Applied Electronics II

Lecture -2

Operational Amplifiers (Op-Amps)

 Basic Op-Amp
Operational amplifier (op-amp) is a very high gain differential amplifier with a high input
impedance (ideally open ckt) and low output impedance (less than 100 W).

+
Push-pull
Differential Voltage
amplifier
Vin amplifier amplifier(s) Vout
output
– input stage gain stage
stage

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 Why operational?
An op-amp is an active circuit element designed to perform
mathematical operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division, differentiation, and integration.
i.e. op-amp can sum signals, amplify a signal, integrate it, or
differentiate it.
The ability of the op-amp to perform these mathematical operations is
the reason why it is called an operational amplifier.

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 Characteristics of ideal op-amp
An ideal operational amplifier has the following characteristics:
• Infinite open-loop gain G = vout / 'vin
• Infinite input impedances
• Zero output impedance
• Infinite gain for the differential input signal
• Zero gain for the common-mode input signal
• Infinite Common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR)
• Infinite bandwidth
• Practical op-amps have characteristics that often can be
• Zero input offset voltage treated as ideal for certain situations, but can never
actually attain ideal characteristics.
• Zero noise • In addition to finite gain, bandwidth, and input
impedance, they have other limitations.
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 Op-Amp Gain
Op-Amps have a very high gain. They can be connected open-loop or
closed-loop.

• Open-loop refers to a configuration where there is no feedback

from output back to the input. In the open-loop configuration the
gain can exceed 10,000.

• Closed-loop configuration reduces the gain. In order to control the

gain of an op-amp it must have feedback. This feedback is a
negative feedback. A negative feedback reduces the gain and
improves many characteristics of the op-amp.

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Inverting/Noninverting Op-Amps
Inverting Amplifier Noninverting Amplifier
 Rf Rf
Vo  V1 Vo  (1  )V1
R1 R1

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 Inverting Amplifier
• An inverting amplifier is a configuration in which the noninverting
input is grounded and the signal is applied through a resistor to the
inverting input.
• Feedback forces the inputs to be nearly Rf
identical; hence the inverting input is very
close to 0 V. The closed-loop gain of the Ri
inverting amplifier is –
Vout
Rf Vin +
Acl (I)  
Ri
virtual ground
 Noninverting Amplifier
• A noninverting amplifier is a configuration in which the signal is on the
noninverting input and a portion of the output is returned to the inverting
input.
+
• Feedback forces Vf to be equal to Vin, hence Vin Vout
is across Ri. With basic algebra, you can show Vin –
Rf
that the closed-loop gain of the noninverting Vf Feedback
circuit
amplifier is: Ri

Rf
Acl (NI)  1 
Ri
 Impedance Parameters
–

• ZIN(d) : The differential input impedance is ZIN(d)

the total resistance between the inputs

+

–
• ZIN(cm) : The common-mode input
impedance is the resistance between each ZIN(cm)

input and ground +

• Zout: The output impedance is the resistance –

Zout
viewed from the output of the circuit.
+
 Impedance Values
Noninverting amplifier:
Z in (NI)  1  Aol B  Z in Generally, assumed to be ∞
Z out = – Attenuation of the
Z out (NI)  Generally, assumed to be 0
1  Aol B  feedback circuit

Inverting amplifier:
Z in (I)  Ri Generally, assumed to be Ri
Z out
Z out (I)  Generally, assumed to be 0
1  Aol B 
 Voltage and Current Parameters
• VO(p-p): The maximum output voltage swing is determined by the op-amp and the
power supply voltages

• VOS: The input offset voltage is the differential dc voltage required between the inputs
to force the output to zero volts

• IBIAS: The input bias current is the average of the I1  I 2

I BIAS 
two dc currents required to bias the differential 2
amplifier

• IOS: The input offset current is the difference

I OS  I1  I 2
between the two dc bias currents
 Frequency Parameters
Aol (dB)
Midrange
106
100

• Gain-Bandwidth: Because of the

75
internal compensation circuitry included –20 dB/decade roll-off

in an op-amp, the voltage gain drops off 50

as frequency increases.
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Unity-gain frequency (fT)
Critical frequency

0 f (Hz)
1 10 100 1k 10k 100k 1M

• Slew Rate (SR): is the maximum rate at which an op-amp can change output without
distortion.
ΔVo
SR  (in V/s)
Δt

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 Op-amp Applications: Voltage-follower (Buffer)

• A special case of the noninverting amplifier is when Rf =0 and Ri = ∞.

This forms a voltage follower or unity gain buffer with a gain of 1.

Vin +
• The input impedance of the voltage follower is very Vout
high, producing an excellent circuit for isolating one – Rf
82 kW
circuit from another, which avoids "loading" effects.
Ri
3.3 kW
 Op-amp Applications: Summing Amplifier

• A summing amplifier is an op-amp circuit that combines several inputs

and produces an output which is the weighted sum of the inputs.
 Op-amp Applications: Integrator
• An integrator is an op-amp circuit whose output is proportional to the
integral of the input signal.
 Op-amp Applications: Differentiator
• A differentiator is an op-amp circuit whose output is proportional to
the rate of change of the input signal.
 Reading Assignments
• Other Applications of Op-amps: Comparator, Logarithmic
amplifiers…
• Active Filter Circuits:
• Low-pass filter
• High-pass filter
• Band-pass filter
Proof: Acl(NI)
Proof: Acl(I)
Proof: Zin(NI)
Proof: Zout(NI)
Proof: Z(I)