The LM392 consists of two independent building-block circuits. One is a high-gain internally-frequency-compensated operational amplifier, and the other is a precision voltage comparator. Both the operational amplifier and the voltage comparator are designed to operate from a single power supply over a wide range of voltages. Both circuits have input stages that force the common-mode input down to ground when operating from a single power supply. Operation from split power supplies also is possible, and the low power-supply current is independent of the magnitude of the supply voltage.

Applications include transducer amplifiers with pulse shapers, DC gain blocks with level detectors, and VCOs, as well as all conventional operational amplifier or voltage-comparator circuits. The LM392 can be operated directly from the standard 5-V power-supply voltage used in digital systems, and the output of the comparator interfaces directly with either TTL or CMOS logic. In addition, the low-power drain makes the LM392 extremely useful in the design of portable equipment.