Operational Amplifier - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

7/13/2014 Operational amplifier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A Signetics a741 operational amplifier, one of the
most successful op-amps.
Operational amplifier
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An operational amplifier (op-amp) is a DC-coupled
high-gain electronic voltage amplifier with a differential
input and, usually, a single-ended output.
[1]
In this
configuration, an op-amp produces an output potential
(relative to circuit ground) that is typically hundreds of
thousands of times larger than the potential difference
between its input terminals.
[2]
Operational amplifiers had their origins in analog
computers, where they were used to do mathematical
operations in many linear, non-linear and frequency-
dependent circuits. Characteristics of a circuit using an
op-amp are set by external components with little
dependence on temperature changes or manufacturing
variations in the op-amp itself, which makes op-amps
popular building blocks for circuit design.
Op-amps are among the most widely used electronic devices today, being used in a vast array of consumer,
industrial, and scientific devices. Many standard IC op-amps cost only a few cents in moderate production
volume; however some integrated or hybrid operational amplifiers with special performance specifications may
cost over $100 US in small quantities.
[3]
Op-amps may be packaged as components, or used as elements of
more complex integrated circuits.
The op-amp is one type of differential amplifier. Other types of differential amplifier include the fully differential
amplifier (similar to the op-amp, but with two outputs), the instrumentation amplifier (usually built from three op-
amps), the isolation amplifier (similar to the instrumentation amplifier, but with tolerance to common-mode
voltages that would destroy an ordinary op-amp), and negative feedback amplifier (usually built from one or
more op-amps and a resistive feedback network).
Contents
1 Circuit notation
2 Operation
2.1 Open loop
2.2 Closed loop
3 Op-amp characteristics
3.1 Ideal op-amps
3.2 Real op-amps
3.2.1 DC imperfections
3.2.2 AC imperfections
3.2.3 Non-linear imperfections
3.2.4 Power considerations
4 Internal circuitry of 741-type op-amp
4.1 Architecture
4.1.1 Differential amplifier
4.1.2 Voltage amplifier
4.1.3 Output amplifier
4.2 Biasing circuits
4.3 Small-signal differential mode
4.3.1 Input impedance
4.3.5 Overall open-loop voltage gain
4.4 Other linear characteristics
4.4.1 Small-signal common mode gain
4.4.2 Frequency compensation
4.4.3 Input offset voltage
4.5 Non-linear characteristics
4.5.1 Input breakdown voltage
4.5.2 Output-stage voltage swing and current limiting
4.6 Applicability considerations
5 Classification
6 Applications
6.1 Use in electronics system design
6.2 Applications without using any feedback
6.3 Positive feedback applications
6.4 Negative feedback applications
6.4.1 Non-inverting amplifier
6.4.2 Inverting amplifier
6.5 Other applications
7 Historical timeline
8 See also
9 Notes
10 References
11 Further reading
12 External links
Circuit diagram symbol for an
op-amp
An op-amp without negative feedback
(a comparator)
Circuit notation
The circuit symbol for an op-amp is shown to the right, where:
V
+
: non-inverting input
V
: inverting input
V
out
: output
V
S+
: positive power supply
V
S
: negative power supply
The power supply pins (V
S+
and V
S
) can be labeled in different ways (See
IC power supply pins). Often these pins are left out of the diagram for
clarity, and the power configuration is described or assumed from the circuit.
Operation
The amplifier's differential inputs consist of a non-inverting input (+)
with voltage V
+
and an inverting input () with voltage V
; ideally the
op-amp amplifies only the difference in voltage between the two,
which is called the differential input voltage. The output voltage of
the op-amp V
out
is given by the equation:
where A
OL
is the open-loop gain of the amplifier (the term "open-
loop" refers to the absence of a feedback loop from the output to the
input).
Open loop
The magnitude of A
OL
is typically very large100,000 or more for integrated circuit op-ampsand therefore
even a quite small difference between V
+
and V
drives the amplifier output nearly to the supply voltage.

Situations in which the output voltage is equal to or greater than the supply voltage are referred to as saturation
of the amplifier. The magnitude of A
OL
is not well controlled by the manufacturing process, and so it is
impractical to use an operational amplifier as a stand-alone differential amplifier.
Without negative feedback, and perhaps with positive feedback for regeneration, an op-amp acts as a
comparator. If the inverting input is held at ground (0 V) directly or by a resistor R
g
, and the input voltage V
in
applied to the non-inverting input is positive, the output will be maximum positive; if V
in
is negative, the output
will be maximum negative. Since there is no feedback from the output to either input, this is an open loop circuit
acting as a comparator. The circuit's gain is just the A
OL
of the op-amp.
Closed loop
An op-amp with negative feedback (a
non-inverting amplifier)
If predictable operation is desired, negative feedback is used, by applying a portion of the output voltage to the
inverting input. The closed loop feedback greatly reduces the gain of
the circuit. When negative feedback is used, the circuit's overall gain
and response becomes determined mostly by the feedback network,
rather than by the op-amp characteristics. If the feedback network is
made of components with values small relative to the op amp's input
impedance, the value of the op-amp's open loop response A
OL
does
not seriously affect the circuit's performance. The response of the op-
amp circuit with its input, output, and feedback circuits to an input is
characterized mathematically by a transfer function; designing an op-
amp circuit to have a desired transfer function is in the realm of
electrical engineering. The transfer functions are important in most
applications of op-amps, such as in analog computers. High input
impedance at the input terminals and low output impedance at the
output terminal(s) are particularly useful features of an op-amp.
In the non-inverting amplifier on the right, the presence of negative
feedback via the voltage divider R
f
, R
g
determines the closed-loop gain A
CL
= V
out
/ V
in
. Equilibrium will be
established when V
out
is just sufficient to "reach around and pull" the inverting input to the same voltage as V
in
.
The voltage gain of the entire circuit is thus 1 + R
f
/R
g
. As a simple example, if V
in
= 1 V and R
f
= R
g
, V
out
will
be 2 V, exactly the amount required to keep V
at 1 V. Because of the feedback provided by the R

f
, R
g
network, this is a closed loop circuit.
Another way to analyze this circuit proceeds by making the following (usually valid) assumptions:
[4]
When an op-amp operates in linear (i.e., not saturated) mode, the difference in voltage between the non-
inverting (+) pin and the inverting () pin is negligibly small.
The input impedance between (+) and () pins is much larger than other resistances in the circuit.
The input signal V
in
appears at both (+) and () pins, resulting in a current i through R
g
equal to V
in
/R
g
.
Since Kirchhoff's current law states that the same current must leave a node as enter it, and since the impedance
into the () pin is near infinity, we can assume practically all of the same current i flows through R
f
, creating an
output voltage
By combining terms, we determine the closed-loop gain A
CL
:
Op-amp characteristics
An equivalent circuit of an operational
amplifier that models some resistive non-
ideal parameters.
