A Schmitt trigger with hysteresis, commonly known as a Schmitt trigger or simply a hysteresis comparator, is an electronic circuit that converts an analog input signal into a digital output signal. The key feature of the Schmitt trigger is its ability to provide noise immunity and signal stabilization through hysteresis.
Hysteresis is a concept that describes a state in which the output of a system depends not only on its current input but also on its past inputs. In the case of a Schmitt trigger, hysteresis is employed by using two different threshold levels: one for the rising edge (upper threshold) and another for the falling edge (lower threshold). The difference between these two threshold levels is known as the hysteresis voltage (Vhys).
Here's how it works:
Input Signal: The Schmitt trigger takes an analog input signal, typically a voltage level, which can vary over time.
Threshold Levels: The Schmitt trigger has two threshold voltage levels - one higher and one lower. Let's call the upper threshold Vup and the lower threshold Vdown.
Output States: The Schmitt trigger has two output states - high and low, or sometimes referred to as "1" and "0", respectively.
Comparing the Input: When the input voltage rises above the upper threshold (Vup), the output of the Schmitt trigger switches from low to high. Once the output becomes high, the input voltage needs to fall below the lower threshold (Vdown) for the output to switch back to low.
Hysteresis: This is where the hysteresis effect comes into play. The difference between the upper threshold (Vup) and lower threshold (Vdown) is the hysteresis voltage (Vhys). This hysteresis voltage helps provide noise immunity and prevents rapid fluctuations of the output caused by small changes in the input signal near the thresholds. It effectively introduces a dead zone where the input must cross to change the output state.
The hysteresis effect ensures that the output remains stable and immune to small noise or rapid variations around the threshold levels, making the Schmitt trigger ideal for various applications like debouncing mechanical switches, level shifting, and creating square waves from analog signals.
In summary, a Schmitt trigger with hysteresis is an electronic circuit that converts analog signals to digital outputs while providing noise immunity and stability through the use of two threshold voltage levels and hysteresis.