Noise insensitive comparator

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved comparator circuit which avoids the problems of the prior art.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a comparator circuit whose switching characteristics do not exhibit hysteresis, but which yet avoids noise induced switching transients.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a comparator including a bistable element having an output which is transitioned between its two output levels in accordance with the relative values of the input signals.
In accordance with the present invention, apparatus is provided for comparing the values of first and second signals.
The apparatus includes output means which is triggerable to provide an indication, and an output control means responsive to the first and second signals for triggering the output means to provide the indication.
The output control means triggers the output means to provide the indication when the values of the first and second signals cross over, but only if the first and second signal values have deviated from one another by more than a selected amount since the output means was last triggered.