Ideal op-amps
An ideal op-amp is usually considered to have the following
properties:
Infinite open-loop gain G = v
out
/ 'v
in
Infinite input impedance R
in
, and so zero input current
Zero input offset voltage
Infinite voltage range available at the output
Infinite bandwidth with zero phase shift and infinite slew
rate
Zero output impedance R
out
Zero noise
Infinite Common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR)
Infinite Power supply rejection ratio.
These ideals can be summarized by the two "golden rules":
I. The output attempts to do whatever is necessary to make the voltage difference between the inputs
zero.
II. The inputs draw no current.
[5]:177
The first rule only applies in the usual case where the op-amp is used in a closed-loop design (negative
feedback, where there is a signal path of some sort feeding back from the output to the inverting input). These
rules are commonly used as a good first approximation for analyzing or designing op-amp circuits.
[5]:177
None of these ideals can be perfectly realized. A real op-amp may be modeled with non-infinite or non-zero
parameters using equivalent resistors and capacitors in the op-amp model. The designer can then include these
effects into the overall performance of the final circuit. Some parameters may turn out to have negligible effect on
the final design while others represent actual limitations of the final performance that must be evaluated.
Real op-amps
Real op-amps differ from the ideal model in various aspects.
DC imperfections
Real operational amplifiers suffer from several non-ideal effects:
Finite gain
Open-loop gain is infinite in the ideal operational amplifier but finite in real operational amplifiers. Typical
devices exhibit open-loop DC gain ranging from 100,000 to over 1 million. So long as the loop gain (i.e.,
the product of open-loop and feedback gains) is very large, the circuit gain will be determined entirely by
the amount of negative feedback (i.e., it will be independent of open-loop gain). In cases where closed-
loop gain must be very high, the feedback gain will be very low, and the low feedback gain causes low
loop gain; in these cases, the operational amplifier will cease to behave ideally.
Finite input impedances
The differential input impedance of the operational amplifier is defined as the impedance between its
two inputs; the common-mode input impedance is the impedance from each input to ground.
MOSFET-input operational amplifiers often have protection circuits that effectively short circuit any input
differences greater than a small threshold, so the input impedance can appear to be very low in some
tests. However, as long as these operational amplifiers are used in a typical high-gain negative feedback
application, these protection circuits will be inactive. The input bias and leakage currents described below
are a more important design parameter for typical operational amplifier applications.
Non-zero output impedance
Low output impedance is important for low-impedance loads; for these loads, the voltage drop across
the output impedance of the amplifier will be significant. Hence, the output impedance of the amplifier
limits the maximum power that can be provided. In configurations with a voltage-sensing negative
feedback, the output impedance of the amplifier is effectively lowered; thus, in linear applications, op-
amps usually exhibit a very low output impedance indeed. Negative feedback can not, however, reduce
the limitations that R
load
in conjunction with R
out
place on the maximum and minimum possible output
voltages; it can only reduce output errors within that range.
Low-impedance outputs typically require high quiescent (i.e., idle) current in the output stage and will
dissipate more power, so low-power designs may purposely sacrifice low output impedance.
Input current
Due to biasing requirements or leakage, a small amount of current (typically ~10 nanoamperes for bipolar
op-amps, tens of picoamperes (pA) for JFET input stages, and only a few pA for MOSFET input stages)
flows into the inputs. When large resistors or sources with high output impedances are used in the circuit,
these small currents can produce large unmodeled voltage drops. If the input currents are matched, and
the impedance looking out of both inputs are matched, then the voltages produced at each input will be
equal. Because the operational amplifier operates on the difference between its inputs, these matched
voltages will have no effect (unless the operational amplifier has poor CMRR, which is described below).
It is more common for the input currents (or the impedances looking out of each input) to be slightly
mismatched, and so a small offset voltage (different from the input offset voltage below) can be
produced. This offset voltage can create offsets or drifting in the operational amplifier. It can often be
nulled externally; however, many operational amplifiers include offset null or balance pins and some
procedure for using them to remove this offset. Some operational amplifiers attempt to nullify this offset
automatically
Input offset voltage
This voltage, which is what is required across the op-amp's input terminals to drive the output voltage to
zero,
[6][nb 1]
is related to the mismatches in input bias current. In the perfect amplifier, there would be no
input offset voltage. However, it exists in actual op-amps because of imperfections in the differential
amplifier that constitutes the input stage of the vast majority of these devices. Input offset voltage creates
two problems: First, due to the amplifier's high voltage gain, it virtually assures that the amplifier output
will go into saturation if it is operated without negative feedback, even when the input terminals are wired
together. Second, in a closed loop, negative feedback configuration, the input offset voltage is amplified
along with the signal and this may pose a problem if high precision DC amplification is required or if the
input signal is very small.
[nb 2]
Common-mode gain
A perfect operational amplifier amplifies only the voltage difference between its two inputs, completely
rejecting all voltages that are common to both. However, the differential input stage of an operational
amplifier is never perfect, leading to the amplification of these common voltages to some degree. The
standard measure of this defect is called the common-mode rejection ratio (denoted CMRR).
Minimization of common mode gain is usually important in non-inverting amplifiers (described below) that
operate at high amplification.
Power-supply rejection
The output of a perfect operational amplifier will be completely independent from ripples that arrive on its
power supply inputs. Every real operational amplifier has a specified power supply rejection ratio (PSRR)
that reflects how well the op-amp can reject changes in its supply voltage. Copious use of bypass
capacitors can improve the PSRR of many devices, including the operational amplifier.
Temperature effects
All parameters change with temperature. Temperature drift of the input offset voltage is especially
important.
Drift
Real op-amp parameters are subject to slow change over time and with changes in temperature, input
conditions, etc.
Noise
Amplifiers generate random voltage at the output even when there is no signal applied. This can be due to
thermal noise and flicker noise of the devices. For applications with high gain or high bandwidth, noise
becomes a very important consideration.
AC imperfections
The op-amp gain calculated at DC does not apply at higher frequencies. Thus, for high-speed operation, more
sophisticated considerations must be used in an op-amp circuit design.
Finite bandwidth
All amplifiers have finite bandwidth. To a first approximation, the op-amp has the frequency response of
an integrator with gain. That is, the gain of a typical op-amp is inversely proportional to frequency and is
characterized by its gainbandwidth product (GBWP). For example, an op-amp with a GBWP of
1 MHz would have a gain of 5 at 200 kHz, and a gain of 1 at 1 MHz. This dynamic response coupled
with the very high DC gain of the op-amp gives it the characteristics of a first-order low-pass filter with
very high DC gain and low cutoff frequency given by the GBWP divided by the DC gain.
