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TLC3702: Propagation delay high-to-low on one comparator output can be as high as 50us if the other comparator in the package just transitioned low to high!

Part Number: TLC3702
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: LMV762, TLV7256, LMC6762

I expected the two comparators in the TLC3702 package to operate more or less independently of one another.  However, I found much to my surprise and disappointment that the first comparator (connected to pins 1/2/3) has much slower high to low propagation delay if the second comparator (pins 5/6/7) just transitioned low to high!

I discovered this because I have two voltage-controlled oscillators on one PCB and they are each using one half of the TLC3702.  I noticed that the frequency of one is affected by the frequency of the other and when I looked closely at waveforms on a scope discovered this "feature" of the dual comparator.  Below is a scope plot of the two inputs to the comparator in question whose response is slowed down.  As can be seen in the plot, the differential comparator input remains around -0.8v for almost 50us before the comparator trips!  This is a relaxation oscillator and the comparator + input (green) should go to the low state immediately after the - input crosses over it at around 8us to the right of the middle -- as it does on all the other cycles visible in this plot!

Who can help figure out why this happens and recommend an alternative comparator part that doesn't suffer this shortcoming?

Thanks!

-Brian

  • Hello Brian,

    We are aware of this issue.

    If you notice in the "Switching Charasctristics" table on page 6, there is a note about the prop delay: "Simultaneous switching of inputs causes degradation in output response." So the original designers were aware of this issue.

    We have confirmed there is crosstalk. We have found that if one input transitions within 10-20us of the other, the prop delay of the following channel can increase up to 10x.

    We are currently characterizing this behavior and plan to add information to the datasheet.

    You can try the LMC6762 as an alternate for supplies up to 15V, or the TLV7256 or LMV762 for 5V applications.