Sure, the initial question sort of asks for a response that would require a respondent to pull a design out of thin air. Having tried to find any sort of an interesting, practical application of this particular kind of electronic systems component to respond about, then, I had thought - at first - that a comparator could be used for a switched power supply. That's really a stretch, I know -- moreover, an instance of confusing a comparator with a switch -- but at least it fits the requirement of providing a practical example of a comparator, insofar as at least illustrating a hypothetical application of that one of many different types of electrical circuit element.
Proceeding as to refine the design I proposed in my response, I've been able to sketch up at least a high-level block diagram for ... some electrical things and stuff -- nothing competitive, but insofar as it would involve a circuit onto AC mains, nothing I'll share unless it was a thoroughly tested design.
The following is now my note's page for such a thing, which here I'll share for later reference.
A comparator may be applied as a voltage switch, perhaps in designing a circuit for a switched power supply of two possible voltage sources, wherein at least one voltage source may provide a varying voltage over duration of time. A single comparator would provide an output for a single voltage source providing an input of a higher voltage. (Ed. Note: This is where I began confuse a comparator with a switch)
If a power supply would need to switch between more than two voltage sources, and only comparators would be available, then perhaps multiple comparators could be cascaded, with or without additional solid-state circuit elements in the cascade design.
Candidly, this may present an essentially crude design description. With some further refinement in the design, perhaps a comparator element could be of use for a battery switching circuit, such as in a solar electrical system -- namely as to provide a continuous output voltage and output current, across the output cycle of the solar cells and the charge cycle of any number of batteries.
Alternately, a digital switching circuit could be applied, together with a programmed AVR microcontroller -- as in the Instructables items, below --implementing a PWM controlled charging model between the solar cells and the batteries, along with additional control and display functionality, in the solar/battery/load electrical system.
(Ed Note: The following paragraph represents, essentially, an instance of confusing a comparator with a switch)
Alternately, perhaps a comaprator circuit may be applied in a switching model for a combined grid/off-grid electrical system -- as for switching onto AC residential mains, outside the system's inverter, in case of battery under-voltage or other solar system failure, to the reference point of the inverter's output. In such an application -- in a simple view, albeit -- perhaps an AC coupled comparator would be applied, if having an input frequency range compatible with AC mains current. Perhaps a relay-driven switch with a solid state relay might be more readily applicable, for switching the input at a point beyond the inverter, in such a system.
Works Consulted:
[1] Radio-Electronics.com. Op-Amp Comparator Circuit
[2] Radio-Electronics.com. Op-Amp Schmitt Trigger Circuit
[3] Instructables. Arduino Solar Charge Controller (Version-1)
[4] Instructables. DIY Off-Grid Solar System
[5] Texas Instruments. AC Coupled Comparator Reference Design (60 Hz not within input frequency range, component probably not designed for application on AC residential mains)
[6] Phidgets. Solid-State Relay Primer
DPDT solid state relay: Charter Electronics 38.21
Residential/Household Electrical - Concepts and Standards
- Wikipedia. Mains Electricity
- Wikipedia. Mains electricity by country
- IEC - World Plugs (residential/household applications) (some errors, see Wikipedia resource, previous)
- Wikipedia. Switch
Comparators - Additional Reources:
- PSB Heaven. The Schmitt Triger
- Radio-Electronics.com. Op-Amp Comparator Circuit
- Radio-Electronics.com. Op-Amp Schmitt Trigger Circuit
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