Dictionary of Electrical Engineering

Commonly used terms in the Electrical industry.

phase comparator
often referred to as a phase detector; a three-port device that produces an analog output proportional to the phase difference between its two inputs.

Since both inputs are periodic, the relative output voltage (or current) as a function of input phase difference (i.e., the transfer function) is also periodic; the shape of the transfer function (sometimes called the "output characteristic" of the phase detector) depends upon the particular technique used to accomplish the phase detection. These include sinusoidal, triangula, and sawtooth shape factors. Analog/digital implementation, required linearity, and range of input phase difference are primary factors in determining a suitable output characteristic for a specific phase comparator application.
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