SNOAA35F April 2019 – December 2024 LM2901 , LM2901B , LM2901B-Q1 , LM2903 , LM2903-Q1 , LM2903B , LM2903B-Q1 , LM339 , LM339-N , LM393 , LM393-N , LM393B , LM397 , TL331 , TL331-Q1 , TL331B
The phrases Common Mode Voltage Range and Input Voltage Range tend to be used interchangeably, but there is an important difference when discussing comparators. The common definition of Common Mode Voltage (CMVR or CMR) is the average of the inverting (-IN) and non-inverting (+IN) input voltages. This definition is acceptable for operational amplifiers where the inputs are kept to less than a millivolt of each other due to negative feedback, but comparator inputs are rarely kept at the same potential and can see several volts of differential voltage under normal operation. If the average value is used, there can be an instance where one input voltage slightly exceeds the input range specification, and the average of the two inputs can still reside within the input range, even though that one input is violating the input range. The average gives a false impression of meeting the input voltage range requirement.