The finite bandwidth of an op-amp can be the source of several problems, including:
Stability. Associated with the bandwidth limitation is a phase difference between the input signal
and the amplifier output that can lead to oscillation in some feedback circuits. For example, a
sinusoidal output signal meant to interfere destructively with an input signal of the same frequency
will interfere constructively if delayed by 180 degrees forming positive feedback. In these cases,
the feedback circuit can be stabilized by means of frequency compensation, which increases the
gain or phase margin of the open-loop circuit. The circuit designer can implement this
compensation externally with a separate circuit component. Alternatively, the compensation can be
implemented within the operational amplifier with the addition of a dominant pole that sufficiently
attenuates the high-frequency gain of the operational amplifier. The location of this pole may be
fixed internally by the manufacturer or configured by the circuit designer using methods specific to
the op-amp. In general, dominant-pole frequency compensation reduces the bandwidth of the op-
amp even further. When the desired closed-loop gain is high, op-amp frequency compensation is
often not needed because the requisite open-loop gain is sufficiently low; consequently,
applications with high closed-loop gain can make use of op-amps with higher bandwidths.
Noise, Distortion, and Other Effects. Reduced bandwidth also results in lower amounts of
feedback at higher frequencies, producing higher distortion, noise, and output impedance and also
reduced output phase linearity as the frequency increases.
Typical low-cost, general-purpose op-amps exhibit a GBWP of a few megahertz. Specialty and high-
speed op-amps exist that can achieve a GBWP of hundreds of megahertz. For very high-frequency
circuits, a current-feedback operational amplifier is often used.
Input capacitance
Most important for high frequency operation because it further reduces the open-loop bandwidth of the
amplifier.
Common-mode gain
See DC imperfections, above.
Non-linear imperfections
Saturation
Output voltage is limited to a minimum and maximum value close to the power supply voltages.
[nb 3]
Saturation occurs when the output of the amplifier reaches this value and is usually due to:
In the case of an op-amp using a bipolar power supply, a voltage gain that produces an output that
The input (yellow) and output (green)
of a saturated op amp in an inverting
amplifier
is more positive or more negative than that maximum or minimum; or
In the case of an op-amp using a single supply voltage, either a voltage gain that produces an
output that is more positive than that maximum, or a signal so close to ground that the amplifier's
gain is not sufficient to raise it above the lower threshold.
[nb 4]
Slewing
The amplifier's output voltage reaches its maximum rate of
change, the slew rate, usually specified in volts per
microsecond. When slewing occurs, further increases in the
input signal have no effect on the rate of change of the output.
Slewing is usually caused by internal capacitances in the
amplifier, especially those used to implement its frequency
compensation.
Non-linear input-output relationship
The output voltage may not be accurately proportional to the difference between the input voltages. It is
commonly called distortion when the input signal is a waveform. This effect will be very small in a
practical circuit where substantial negative feedback is used.
Phase reversal
In some integrated op-amps, when the published common mode voltage is violated (e.g. by one of the
inputs being driven to one of the supply voltages), the output may slew to the opposite polarity from what
is expected in normal operation.
[7][8]
Under such conditions, negative feedback becomes positive, likely
causing the circuit to "lock up" in that state.
Power considerations
Limited output current
The output current must be finite. In practice, most op-amps are designed to limit the output current so as
not to exceed a specified level around 25mA for a type 741 IC op-amp thus protecting the op-amp
and associated circuitry from damage. Modern designs are electronically more rugged than earlier
implementations and some can sustain direct short circuits on their outputs without damage.
Output sink current
The output sink current is the maximum current allowed to sink into the output stage. Some manufacturers
show the output voltage vs. the output sink current plot, which gives an idea of the output voltage when it
is sinking current from another source into the output pin.
Limited dissipated power
The output current flows through the op-amp's internal output impedance, dissipating heat. If the op-amp
dissipates too much power, then its temperature will increase above some safe limit. The op-amp may
enter thermal shutdown, or it may be destroyed.
A component-level diagram of the common 741 op-amp. Dotted lines outline: current
mirrors (red); differential amplifier (blue); class A gain stage (magenta); voltage level
shifter (green); output stage (cyan).
Modern integrated FET or MOSFET op-amps approximate more closely the ideal op-amp than bipolar ICs
when it comes to input impedance and input bias currents. Bipolars are generally better when it comes to input
voltage offset, and often have lower noise. Generally, at room temperature, with a fairly large signal, and limited
bandwidth, FET and MOSFET op-amps now offer better performance.
Internal circuitry of 741-type op-amp
Sourced by many
manufacturers, and in
multiple similar
products, an example
of a bipolar transistor
operational amplifier is
the 741 integrated
circuit designed by
Dave Fullagar at
Fairchild
Semiconductor after
Bob Widlar's LM301
integrated circuit
design.
[9]
In this
discussion, we use the
parameters of the
Hybrid-pi model to
characterize the small-
signal, grounded
emitter characteristics
of a transistor. In this
model, the current gain of a transistor is denoted h
fe
, more commonly called the .
[10]
Architecture
A small-scale integrated circuit, the 741 op-amp shares with most op-amps an internal structure consisting of
three gain stages:
1. Differential amplifier (outlined blue) provides high differential amplification (gain), with rejection of
common-mode signal, low noise, high input impedance, and drives a
2. Voltage amplifier (outlined magenta) provides high voltage gain, a single-pole frequency roll-off, and in
turn drives the
3. Output amplifier (outlined cyan and green) provides high current gain (low output impedance), along
with output current limiting, and output short-circuit protection.
Additionally, it contains current mirror (outlined red) bias circuitry and a gain-stabilization capacitor (30 pF).
Differential amplifier
A cascaded differential amplifier followed by a current-mirror active load, the input stage (outlined in blue) is a
transconductance amplifier, turning a differential voltage signal at the bases of Q1, Q2 into a current signal into
the base of Q15.
It entails two cascaded transistor pairs, satisfying conflicting requirements. The first stage consists of the matched
NPN emitter follower pair Q1, Q2 that provide high input impedance. The second is the matched PNP
common-base pair Q3, Q4 that eliminates the undesirable Miller effect; it drives an active load Q7 plus matched
pair Q5, Q6.
That active load is implemented as a modified Wilson current mirror; its role is to convert the (differential) input
current signal to a single-ended signal without the attendant 50% losses (increasing the op-amp's open-loop gain
by 3dB).
[nb 5]
Thus, a small-signal differential current in Q3 versus Q4 appears summed (doubled) at the base
of Q15, the input of the voltage gain stage.
Voltage amplifier
The (class-A) voltage gain stage (outlined in magenta) consists of the two NPN transistors Q15/Q19 connected
in a Darlington configuration and uses the output side of current mirror Q12/Q13 as its collector (dynamic) load
to achieve its high voltage gain. The output sink transistor Q20 receives its base drive from the common
collectors of Q15 and Q19; the level-shifter Q16 provides base drive for the output source transistor Q14.
