LT1016CN8 - 10ns UltraFast Precision Comparator | Analog Devices
MPN: LT1016CN8 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.94 | $6.94 |
| 10 | $6.28 | $62.80 |
| 100 | $5.45 | $545.00 |
| 500 | $4.92 | $2,460.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.47 | $4,470.00 |
LT1016CN8 Overview
A comparator is an analog building block within the voltage-comparator family of linear integrated circuits that compares two input voltages and drives its output to a digital high or low state depending on the input polarity. Comparators sit in the signal-chain hierarchy between operational amplifiers and logic devices, providing the level decision that interfaces continuous analog signals into digital logic such as TTL and CMOS. High-speed comparators like the LT1016 additionally act as timing and data-slicing elements in measurement and communication systems.
Key features of the LT1016CN8 include an UltraFast 10ns typical propagation delay, direct TTL/CMOS logic interfacing while operating off ±5V or a single 5V supply, tight input offset voltage and high gain for precision applications, and matched complementary outputs that extend design versatility. The output stage provides active drive in both directions, eliminating the external pull-up required by open-collector comparators and improving edge symmetry.
Technical advantages of the LT1016 architecture include no minimum input slew rate requirement, which allows slow-moving signals to be compared reliably, no power supply current spiking during output transitions, which reduces supply noise in sensitive circuits, and a LATCH pin that retains input data at the outputs when held high, enabling peak-detection and sampling functions. Quiescent negative supply current is only 3mA, allowing the negative supply pin to be driven from a resistive divider without affecting performance.
Typical applications include fast sampling and sample-and-hold front ends, high-speed A/D converter input comparators, pulse and timing discriminators, and logic-level translation between analog front ends and TTL/CMOS systems. The 200ns acquisition time noted in the datasheet sample-and-hold application exceeds many monolithic sample-and-hold capabilities.
A key design consideration is supply configuration: the LT1016 delivers full performance from ±5V or single 5V rails, but output logic levels must be verified against the connected logic family, and the latch pin should be tied appropriately when latching is not used.
This page synthesizes verified datasheet parameters, pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found on the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for LT1016CN8 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with LT1016CN8 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Mounting Type, Operating Temperature, Output Type, Propagation Delay, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
LT1016CN8#PBF
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →LT1016IN8
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LT1016CN8 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Function | UltraFast precision comparator with latch |
| Propagation Delay | 10 ns (typ) |
| Number of Comparators | 1 |
| Output Type | Complementary (Q and Q-bar), TTL/CMOS compatible |
| Supply Configuration | Single 5V or ±5V |
| Negative Supply Current | 3 mA (quiescent) |
| Latch Function | Yes (outputs retain data when LATCH held high) |
| Minimum Input Slew Rate | None required |
| Power Supply Current Spiking | None (no spiking during transitions) |
| Package | 8-PDIP (N8), through-hole |
| Operating Temperature | Commercial grade 0C to 70C (C suffix) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (standard part; LT1016CN8#PBF is the Pb-free option) |
LT1016CN8 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | V+ — Positive supply pin |
| Pin 2 | IN- — Inverting input |
| Pin 3 | IN+ — Non-inverting input |
| Pin 4 | V- — Negative supply pin (3mA quiescent, may be resistive divider derived) |
| Pin 5 | LATCH — Latch input - outputs retain input data when held high |
| Pin 6 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 7 | Q — Complementary output (true) |
| Pin 8 | Q-bar — Complementary output (inverted) |
Typical Applications
LT1016CN8 is suitable for 6 applications: Fast Sample-and-Hold Front End, High-Speed A/D Converter Input Comparator, Pulse and Timing Discriminators, TTL/CMOS Logic-Level Interface, Overvoltage and Threshold Alarms, Precision Test and Measurement Instrumentation.
Fast Sample-and-Hold Front End
The LT1016CN8 excels in sampling circuits: the datasheet documents a sample-and-hold application with 200ns acquisition time, well beyond typical monolithic sample-and-hold capabilities, while avoiding FET switch errors and amplifier settling-time problems. The comparator's tight input offset voltage and high gain resolve small amplitude differences between the input signal and the held reference, while the LATCH pin freezes the decision at the exact sampling instant. Operating from ±5V accommodates bipolar input signals common in data acquisition systems. Designers should keep the analog input path short and use a clean, low-noise 5V rail, since the active-drive output stage eliminates pull-up delays in the acquisition loop and delivers symmetric edges to the following logic.
Recommended
High-Speed A/D Converter Input Comparator
In flash and subranging ADC architectures, the LT1016CN8 serves as the decision element thanks to its 10ns typical propagation delay and precision input specifications. High gain ensures the output switches decisively even for sub-millivolt input differentials near a code threshold, while the tight offset voltage specification minimizes code-edge error. The absence of power supply current spiking is critical here: output transitions do not corrupt the sensitive reference or input rails that feed the converter, a common failure mode with faster CMOS comparators. Complementary outputs allow both true and inverted decision signals to drive successive stage logic without additional inversion gates, saving propagation delay in the converter's pipelined timing budget.
