10.1 Layout Guidelines

Comparators are very sensitive to input noise. For best results, adhere to the following layout guidelines.

1. Use a printed-circuit-board (PCB) with a good, unbroken, low-inductance ground plane. Proper grounding (use of a ground plane) helps maintain specified device performance.
2. To minimize supply noise, place a decoupling capacitor (0.1-μF ceramic, surface-mount capacitor) as close as possible to V_CC.
3. On the inputs and the output, keep lead lengths as short as possible to avoid unwanted parasitic feedback around the comparator. Keep inputs away from the output.
4. Solder the device directly to the PCB rather than using a socket.
5. For slow-moving input signals, take care to prevent parasitic feedback. A small capacitor (1000 pF or less) placed between the inputs can help eliminate oscillations in the transition region. This capacitor causes some degradation to propagation delay when impedance is low. The topside ground plane runs between the output and inputs.
6. The ground pin ground trace runs under the device up to the bypass capacitor, shielding the inputs from the outputs.

10.2 Layout Example

Figure 35. TLV3691 Layout Example