Note the similarity between the transistors Q15 and Q7.
The transistor Q22 prevents this stage from saturating by diverting the excessive Q15 base current (it acts as a
Baker clamp).
Output amplifier
The output stage (Q14, Q20, outlined in cyan) is a Class AB push-pull emitter follower amplifier. It provides an
output drive with impedance of 50, in essence, current gain. Transistor Q16 (outlined in green) provides the
quiescent current for the output transistors, and Q17 provides output current limiting.
Biasing circuits
Provide appropriate quiescent current for each stage of the op-amp.
The resistor (39 k) connecting the (diode-connected) Q11 and Q12, and the given supply voltage (V
S+
V
S
),
determine the current in the current mirrors, (matched pairs) Q10/Q11 and Q12/Q13. The collector current of
Q11, i
11
* 39 k = V
S+
V
S
2 V
BE
. For the typical V
S
= 20 V, the standing current in Q11/Q12 (as well
as in Q13) would be 1 mA. A supply current for a typical 741 of about 2 mA agrees with the notion that these
two bias currents dominate the quiescent supply current.
Transistors Q11 and Q10 form a Widlar current mirror, with quiescent current in Q10 i
10
such that ln( i
11
/ i
10
)
= i
10
* 5 k / 28 mV, where 5 k represents the emitter resistor of Q10, and 28 mV is V
T
, the thermal
voltage at room temperature. In this case i
10
20 A.
The biasing circuit of this stage is set by a feedback loop that forces the collector currents of Q10 and Q9 to
(nearly) match. The small difference in these currents provides the drive for the common base of Q3/Q4 (note
that the base drive for input transistors Q1/Q2 is the input bias current and must be sourced externally). The
summed quiescent currents of Q1/Q3 plus Q2/Q4 is mirrored from Q8 into Q9, where it is summed with the
collector current in Q10, the result being applied to the bases of Q3/Q4.
The quiescent currents of Q1/Q3 (resp., Q2/Q4) i
1
will thus be half of i
10
, of order 10 A. Input bias current
for the base of Q1 (resp. Q2) will amount to i
1
/ ; typically 50 nA, implying a current gain h
fe
200 for
Q1(Q2).
This feedback circuit tends to draw the common base node of Q3/Q4 to a voltage V
com
2 * V
BE
, where
V
com
is the input common-mode voltage. At the same time, the magnitude of the quiescent current is relatively
insensitive to the characteristics of the components Q1Q4, such as h
fe
, that would otherwise cause
temperature dependence or part-to-part variations.
Transistor Q7 drives Q5 and Q6 into conduction until their (equal) collector currents match that of Q1/Q3 and
Q2/Q4. The quiescent current in Q7 is V
BE
/ 50 k, about 35A, as is the quiescent current in Q15, with its
matching operating point. Thus, the quiescent currents are pairwise matched in Q1/Q2, Q3/Q4, Q5/Q6, and
Q7/Q15.
Voltage amplifier
Quiescent currents in Q16 and Q19 are set by the current mirror Q12/Q13, which is running at 1 mA.
Through some (?) mechanism, the collector current in Q19 tracks that standing current.
Output amplifier
In the circuit involving Q16 (variously named rubber diode or V
BE
multiplier), the 4.5 k resistor must be
conducting about 100 A, with the Q16 V
BE
roughly 700 mV. Then the V
CB
must be about 0.45 V and V
CE
at
about 1.0 V. Because the Q16 collector is driven by a current source and the Q16 emitter drives into the Q19
collector current sink, the Q16 transistor establishes a voltage difference between Q14 base and Q20 base of
1 V, regardless of the common-mode voltage of Q14/Q20 base. The standing current in Q14/Q20 will be a
factor exp(100 mV / V
T
) 36 smaller than the 1 mA quiescent current in the class A portion of the op amp.
This (small) standing current in the output transistors establishes the output stage in class AB operation and
reduces the crossover distortion of this stage.
Small-signal differential mode
A small differential input voltage signal gives rise, through multiple stages of current amplification, to a much
larger voltage signal on output.
Input impedance
Because Q1 and Q3 (resp. Q2 and Q4) form a Darlington pair, the small-signal differential input impedance is
of order 2h
ie
h
fe
, where h
ie
is the small-signal input impedance (common emitter) of Q1 and Q3 (resp. Q2 and
Q4) and where h
fe
is the transistor small-signal current gain (or ). This contrasts with what would be the case
with a simpler emitter-coupled pair (long-tailed pair) input stage, where the differential input impedance is 2h
ie
, a
factor of lower. A typical 741 op amp has an input impedance 28 M.
A differential voltage V
In
at the op-amp inputs (pins 3 and 2, respectively) gives rise to a small differential
current in the bases of Q1 and Q2 i
In
V
In
/ ( 2 h
ie
* h
fe
). This differential base current causes a change in the
differential collector current in each leg by i
In
* h
fe
. Introducing the transconductance of Q1, g
m
= h
fe
/ h
ie
, the
(small-signal) current at the base of Q15 (the input of the voltage gain stage) is V
In
* g
m
/ 2.
This portion of the op amp cleverly changes a differential signal at the op amp inputs to a single-ended signal at
the base of Q15, and in a way that avoids wastefully discarding the signal in either leg. To see how, notice that a
small negative change in voltage at the inverting input (Q2 base) drives it out of conduction, and this incremental
decrease in current passes directly from Q4 collector to its emitter, resulting in an decrease in base drive for
Q15. On the other hand, a small positive change in voltage at the non-inverting input (Q1 base) drives this
transistor into conduction, reflected in an increase in current at the collector of Q3. This current drives Q7
further into conduction, which turns on current mirror Q5/Q6. Thus, the increase in Q3 emitter current is
mirrored in an increase in Q6 collector current, resulting also in a decrease in base drive for Q15. Besides
avoiding wasting 3dB of gain here, this technique decreases common-mode gain and feedthrough of power
supply noise.
Voltage amplifier
A current signal i at Q15's base gives rise to a current in Q19 of order i *
2
(the product of the h
fe
of each of
Q15 and Q19, which are connected in a Darlington pair). This current signal develops a voltage at the bases of
output transistors Q14/Q20 proportional to the h
ie
of the respective transistor.
Output amplifier
Output transistors Q14 and Q20 are each configured as an emitter follower, so no voltage gain occurs there;
instead, this stage provides current gain, equal to the h
fe
of Q14 (resp. Q20).
The output impedance is not zero, as it would be in an ideal op-amp, but with negative feedback it approaches
zero at low frequencies.
