Texas Instruments LMV331M7X

Overview

LMV331M7X from Texas Instruments is a single, low-voltage, rail-to-ground input comparator with open-collector output, specified for 2.7 V to 5 V operation, 60 µA typical supply current per channel, 200 ns propagation delay at 5 V, and input common-mode range extending to ground. It is used in battery-powered voltage monitoring, portable device power sequencing, and low-power threshold detection circuits.

For engineers reviewing the LMV331M7X datasheet, LMV331M7X pinout, LMV331M7X application, or LMV331M7X equivalent, key selection considerations include its SC70-5 package footprint, ground-sensing input capability, open-collector output requiring external pull-up, 7 mV typical input offset voltage, and industrial temperature range (−40°C to +85°C).

Technical Context

The LMV331M7X implements a bipolar-input, BiCMOS-output stage optimized for noise immunity and low quiescent current. Its open-collector output enables wired-OR logic and level-shifting across supply domains up to 5 V, while the input stage supports common-mode voltages down to −0.1 V (below ground) and up to 4.2 V (at 5 V supply).

It operates in standard comparator mode: output sinks current (goes low) when the non-inverting (+IN) input voltage exceeds the inverting (−IN) input voltage; otherwise, the output remains high-impedance. No internal hysteresis is included - external feedback is required for noise-immune switching.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

LMV331M7X is housed in a 5-pin SC70 package (2.00 mm × 1.25 mm), offering ~50% area reduction versus SOT-23. The package is moisture-sensitive level 1 (MSL-1) and RoHS-compliant.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar single low-voltage comparator applications.

Compared with TLV331DBVR, LMV331M7X trades higher quiescent current for open-collector versatility and lower cost; compared with LMV331IDBVR, it offers identical performance at reduced temperature rating and price - making it optimal for cost-sensitive, space-constrained consumer electronics.

Availability

LMV331M7X is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for battery-powered electronics, portable medical devices, and low-voltage industrial sensors requiring stable component supply and long-term manufacturability.

Supply support for LMV331M7X includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor leader specializing in analog, embedded processing, and connectivity technologies, with decades of expertise in precision signal conditioning and low-power design.

The LMV331M7X belongs to TI's general-purpose low-voltage comparator family, engineered specifically for space-constrained, battery-operated applications where ground-sensing capability, low supply current, and small footprint are essential.

FAQ

What is the maximum supply voltage for LMV331M7X?

The absolute maximum supply voltage for LMV331M7X is 5.5 V, but the recommended operating range is 2.7 V to 5 V. Operation above 5 V risks permanent damage. At 5 V, LMV331M7X delivers optimal speed (200 ns propagation delay) and output drive (200 mV saturation at 4 mA sink), making it ideal for 3.3 V and 5 V systems. Always observe derating guidelines per the official TI SNOS018H datasheet when designing for thermal or long-term reliability.

Does LMV331M7X include internal hysteresis?

No, LMV331M7X does not include internal hysteresis. Its comparator core has no built-in hysteresis - external positive feedback (e.g., resistor from OUT to +IN) must be added to prevent oscillation near the switching threshold. This design gives full control over hysteresis magnitude and polarity. For example, adding a 1 MΩ resistor from output to non-inverting input creates ~5 mV of hysteresis at typical bias currents. The LMV331M7X datasheet provides detailed hysteresis network calculations in Section 8.1.2.

Can LMV331M7X drive a MOSFET gate directly?

No, LMV331M7X cannot drive a MOSFET gate directly due to its open-collector output and limited sink current (23 mA max at 2.7 V, 10 mA at 5 V). It lacks source capability and has insufficient peak current to charge/discharge gate capacitance rapidly. Instead, LMV331M7X should interface to a MOSFET via a pull-up resistor to a suitable gate drive voltage, or drive a dedicated gate driver IC (e.g., TI UCC27517). For high-side switching, an additional level-shifter or P-channel driver stage is required.

What is the input bias current specification for LMV331M7X?

The input bias current for LMV331M7X is 25 nA (typical) at 5 V supply and 25°C, with a maximum of 400 nA across the full industrial temperature range (−40°C to +85°C). This low bias current minimizes voltage error in high-impedance sensor interfaces (e.g., thermistors, photodiodes). At 2.7 V, typical bias current drops to 10 nA. These values reflect the bipolar input stage design - significantly lower than JFET-input comparators but higher than CMOS-input types like TLV331.

Is LMV331M7X pin-compatible with other comparators in the LMV33x family?

Yes, LMV331M7X shares identical pinout (SC70-5) with LMV331IDBVR and LMV331DBVR, enabling drop-in replacement across temperature grades and variants. However, it is not pin-compatible with dual (LMV393) or quad (LMV339) versions - those use SOIC-8/VSSOP-8 and SOIC-14/TSSOP-14 packages respectively. All LMV331-x variants maintain consistent +IN/−IN/OUT/V+/V− assignment in SC70-5, ensuring layout reuse across qualified/replacement parts without PCB modification.