# Analytically obtaining the hysteresis of an opamp Schmitt trigger with RC network in its inverting input

This is a follow-up from here. I have got the following Schmitt trigger circuit implemented already on a breadboard. As seen, the input signal at the non-inverting and inverting terminals of the op amp is the same, but with the addition of a RC circuit in the inverting terminal. In this way, I am comparing the input signal with a delayed version of the same signal such that I can identify peaks.

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

What I am trying to do now is to analytically obtain the hysteresis of the circuit. I have done so using the superposition theorem, but I am not sure of whether the result is right, and if so, how I can apply it.

I followed a similar procedure as in here:

The output voltage of the circuit, $V_o$, is given by: $$V_{o} = A_{v}(V^{+} + V^{-})$$ where $V^+$ and $V^-$ are the voltages at the non-inverting and inverting terminals, and $A_v$ is the circuit's gain. This gain is: $$V_{+} = \dfrac{V_{OH} - V_{OL}}{V_{IH} - V_{IL}}$$ where $V_{IH}$ is the smallest voltage at which the output voltage is $V_{OL}$, while $V_{IL}$ is the largest input voltage at which the output voltage is $V_{OH}$.

The voltage $V^{+}$ is: $$V_{+} = V_{in}\dfrac{R_{f}}{R_{1} + R_{f}} + V_{o}\dfrac{R_{1}}{R_{1} + R_{f}}$$

The voltage $V^{-}$ (it is from here where I start doubting) is actually the voltage accross the capacitor $C^{1}$: $$V^{-} = V_{in}(1-e^{-t/R_{2}C_{1}})$$

If we assume the initial state of $V_{o}$ is $V_{OH}$ then: $$V_{+} = V_{in}\dfrac{R_{f}}{R_{1} + R_{f}} + V_{OH}\dfrac{R_{1}}{R_{1} + R_{f}}$$

and the output is:

$$V_{o} = A_{v}\bigg[V_{OH}\dfrac{R_{1}}{R_{1} + R_{f}} - V_{in}\bigg(1 - \dfrac{R_{f}}{R_{1} + R_{f}} - e^{-t/R_{2}C_{1}}\bigg)\bigg]$$

So from the previous equation one can see that the output will remain at $V_{OH}$ as long as: $$V_{OH}\dfrac{R_{1}}{R_{1} + R_{f}} > V_{in}\bigg(1 - \dfrac{R_{f}}{R_{1} + R_{f}} - e^{-t/R_{2}C_{1}}\bigg)$$

or

$$V_{OH}\dfrac{R_{1}}{R_{1} - (R_{1} + R_{f})e^{-t/R_{2}C_{1}} } > V_{in}$$

and the transition from $V_{OH}$ to $V_{OL}$ will happen when $V_{OH}$ as long as: $$V_{in} > V_{IL} \equiv V_{OH}\dfrac{R_{1}}{R_{1} - (R_{1} + R_{f})e^{-t/R_{2}C_{1}} }$$

If we follow a similar procedure, we find that $$V_{IH} \equiv V_{OL}\dfrac{R_{1}}{R_{1} - (R_{1} + R_{f})e^{-t/R_{2}C_{1}} }$$

And that the hysteresis is:

$$V_{Hysteresis}=V_{IL} - V_{IH}=(V_{OH} - V_{OL})\dfrac{R_{1}}{R_{1} - (R_{1} + R_{f})e^{-t/R_{2}C_{1}} }$$

Does all of this make a degree of sense? If so, because of the exponential term, I cannot see how to proceed from here to obtain a measurable value of the hysteresis (e.g., everything beyond some voltage threshold value triggers a transition. What is this voltage threshold value?) I have seen that modifying the resistors $R_{1}$ and $R_{f}$ allows me to pass higher or lower input voltages, but then at some point I need to change the values of $R_{2}$ and $C_{1}$ as otherwise I see nothing in the output. How can I relate all of this to the math (or even simulation)?

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks.

• Not sure exactly what you are trying to figure out. The signal at the non-inverting input is low-pass filtered, not delayed. – Spehro Pefhany May 31 '18 at 15:04
• Hello, and thanks for your comment. Sorry, did you mean the signal at the inverting input? The RC network there is a single-pole low pass filter, that’s right, but it is allowing me to compare the input signal al the non- inverting input with a slightly delayed version of the same signal. Now, what I believe is, because it is a Schmitt trigger, there must be some hysteresis, and I would like to get to know what it is. And this is because I am interested in specific high voltage amplitudes, and I would like to filter smaller ones out. – sigur_ros May 31 '18 at 15:30
• Yes, inverting input. – Spehro Pefhany May 31 '18 at 15:49
• The hysteresis is just +/-0.05*3.3V or about +/-16mV. But I don't think that helps.. – Spehro Pefhany May 31 '18 at 15:50
• Sorry, could you tell me where the 0.05 value comes from? What I have seen is that by varying R1 and/or Rf, minimum voltage amplitude of the input signal to trigger a change in the circuit's output either increases or decreases (depending on the values of these resistors) so I believe there may be some equation that tells me what this minimum value is. I just don't know how to derive it. Thanks by the way :) – sigur_ros May 31 '18 at 16:05