13/10/2021, 12:21 operational amplifier - Why is the bias input current of an op amp a constant value?

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Why is the bias input current of an op amp a constant value?

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I read this text on op amp input bias current. It says:

3 The input pins are the base pins of the transistor (or gate pins in the case of FET
inputs). In order for the input transistor to operate, the base current (IB) must flow.
This base current is the input bias current.

1
Often the input bias current is modeled by this kind of model:

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13/10/2021, 12:21 operational amplifier - Why is the bias input current of an op amp a constant value? - Electrical Engineerin…

The bias current of an op amp is mentioned usually in the datasheet. But why is it constant?
If the bias current is connected to the base-emitter junction of a transistor inside the op amp,
shouldn't its value be dependent on the input voltage? Why can it be modeled in a circuit
using a constant current source?

operational-amplifier biasing

Share Cite Follow asked 11 hours ago

S. Rotos
2,935 2 18 41

1 Nobody said it was constant, and it does vary with input voltage. The only thing you can rely on is that
the bias currents for the two inputs track each other for any given input voltage to within the specified
margin. This is why it is important that both inputs "see" equivalent external resistance values.
– Dave Tweed
11 hours ago

@DaveTweed Then why do datasheets report this value? For example, LM741 datasheet reports a
typical value of 80nA. Doesn't this imply its constant and not dependent on the voltage?
–  S. Rotos
11
hours ago

the bias current is connected to the base-emitter junction of a transistor inside the op amp, shouldn't its
value be dependent on the input voltage? That would generally not make a good opamp. So the input
transistors aren't connected like that. Search for "differential pair" which is the circuit that is often used
as the input of an opamp.
– Bimpelrekkie
11 hours ago

1 @S.Rotos No, simply a datasheet having a value does not imply that the value is constant forever. For
example if you read the LM358 datasheet, it says "the current is essentially constant" under certain
defined conditions. It will vary based on supply voltage and temperature, but not by much based on the
input voltage when it is well within the operating range.
– Justme
10 hours ago

Mainly so that you have an idea what the order of magnitude is. Some applications can work with
microamp bias currents, while others require picoamp or femtoamp currents.
– Dave Tweed
6 hours
ago

4 Answers Active Oldest Votes

A typical structure of an op amp input looks like a differential pair; a simplified model of how
one generally looks is shown below:
6

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13/10/2021, 12:21 operational amplifier - Why is the bias input current of an op amp a constant value? - Electrical Engineerin…

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

The two transistors Q1 and Q2 are laid out carefully for optimal matching using techniques
like common-centroid, interdigitation, etc - their saturation current, beta, and other relevant
parameters are held as close to identical as possible.

Since an op amp is generally used in feedback and the datasheet DC characteristics often
assume feedback and linear behavior, we will make the same assumption. The beauty of this
structure is that it responds to differential signals, but very little to common mode ones, and
because we're in feedback the differential signal is very small.

The differential pair bias current is split equally across the two branches, and is constant1 as a
result of the construction of the differential pair; this means that as long as the two transistors
remain in their forward-active mode, each will draw a base current of IBI AS /2β.

It's worth noting that the input bias current isn't necessarily sunk into the chip; it may be
sourced from the chip, e.g. in the case of a PNP differential pair.

Of course, as we relax the simplfications, we lose the constant behavior. Non-idealities of the
tail current source (or in the worst case, a pseudodifferential pair or a common tail resistor) will
lead to a varying current, and more advanced input structures can also make the current vary
with common-mode voltage.

As a result, designers should generally assume that the bias current is an unknown value up
to the datasheet guarantee (a worst-case value). By also assuming that the input bias is
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matched across both sides, it's then easy to null the effect of the input bias current by
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example of how this analysis and design trick can be applied to an entire op amp circuit used
for gain.
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1 Here, constant means that it's constant for a given chip, at a given supply voltage, at a given
temperat re It ill ar ith man fact ring ariations s ppl oltage ariations and heating
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13/10/2021, 12:21 operational amplifier - Why is the bias input current of an op amp a constant value? - Electrical Engineerin…
temperature. It will vary with manufacturing variations, supply voltage variations, and heating.

