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Is there a way to calculate the power consumption of a comparator for one single measurement? I would like to compare the power consumption of a comparator with the power consumption of an ADC. I expect the comparator to be able to measure faster and consume less by doing so. However, I looked into multiple datasheets and could not find any data about power consumption. Why is that? How can I calculate it?

// EDIT: In order to prevent myself of asking an A-B question here, I want to state my intent with this question: I want to show, that comparators are faster and less power consuming than ADCs while beeing cheaper overall. This is not about special chips but more a general thing I want to know. Therefore I just googled for datasheets instead of looking for specific ones because I am new to this area.

Comparator Datasheets I found or were linked in the comments are:

http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tlv3501.pdf
https://www.st.com/resource/en/datasheet/ts881.pdf

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    \$\begingroup\$ "I looked into multiple datasheets and could not find any data about power consumption" can you provide a link to those datasheets? I would be baffled if you can provide even just a single example from the sketchiest of the manufacturers. \$\endgroup\$ Sep 18, 2019 at 7:53
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    \$\begingroup\$ I simply googled it and took what I got. e.g. this one: ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/tlv3501.pdf \$\endgroup\$
    – Fuzzyma
    Sep 18, 2019 at 7:56
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    \$\begingroup\$ In Table 6.6, it says Quiescent current, typically 3.2mA@5V. That's what the chip consumes. To that, add the current coming from the load capacitance. \$\endgroup\$
    – Janka
    Sep 18, 2019 at 7:59
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    \$\begingroup\$ "power consumption of a comparator for one single measurement" - comparators don't take measurements, they .. compare, and they do it continuously. \$\endgroup\$
    – pjc50
    Sep 18, 2019 at 8:39
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    \$\begingroup\$ Also, 3.2ma sounds huge; here's a more reasonable part from ST st.com/content/st_com/en/products/amplifiers-and-comparators/… offering 210na \$\endgroup\$
    – pjc50
    Sep 18, 2019 at 8:40

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Tongue in cheek answer:

An ADC has to include at least one comparator, or many comparators in the case of a Flash ADC. Here's a SAR ADC:

enter image description here

Since the ADC has more circuitry than just a comparator, it will use more power! (all other things being equal, that is, if you could somehow buy the exact same comparator used in the ADC, which will never happen in practice...)

Now, the power used by comparators and ADCs depends on many factors so it's impossible to answer the question. One very important factor is speed: faster comparators use more power, because the input stage is essentially an analog amplifier, and high-bandwidth low-noise analog amplifiers require more current. So you will find slow micropower comparators using fractions of a µA, and superfast ones using several mA or even tens of mA. ADC power use also depends on speed, bits, etc.

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