Overall open-loop voltage gain
The net open-loop small-signal voltage gain of the op amp involves the product of the current gain h
fe
of some 4
transistors. In practice, the voltage gain for a typical 741-style op amp is of order 200,000, and the current gain,
the ratio of input impedance (26 M) to output impedance (50) provides yet more (power) gain.
Other linear characteristics
Small-signal common mode gain
The ideal op amp has infinite common-mode rejection ratio, or zero common-mode gain.
In the present circuit, if the input voltages change in the same direction, the negative feedback makes Q3/Q4
base voltage follow (with 2V
BE
below) the input voltage variations. Now the output part (Q10) of Q10-Q11
current mirror keeps up the common current through Q9/Q8 constant in spite of varying voltage. Q3/Q4
collector currents, and accordingly the output current at the base of Q15, remain unchanged.
In the typical 741 op amp, the common-mode rejection ratio is 90dB, implying an open-loop common-mode
voltage gain of about 6.
Frequency compensation
The innovation of the Fairchild A741 was the introduction of frequency compensation via an on-chip
(monolithic) capacitor, simplifying application of the op amp by eliminating the need for external components for
this function. The 30 pF capacitor stabilizes the amplifier via Miller compensation and functions in a manner
similar to an op-amp integrator circuit. Also known as 'dominant pole compensation' because it introduces a
pole that masks (dominates) the effects of other poles into the open loop frequency response; in a 741 op amp
this pole can be as low as 10 Hz (where it causes a 3 dB loss of open loop voltage gain).
This internal compensation is provided to achieve unconditional stability of the amplifier in negative feedback
configurations where the feedback network is non-reactive and the closed loop gain is unity or higher. By
contrast, amplifiers requiring external compensation, such as the A748, may require external compensation or
closed-loop gains significantly higher than unity.
Input offset voltage
The "offset null" pins may be used to place external resistors (typically in the form of the two ends of a
potentiometer, with the slider connected to V
S
) in parallel with the emitter resistors of Q5 and Q6, to adjust the
balance of the Q5/Q6 current mirror. The potentiometer is adjusted such that the output is null (midrange) when
the inputs are shorted together.
Non-linear characteristics
Input breakdown voltage
The transistors Q3, Q4 help to increase the reverse V
BE
rating: the base-emitter junctions of the NPN
transistors Q1 and Q2 break down at around 7V, but the PNP transistors Q3 and Q4 have V
BE
breakdown
voltages around 50 V.
[11]
Output-stage voltage swing and current limiting
Variations in the quiescent current with temperature, or between parts with the same type number, are common,
so crossover distortion and quiescent current may be subject to significant variation.
The output range of the amplifier is about one volt less than the supply voltage, owing in part to V
BE
of the
output transistors Q14 and Q20.
The 25 resistor at the Q14 emitter, along with Q17, acts to limit Q14 current to about 25 mA; otherwise,
Q17 conducts no current.
Current limiting for Q20 is performed in the voltage gain stage: Q22 senses the voltage across Q19's emitter
resistor (50); as it turns on, it diminishes the drive current to Q15 base.
Later versions of this amplifier schematic may show a somewhat different method of output current limiting.
Applicability considerations
Note: while the 741 was historically used in audio and other sensitive equipment, such use is now rare
because of the improved noise performance of more modern op-amps. Apart from generating noticeable
hiss, 741s and other older op-amps may have poor common-mode rejection ratios and so will often
introduce cable-borne mains hum and other common-mode interference, such as switch 'clicks', into
sensitive equipment.
The "741" has come to often mean a generic op-amp IC (such as A741, LM301, 558, LM324, TBA221
or a more modern replacement such as the TL071). The description of the 741 output stage is qualitatively
similar for many other designs (that may have quite different input stages), except:
Some devices (A748, LM301, LM308) are not internally compensated (require an external capacitor
from output to some point within the operational amplifier, if used in low closed-loop gain applications).
Some modern devices have "rail-to-rail output" capability, meaning that the output can range from within
a few millivolts of the positive supply voltage to within a few millivolts of the negative supply voltage.
Classification
Op-amps may be classified by their construction:
discrete (built from individual transistors or tubes/valves)
IC (fabricated in an Integrated circuit) most common
hybrid
IC op-amps may be classified in many ways, including:
Military, Industrial, or Commercial grade (for example: the LM301 is the commercial grade version of the
LM101, the LM201 is the industrial version). This may define operating temperature ranges and other
environmental or quality factors.
Classification by package type may also affect environmental hardiness, as well as manufacturing options;
DIP, and other through-hole packages are tending to be replaced by surface-mount devices.
Classification by internal compensation: op-amps may suffer from high frequency instability in some
negative feedback circuits unless a small compensation capacitor modifies the phase and frequency
responses. Op-amps with a built-in capacitor are termed "compensated", or perhaps compensated for
closed-loop gains down to (say) 5. All others are considered uncompensated.
Single, dual and quad versions of many commercial op-amp IC are available, meaning 1, 2 or 4
operational amplifiers are included in the same package.
Rail-to-rail input (and/or output) op-amps can work with input (and/or output) signals very close to the
power supply rails.
DIP pinout for 741-type operational
amplifier
CMOS op-amps (such as the CA3140E) provide extremely high input resistances, higher than JFET-
input op-amps, which are normally higher than bipolar-input op-amps.
other varieties of op-amp include programmable op-amps (simply meaning the quiescent current, gain,
bandwidth and so on can be adjusted slightly by an external resistor).
manufacturers often tabulate their op-amps according to purpose, such as low-noise pre-amplifiers, wide
bandwidth amplifiers, and so on.
Applications
Use in electronics system design
The use of op-amps as circuit blocks is much easier and clearer than
specifying all their individual circuit elements (transistors, resistors,
etc.), whether the amplifiers used are integrated or discrete. In the first
approximation op-amps can be used as if they were ideal differential
gain blocks; at a later stage limits can be placed on the acceptable
range of parameters for each op-amp.
Circuit design follows the same lines for all electronic circuits. A
specification is drawn up governing what the circuit is required to do, with allowable limits. For example, the
gain may be required to be 100 times, with a tolerance of 5% but drift of less than 1% in a specified temperature
range; the input impedance not less than one megohm; etc.
A basic circuit is designed, often with the help of circuit modeling (on a computer). Specific commercially
available op-amps and other components are then chosen that meet the design criteria within the specified
tolerances at acceptable cost. If not all criteria can be met, the specification may need to be modified.
A prototype is then built and tested; changes to meet or improve the specification, alter functionality, or reduce
the cost, may be made.
Applications without using any feedback
That is, the op-amp is being used as a voltage comparator. Note that a device designed primarily as a
comparator may be better if, for instance, speed is important or a wide range of input voltages may be found,
since such devices can quickly recover from full on or full off ("saturated") states.
A voltage level detector can be obtained if a reference voltage V
ref
is applied to one of the op-amp's inputs.
