The complexity, speed, and accuracy of encoding systems depend strongly upon the type of voltage amplitude comparator used. Encoding techniques such as successive approximation and time base use only a single comparator while parallel encoding and nonprogrammed feedback encoding require at least one comparator for each stage. This paper presents a versatile voltage amplitude comparator with suggestions for its use in all basic encoder types and with design procedures which will provide increased voltage sensitivity. To indicate further the use of the comparator, a three-bit encoder design is presented.