Dual comparator with 50 µA draw — the battery-friendly choice
The TLC393CD is a dual general-purpose comparator from Texas Instruments' LinCMOS™ series, packing two comparators into an 8-SOIC package. Its open-drain MOS output stage lets you wire-OR multiple outputs or pull to a different rail than the supply — handy for mixed-voltage logic interfaces. What makes this part stand out for portable or always-on designs is the quiescent current: 50 µA max for both comparators. That's low enough to leave powered in a battery-driven sensor node without draining the cell overnight. The input bias current is 5 pA max at 5 V — essentially negligible for high-impedance sources like photodiode amplifiers or pH probe front-ends. Combined with 84 dB typical CMRR, it rejects common-mode noise well enough for precision threshold detection.
Supply range and speed — where it fits
The 4.5 µs max propagation delay is fast enough for switch-debounce, overvoltage detection, and low-frequency PWM generation — not for high-speed data recovery. The 5 mV max input offset at 10 V is typical for a general-purpose comparator — budget this into your threshold window if you need tight trip points. For automotive or outdoor gear, look at the industrial-grade siblings in the same family.
Package and board integration
The 1.27 mm pin pitch makes breakout easy on a two-layer board — no need for vias under the part. Supplied in a tube (standard SOIC-8 shipping format), it's fine for prototype runs and small-batch production. For reel quantities, check the TLC393CDR variant.