Recommended
Pulse and Timing Discriminators
Timing discriminators require a comparator that fires reliably on edges of varying slew rates; the LT1016CN8's no-minimum-slew-rate requirement makes it ideal for thresholding pulses from photomultipliers, particle detectors, and time-of-flight sensors. The 10ns propagation delay with low dispersion preserves timing resolution, and the latch function captures threshold crossings for later readout by slower logic. With ±5V supplies, bipolar detector pulses can be thresholded directly on the inverting or non-inverting input. The symmetric active-drive outputs deliver equal-delay true and complement signals, supporting coincidence and time-difference measurements. Designers should threshold well above noise and consider hysteresis-free operation only when input noise is known to be low.
Recommended
TTL/CMOS Logic-Level Interface
The LT1016CN8 was designed to interface analog signals directly to TTL or CMOS logic while operating from ±5V or single 5V rails, making it a natural level translator between analog front ends and digital systems. Its output stage actively drives both high and low states, so no pull-up resistor is needed and rise/fall times are symmetric regardless of load. The 3mA quiescent negative supply current means a resistive divider can synthesize V- from a larger negative rail without affecting accuracy, simplifying supply design in mixed-signal boards. Use the LATCH pin to synchronize asynchronous analog events to the system clock, and verify the logic family thresholds match the comparator's output levels under the chosen supply configuration.
Recommended
Overvoltage and Threshold Alarms
In power-supply supervision and industrial monitoring, the LT1016CN8 compares a scaled monitor voltage against a precision reference and asserts an alarm when the threshold is crossed. Its high gain and tight offset voltage provide an accurate, repeatable trip point, and the 10ns delay reacts to faults far faster than software polling. The complementary outputs permit both an active-high alarm and an active-low interrupt from one device. Because the part does not spike the supply during transitions, it will not false-trigger adjacent monitor channels on the same rail. For slow-moving monitored signals, the latch pin can freeze the first fault indication, preventing alarm chatter, and the commercial 0C-70C grade suits indoor equipment; select the LT1016IN8 for outdoor installations.
Recommended
Precision Test and Measurement Instrumentation
Bench instruments such as frequency counters, event timers, and threshold detectors benefit from the LT1016CN8's combination of precision and speed: tight offset voltage locates the zero-crossing accurately while the 10ns propagation delay supports tens-of-megahertz event rates. The no-slew-rate limitation allows zero-crossing detection of low-frequency sine waves in DMM and bridge circuits without oscillation. Single-5V operation simplifies portable instrument power, while ±5V operation accommodates bipolar measurement inputs. The latch capability permits gating measurements to a reference clock for ratiometric timing. Compared to general-purpose comparators like the LM311, the LT1016CN8 delivers an order-of-magnitude faster delay with far better symmetry, improving instrument timing accuracy and repeatability.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for LT1016CN8 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | LT1016CN8#PBF | LT1016IN8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 8-PDIP (N8) | 8-PDIP (N8) - same | 8-PDIP (N8) - same |
| Brand | Analog Devices | Analog Devices | Analog Devices |
| Propagation Delay | 10 ns (typ) | 10 ns (typ) | 10 ns (typ) |
| Supply Options | Single 5V or ±5V | Single 5V or ±5V | Single 5V or ±5V |
| Output Type | Complementary TTL/CMOS, latch | Complementary TTL/CMOS, latch | Complementary TTL/CMOS, latch |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial (0C to 70C) | Commercial (0C to 70C) | Industrial (extended range) |
| Mounting | Through-Hole | Through-Hole | Through-Hole |
Key Differentiators
- Complementary outputs with latch - rare in 8-pin comparators (vs LT1016CN8#PBF)
- Industrial temperature capability in the same footprint (vs LT1016IN8)
- Active-drive complementary output stage vs open-collector comparators (vs LM311 (generic comparison))
Design Notes
The LT1016 operates from ±5V or a single 5V supply. Per the datasheet, quiescent negative supply current is only 3mA, so the V- pin can be driven from virtually any supply voltage through a simple resistive divider, and device performance is not affected by variations in negative supply voltage. Decouple both supply pins with 0.1uF ceramic capacitors placed close to the pins. Avoid sharing the comparator's supply trace with high-current digital loads; the bipolar output stage draws load current steps of tens of mA during 10ns transitions.
The LT1016 output stage provides active drive in both directions, so no pull-up resistor is required and rise/fall edges are symmetric. Route the Q and Q-bar outputs as short, controlled traces to the receiving logic; with 10ns delay, even 10cm of unmatched trace introduces meaningful skew in timing applications. The part has no minimum input slew rate requirement, so slow analog ramps can be compared directly, but for very noisy slow signals consider adding external hysteresis (a few mV of positive feedback) to prevent output chatter near the threshold.
Three common pitfalls: (1) The standard LT1016CN8 is a legacy non-Pb-free part - specify LT1016CN8#PBF for RoHS-compliant builds; (2) the LATCH pin must be tied to the correct inactive level when latching is not used, otherwise outputs may freeze and appear as an intermittent fault; (3) the C suffix is commercial grade 0C-70C - using the CN8 outside this range causes unspecified behavior, so select the LT1016IN8 industrial grade instead. Always verify pin assignments against the official LT1016 datasheet before PCB layout.
Compliance Information
The standard LT1016CN8 is the legacy lead-containing part; the LT1016CN8#PBF variant is the lead-free/RoHS-compliant option per Analog Devices and DigiKey listings.