This means that the op-amp is set up as a comparator to detect a positive voltage. If the voltage to be sensed,
E
i
, is applied to op amp's (+) input, the result is a noninverting positive-level detector: when E
i
is above V
ref
, V
O
equals +V
sat
; when E
i
is below V
ref
, V
O
equals V
sat
. If E
i
is applied to the inverting input, the circuit is an
inverting positive-level detector: When E
i
is above V
ref
, V
O
equals V
sat
.
A zero voltage level detector (E
i
= 0) can convert, for example, the output of a sine-wave from a function
generator into a variable-frequency square wave. If E
i
is a sine wave, triangular wave, or wave of any other
shape that is symmetrical around zero, the zero-crossing detector's output will be square. Zero-crossing
detection may also be useful in triggering TRIACs at the best time to reduce mains interference and current
spikes.
An op-amp connected in the non-inverting amplifier
configuration
Positive feedback applications
Another typical configuration of op-amps is with positive feedback, which takes a fraction of the output signal
back to the non-inverting input. An important application of it is the comparator with hysteresis, the Schmitt
trigger. Some circuits may use Positive feedback and Negative feedback around the same amplifier, for
example Triangle wave oscillators and active filters.
Because of the wide slew-range and lack of positive feedback, the response of all the open-loop level detectors
described above will be relatively slow. External overall positive feedback may be applied but (unlike internal
positive feedback that may be applied within the latter stages of a purpose-designed comparator) this markedly
affects the accuracy of the zero-crossing detection point. Using a general-purpose op-amp, for example, the
frequency of E
i
for the sine to square wave converter should probably be below 100 Hz.
Negative feedback applications
Non-inverting amplifier
In a non-inverting amplifier, the output voltage
changes in the same direction as the input voltage.
The gain equation for the op-amp is:
However, in this circuit V
is a function of V
out
because
of the negative feedback through the R
1
R
2
network. R
1
and R
2
form a voltage divider, and as V
is a high-
impedance input, it does not load it appreciably. Consequently:
where
Substituting this into the gain equation, we obtain:
Solving for :
If is very large, this simplifies to
.
An op-amp connected in the inverting amplifier
configuration
The non-inverting input of the operational amplifier needs a path for DC to ground; if the signal source does not
supply a DC path, or if that source requires a given load impedance, then the circuit will require another resistor
from the non-inverting input to ground. When the operational amplifier's input bias currents are significant, then
the DC source resistances driving the inputs should be balanced.
[12]
The ideal value for the feedback resistors
(to give minimum offset voltage) will be such that the two resistances in parallel roughly equal the resistance to
ground at the non-inverting input pin. That ideal value assumes the bias currents are well-matched, which may
not be true for all op-amps.
[13]
Inverting amplifier
In an inverting amplifier, the output voltage changes
in an opposite direction to the input voltage.
As with the non-inverting amplifier, we start with the gain
equation of the op-amp:
This time, V
is a function of both V
out
and V
in
due to
the voltage divider formed by R
f
and R
in
. Again, the op-
amp input does not apply an appreciable load, so:
Substituting this into the gain equation and solving for :
If is very large, this simplifies to
A resistor is often inserted between the non-inverting input and ground (so both inputs "see" similar resistances),
reducing the input offset voltage due to different voltage drops due to bias current, and may reduce distortion in
some op-amps.
A DC-blocking capacitor may be inserted in series with the input resistor when a frequency response down to
DC is not needed and any DC voltage on the input is unwanted. That is, the capacitive component of the input
impedance inserts a DC zero and a low-frequency pole that gives the circuit a bandpass or high-pass
characteristic.
The potentials at the operational amplifier inputs remain virtually constant (near ground) in the inverting
configuration. The constant operating potential typically results in distortion levels that are lower than those
attainable with the non-inverting topology.
Other applications
GAP/R's K2-W: a
vacuum-tube op-
amp (1953)
audio- and video-frequency pre-amplifiers and buffers
differential amplifiers
differentiators and integrators
filters
precision rectifiers
precision peak detectors
voltage and current regulators
analog calculators
analog-to-digital converters
digital-to-analog converters
Voltage clamping
oscillators and waveform generators
Most single, dual and quad op-amps available have a standardized pin-out which permits one type to be
substituted for another without wiring changes. A specific op-amp may be chosen for its open loop gain,
bandwidth, noise performance, input impedance, power consumption, or a compromise between any of these
factors.
Historical timeline
1941: A vacuum tube op-amp. An op-amp, defined as a general-purpose, DC-coupled, high gain, inverting
feedback amplifier, is first found in U.S. Patent 2,401,779 (http://www.google.com/patents/US2401779)
"Summing Amplifier" filed by Karl D. Swartzel Jr. of Bell Labs in 1941. This design used three vacuum tubes to
achieve a gain of 90 dB and operated on voltage rails of 350 V. It had a single inverting input rather than
differential inverting and non-inverting inputs, as are common in today's op-amps. Throughout World War II,
Swartzel's design proved its value by being liberally used in the M9 artillery director designed at Bell Labs. This
artillery director worked with the SCR584 radar system to achieve extraordinary hit rates (near 90%) that
would not have been possible otherwise.
[14]
1947: An op-amp with an explicit non-inverting input. In 1947, the operational
amplifier was first formally defined and named in a paper by Professor John R.
Ragazzini of Columbia University. In this same paper a footnote mentioned an op-amp
design by a student that would turn out to be quite significant. This op-amp, designed
by Loebe Julie, was superior in a variety of ways. It had two major innovations. Its
input stage used a long-tailed triode pair with loads matched to reduce drift in the
output and, far more importantly, it was the first op-amp design to have two inputs
(one inverting, the other non-inverting). The differential input made a whole range of
new functionality possible, but it would not be used for a long time due to the rise of
the chopper-stabilized amplifier.
[14]
1949: A chopper-stabilized op-amp. In 1949, Edwin A. Goldberg designed a
chopper-stabilized op-amp.
[15]
This set-up uses a normal op-amp with an additional
AC amplifier that goes alongside the op-amp. The chopper gets an AC signal from
DC by switching between the DC voltage and ground at a fast rate (60 Hz or
400 Hz). This signal is then amplified, rectified, filtered and fed into the op-amp's non-
inverting input. This vastly improved the gain of the op-amp while significantly reducing
GAP/R's model P45:
a solid-state,
discrete op-amp
(1961).
GAP/R's model
PP65: a solid-state
op-amp in a potted
module (1962)
the output drift and DC offset. Unfortunately, any design that used a chopper couldn't use their non-inverting
input for any other purpose. Nevertheless, the much improved characteristics of the chopper-stabilized op-amp
made it the dominant way to use op-amps. Techniques that used the non-inverting input regularly would not be
very popular until the 1960s when op-amp ICs started to show up in the field.