Share Cite Follow edited 11 hours ago answered 11 hours ago

nanofarad
9,043 2 26 50

If you think of the simplified input circuit of a bipolar-input op-amp with a differential pair- the
transistors are operated at fairly constant and equal collector currents at balance, so the base
6 currents tend to be fairly constant.
(image from here)

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CMOS
Accept and JFETCustomize
all cookies input op-amps
settingsare another matter- the input bias current consists of
leakages in input transistors and protection networks so you would expect them to vary with
input CM voltage.
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13/10/2021, 12:21 operational amplifier - Why is the bias input current of an op amp a constant value? - Electrical Engineerin…

Getting back the bipolar types, a real op-amp such as the LT1013 has characteristics like this:

As you can see the bias current varies by about 2:1 with common mode voltage typically (+5V
supply), and varies significantly with temperature as well. So they're not really all that
constant.

Take an older "precision" op-amp design, the LM725 which actually has something close to
the simple textbook differential pair with current source as the front end (and no bias current
compensation):

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13/10/2021, 12:21 operational amplifier - Why is the bias input current of an op amp a constant value? - Electrical Engineerin…

You can see that the input bias current varies by 4:1 over a wide temperature range.

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13/10/2021, 12:21 operational amplifier - Why is the bias input current of an op amp a constant value? - Electrical Engineerin…

You refer in particular to the LM741- here is the input bias current as a function of temperature
for the Fairchild uA741 from the Nov 1970 datasheet:

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input bias .
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change significantly.
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Rail-to-rail input bipolar-input op-amps have even more "interesting" characteristics in that the
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13/10/2021, 12:21 operational amplifier - Why is the bias input current of an op amp a constant value? - Electrical Engineerin…

bias current typically changes sign depending on common mode voltage. The shenanigans
look like this for the LT1218:

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13/10/2021, 12:21 operational amplifier - Why is the bias input current of an op amp a constant value? - Electrical Engineerin…

Compare with the much cheaper LM358 where the current changes only
about 20% typically with CM voltage, and in a smooth manner.
P.S. do not take the "simplified" schematics without a large grain of salt. Even the venerable
LM358 has a more sophisticated current source arrangement than shown (3 current paths
rather than one), which has a large effect on the bias current change with differential input
voltage.

Share Cite Follow edited 9 hours ago answered 11 hours ago

Spehro Pefhany
304k 12 261 651

The LM358 datasheet does note that the bias current is essentially constant - of course it will
vary based on temperature and supply voltage etc, but assuming they are constant and the
3 input stage is ideal, the current is constant.

That is because the emitter is biased with a constant current source or sink (depending on if
the input is PNP or NPN stage) which in theory has infinite source impedance, so emitter bias
current will be constant and thus the base input current will also be constant, independent of
the base voltage.

Of course with real world components and power supplies, the bias current will be
approximately constant when the input voltage is within some safe limits.

Share Cite Follow answered 11 hours ago

Justme
67.1k 2 54 131

First, let's differentiate between FET input and Bipolar input OPamps. You might see FET-
input or MOSfet-input bias currents ranging from negative-to-positive values. Also note that
2 their bias currents, although tiny, vary significantly with temperature.

Bipolar input current polarity depend on whether input transistors are PNP or NPN.

Most often, "-in" and "+in" pins go to differential pair consisting of two identical
transistors...their emitters are fed with a constant current source. When the opamp is running
linearly, each differential transistor conducts half the current source's current. Since both
these transistors have identical current gain, their base current is the same, and is constant,
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just as emitter current is constant.

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our Cookie Policy. once the opamp exits from its linear range.

The OP's image is misleading. Bias currents are shown going to "earth". They actually return
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not to earth, but to one of the DC supply pins (often called Vcc, Vee)

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glen_geek
16.8k 1 17 36

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