COMPARATOR APPLICATIONOver-Temperature Sensing Circuit Figure 13–15 shows an op-amp comparator used in a precision over-temperature sensing circuit to determine when the temperature reaches a certain critical value.
The circuit consists of a Wheatstone bridge with the op-amp used to detect when the bridge is balanced.
One leg of the bridge contains a thermistor (R1), which is a temperature-sensing resistor with a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) (its resistance decreases as temperature increases).
The potentiometer (R2) is set at a value equal to the resistance of the thermistor at the critical temperature.
At normal temperatures (below critical), R1 is greater than R2, thus creating an unbalanced condition that drives the op-amp to its low saturated output level and keeps transistor Q1 off.
As the temperature increases, the resistance of the thermistor decreases.
When the temperature reaches the critical value, R1 becomes equal to R2, and the bridge becomes balanced (since R3 = R4).
At this point the op-amp switches to its high saturated output level, turning Q1 on.
This energizes the relay, which can be used to activate an alarm or initiate an appropriate response to the over-temperature condition.
At normal temperatures, R1 R2 V1 V2,
Vout = Low Voltage Level Q1 off
At over-temperature, temperature R1 ,
R1 = R2 (R1 R2) V2 V1,
Vout = High Voltage Level Q1 on