1953: A commercially available op-amp. In 1953, vacuum tube op-amps became commercially available
with the release of the model K2-W from George A. Philbrick Researches, Incorporated. The designation on
the devices shown, GAP/R, is an acronym for the complete company name. Two nine-pin 12AX7 vacuum
tubes were mounted in an octal package and had a model K2-P chopper add-on available that would
effectively "use up" the non-inverting input. This op-amp was based on a descendant of Loebe Julie's 1947
design and, along with its successors, would start the widespread use of op-amps in industry.
1961: A discrete IC op-amp. With the birth of the transistor in 1947, and the silicon
transistor in 1954, the concept of ICs became a reality. The introduction of the planar
process in 1959 made transistors and ICs stable enough to be commercially useful. By
1961, solid-state, discrete op-amps were being produced. These op-amps were
effectively small circuit boards with packages such as edge connectors. They usually
had hand-selected resistors in order to improve things such as voltage offset and drift.
The P45 (1961) had a gain of 94 dB and ran on 15 V rails. It was intended to deal
with signals in the range of 10 V.
1961: A varactor bridge op-amp. There have been many different directions taken
in op-amp design. Varactor bridge op-amps started to be produced in the early
1960s.
[16][17]
They were designed to have extremely small input current and are still amongst the best op-amps
available in terms of common-mode rejection with the ability to correctly deal with hundreds of volts at their
inputs.
1962: An op-amp in a potted module. By 1962, several companies were producing
modular potted packages that could be plugged into printed circuit boards. These
packages were crucially important as they made the operational amplifier into a single
black box which could be easily treated as a component in a larger circuit.
1963: A monolithic IC op-amp. In 1963, the first monolithic IC op-amp, the A702
designed by Bob Widlar at Fairchild Semiconductor, was released. Monolithic ICs
consist of a single chip as opposed to a chip and discrete parts (a discrete IC) or
multiple chips bonded and connected on a circuit board (a hybrid IC). Almost all
modern op-amps are monolithic ICs; however, this first IC did not meet with much
success. Issues such as an uneven supply voltage, low gain and a small dynamic range
held off the dominance of monolithic op-amps until 1965 when the A709
[18]
(also
designed by Bob Widlar) was released.
1968: Release of the A741. The popularity of monolithic op-amps was further improved upon the release of
the LM101 in 1967, which solved a variety of issues, and the subsequent release of the A741 in 1968. The
A741 was extremely similar to the LM101 except that Fairchild's facilities allowed them to include a 30 pF
compensation capacitor inside the chip instead of requiring external compensation. This simple difference has
made the 741 the canonical op-amp and many modern amps base their pinout on the 741s. The A741 is still
in production, and has become ubiquitous in electronicsmany manufacturers produce a version of this classic
chip, recognizable by part numbers containing 741. The same part is manufactured by several companies.
1970: First high-speed, low-input current FET design. In the 1970s high speed, low-input current designs
started to be made by using FETs. These would be largely replaced by op-amps made with MOSFETs in the
1980s. During the 1970s single sided supply op-amps also became available.
ADI's HOS-050: a
high speed hybrid
IC op-amp (1979)
An op-amp in a
modern mini DIP
1972: Single sided supply op-amps being produced. A single sided supply op-amp
is one where the input and output voltages can be as low as the negative power supply
voltage instead of needing to be at least two volts above it. The result is that it can
operate in many applications with the negative supply pin on the op-amp being
connected to the signal ground, thus eliminating the need for a separate negative power
supply.
The LM324 (released in 1972) was one such op-amp that came in a quad package
(four separate op-amps in one package) and became an industry standard. In addition
to packaging multiple op-amps in a single package, the 1970s also saw the birth of
op-amps in hybrid packages. These op-amps were generally improved versions of
existing monolithic op-amps. As the properties of monolithic op-amps improved, the
more complex hybrid ICs were quickly relegated to systems that are required to have extremely long service
lives or other specialty systems.
Recent trends. Recently supply voltages in analog circuits have decreased (as they
have in digital logic) and low-voltage op-amps have been introduced reflecting this.
Supplies of 5 V and increasingly 3.3 V (sometimes as low as 1.8 V) are common.
To maximize the signal range modern op-amps commonly have rail-to-rail output (the
output signal can range from the lowest supply voltage to the highest) and sometimes
rail-to-rail inputs.
See also
Operational amplifier applications
Instrumentation amplifier
Active filter
Current-feedback operational amplifier
Operational transconductance amplifier
George A. Philbrick
Bob Widlar
Analog computer
Negative feedback amplifier
Current conveyor
Notes
1. ^ This definition hews to the convention of measuring op-amp parameters with respect to the zero voltage
point in the circuit, which is usually half the total voltage between the amplifier's positive and negative power
rails.
2. ^ Many older designs of operational amplifiers have offset null inputs to allow the offset to be manually
adjusted away. Modern precision op-amps can have internal circuits that automatically cancel this offset using
choppers or other circuits that measure the offset voltage periodically and subtract it from the input voltage.
3. ^ That the output cannot reach the power supply voltages is usually the result of limitations of the amplifier's
output stage transistors. See Output stage.
References
4. ^ The output of older op-amps can reach to within one or two volts of the supply rails. The output of newer
so-called "rail to rail" op-amps can reach to within millivolts of the supply rails when providing low output
currents.
5. ^ Widlar used this same trick in A702 and A709
1. ^ Maxim Application Note 1108: Understanding Single-Ended, Pseudo-Differential and Fully-Differential ADC
Inputs (http://www.maxim-ic.com/appnotes.cfm/an_pk/1108) Retrieved November 10, 2007
2. ^ Analog devices MT-044 Tutorial (http://www.analog.com/static/imported-files/tutorials/MT-044.pdf)
3. ^ "Burson Opamp" (http://www.partsconnexion.com/t/Index/burson_opam1.html). Parts Connexion. Retrieved
24 September 2012. "BURSON-71484 Dual Discrete Op Amp Modules, pair pcX Selling Price: $179.95/pr
BURSON-71485 Dual Discrete OpAmp Module, single pcX Selling Price: $89.95 each. BURSON-71486 Single
Discrete Op Amp Modules, pair pcX Selling Price: $114.95/pr. Quantity discounts for Modifiers and OEM's"
4. ^ Jacob Millman, Microelectronics: Digital and Analog Circuits and Systems, McGraw-Hill, 1979, ISBN 0-07-
042327-X, pp. 523-527
5. ^
a

b
Horowitz, Paul; Hill, Winfield (1989). The Art of Electronics (http://books.google.com/books?
id=bkOMDgwFA28C&pg=PA177&lpg=PA177#v=onepage&q&f=false). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University
Press. ISBN 0-521-37095-7.
