Bipolar and unipolar voltages are critical concepts in electronics, particularly in semiconductor device triggering. Unipolar voltages are defined as a single voltage referenced to zero volts (ground), commonly used in logic gate power supplies. In contrast, bipolar voltages consist of both positive and negative voltages referenced to zero volts, historically essential for analog electronics utilizing operational amplifiers (op-amps). Modern rail-to-rail op-amps can operate on low voltage unipolar supplies, reflecting advancements in electronic design.
PREREQUISITESElectronics engineers, students in electrical engineering, and professionals involved in semiconductor device design and analog circuit development will benefit from this discussion.
Baluncore said:Probably unipolar voltages are a single voltage referenced to zero volt as ground. Most logic gate power supplies and signals are unipolar.
Bipolar has a positive and a negative voltage referenced to zero volts. There was a time when analogue electronics using op-amps which needed both a (+)ve and (–)ve supplies. The signals were relative to zero volts. Now, rail-to-rail op-amps will run on low voltage unipolar supplies.