching
signal is on and off. That filtered output passes to the input of a Schmitt
trigger. The net effect is that the output of the Schmitt trigger only passes from
low to high after a received infrared signal excites the photodiode for longer
than some known delay, and once the Schmitt trigger is high, it only moves
low after the infrared signal ceases to excite the photodiode for longer than a
similar known delay. Whereas the photodiode is prone to spurious switching
due to noise from the environment, the delay added by the filter and Schmitt
trigger ensures that the output only switches when there is certainly an input
.stimulating the device
Schmitt triggers are common in many switching circuits for similar reasons
.(e.g., for switch debouncing)

Name : Mohammad Refaat Azmy

Sec