6. ^ D.F. Stout Handbook of Operational Amplifier Circuit Design (McGraw-Hill, 1976, ISBN 0-07-061797-X )
pp. 111.
7. ^ {{cite web |url=http://www.analog.com/static/imported-files/tutorials/MT-036.pdf |title=Op Amp Output
Phase-Reversal and Input Over-Voltage Protection |year=2009 |publisher=Analog Devices |accessdate=2012-
12-27}}
8. ^ {{cite web |url=http://www.edn.com/contents/images/45890.pdf |title=Bootstrapping your op amp yields
wide voltage swings |last1=King |first1=Grayson |last2=Watkins |first2=Tim |date=13 May 1999
|publisher=Electronic Design News |accessdate=2012-12-27}}
9. ^ Lee, Thomas H. (November 18, 2002). "IC Op-Amps Through the Ages"
(http://www.stanford.edu/class/archive/ee/ee214/ee214.1032/Handouts/ho18opamp.pdf). Stanford
UniversityHandout #18: EE214 Fall 2002.
10. ^ Lu, Liang-Hung. "Electronics 2, Chapter 10"
(http://cc.ee.ntu.edu.tw/~lhlu/eecourses/Electronics2/Electronics_Ch10.pdf). National Taiwan University,
Graduate Institute of Electronics Engineering. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
11. ^ The A741 Operational Amplifier (http://ecow.engr.wisc.edu/cgi-
bin/get/ece/342/schowalter/notes/chapter10/theua741operationalamplifier.ppt)
12. ^ An input bias current of 1 A through a DC source resistance of 10 k produces a 10 mV offset voltage. If
the other input bias current is the same and sees the same source resistance, then the two input offset voltages
will cancel out. Balancing the DC source resistances may not be necessary if the input bias current and source
resistance product is small.
13. ^ http://www.analog.com/static/imported-files/tutorials/MT-038.pdf
14. ^
a

b
Jung, Walter G. (2004). "Chapter 8: Op Amp History" (http://books.google.com/books?id=dunqt1rt4sAC).
Op Amp Applications Handbook. Newnes. p. 777. ISBN 978-0-7506-7844-5. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
15. ^ http://www.analog.com/library/analogDialogue/archives/39-05/Web_ChH_final.pdf
16. ^ http://www.philbrickarchive.org/
Further reading
Design with Operational Amplifiers and Analog Integrated Circuits; 4th Ed; Sergio Franco;
McGraw Hill; 672 pages; 2014; ISBN 978-0078028168.
Op Amps For Everyone; 4th Ed; Ron Mancini; Newnes; 304 pages; 2013; ISBN 978-0123914958.
(Free PDF download of older version) (http://focus.ti.com/lit/an/slod006b/slod006b.pdf)
Small Signal Audio Design; Douglas Self; Focal Press; 556 pages; 2010; ISBN 978-0-240-52177-0.
Op Amp Applications Handbook; Walt G. Jung; Newnes; 896 pages; 2004; ISBN 978-0750678445.
(Free PDF download) (http://www.analog.com/library/analogDialogue/archives/39-
05/op_amp_applications_handbook.html)
Op Amps and Linear Integrated Circuits; James M. Fiore; Cengage Learning; 616 pages; 2000;
ISBN 978-0766817937.
Operational Amplifiers and Linear Integrated Circuits; 6th Ed; Robert F Coughlin; Prentice Hall; 529
pages; 2000; ISBN 978-0130149916.
Op-Amps and Linear Integrated Circuits; 4th Ed; Ram Gayakwad; Prentice Hall; 543 pages; 1999;
ISBN 978-0132808682.
Basic Operational Amplifiers and Linear Integrated Circuits; 2nd Ed; Thomas L Floyd and David
Buchla; Prentice Hall; 593 pages; 1998; ISBN 978-0130829870.
Troubleshooting Analog Circuits; Bob Pease; Newnes; 217 pages; 1991; ISBN 978-0750694995.
IC Op-Amp Cookbook; 3rd Ed; Walter G. Jung; Prentice Hall; 433 pages; 1986; ISBN 978-
0138896010.
Engineer's Mini-Notebook OpAmp IC Circuits; Forrest Mims III; Radio Shack; 49 pages; 1985;
ASIN B000DZG196.
External links
Simple Op Amp Measurements (http://www.analog.com/library/analogDialogue/archives/45-
04/op_amp_measurements.html) How to measure offset voltage, offset and bias current, gain, CMRR,
and PSRR.
Introduction to op-amp circuit stages, second order filters, single op-amp bandpass filters, and a simple
intercom (http://www.bowdenshobbycircuits.info/opamp.htm)
MOS op amp design: A tutorial overview (http://lyle.smu.edu/ee/7321/MOS_op-amp_design.pdf)
Operational Amplifier Noise Prediction (All Op Amps) (http://www.intersil.com/data/an/an519.pdf) using
spot noise
Operational Amplifier Basics (http://www.williamson-labs.com/480_opam.htm)
17. ^ June 1961 advertisement for Philbrick P2,
http://www.philbrickarchive.org/p2%20and%206033%20ad%20rsi%20vol32%20no6%20june1961.pdf
18. ^ A.P. Malvino, Electronic Principles (2nd Ed. 1979. ISBN 0-07-039867-4) p. 476.
History of the Op-amp (http://www.analog.com/library/analogDialogue/archives/39-
05/Web_ChH_final.pdf) from vacuum tubes to about 2002. Lots of detail, with schematics. IC part is
somewhat ADI-centric.
Loebe Julie historical OpAmp interview (http://electronicdesign.com/article/analog-and-mixed-
signal/what-s-all-this-julie-stuff-anyhow-6071.aspx) by Bob Pease
www.PhilbrickArchive.org (http://www.PhilbrickArchive.org) A free repository of materials from
George A Philbrick / Researches - Operational Amplifier Pioneer
Whats The Difference Between Operational Amplifiers And Instrumentation Amplifiers?
(http://electronicdesign.com/print/power/what-s-difference-between-operational-amplifiers-and-
instrumentation-amplifiers), Electronic Design Magazine
IC Datasheets
LM301, Single BJT OpAmp, Texas Instruments (http://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/lm301a-n)
LM324, Quad BJT OpAmp, Texas Instruments (http://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/lm324)
LM741, Single BJT OpAmp, Texas Instruments (http://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/lm741)
NE5532, Dual BJT OpAmp, Texas Instruments (http://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/ne5532) (NE5534 is Quad)
TL072, Dual JFET OpAmp, Texas Instruments (http://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/tl072) (TL074 is Quad)
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Categories: Electronic amplifiers Linear integrated circuits Integrated circuits
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What is an operational amplifier?

What are some common applications of operational amplifiers?

7/13/2014 Operational amplifier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

drives the amplifier output nearly to the supply voltage.

at 1 V. Because of the feedback provided by the R

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