The TPS3711 combines a comparator with a precision reference voltage. The comparator has one external input and one internal input connected to the internal reference. The falling threshold on SENSE is designed and trimmed to be equal to the reference voltage (400 mV). This configuration optimizes the device accuracy. The comparator also has built-in hysteresis that proves immunity to noise and ensures stable operation.

The comparator input swings from ground to 6.5 V (7.0 V absolute maximum), regardless of the device supply voltage used. Although not required in most cases, it is good analog design practice to place a 1-nF to 10-nF bypass capacitor at the comparator input for noisy applications in order to reduce sensitivity to transient voltage changes on the monitored signal.

For the comparator, the output (OUT) is driven to logic low when the input SENSE voltage drops below V_IT–. When the voltage exceeds V_IT+, OUT goes to a high-impedance state; see Figure 5-1.