OPERATION AMPLIFIER
(OP-AMP)
❑ What is an Operational Amplifier?
An operational amplifier (op amp) is an analog circuit block that takes a differential voltage input
and produces a single-ended voltage output. Op amps usually have three terminals: two high-
impedance inputs and a low-impedance output port. The inverting input is denoted with a minus (-)
sign, and the non-inverting input uses a positive (+) sign. Operational amplifiers work to amplify the
voltage differential between the inputs, which is useful for a variety of analog functions including
signal chain, power, and control applications. The Op-Amp is a versatile device which can be used
to amplify both DC and AC signals and these are mainly designed for performing mathematical
operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication etc.
❑ Block Diagram of Operational Amplifier
•Input Stage − The input stage is the dual input, balanced output differential amplifier. This stage provides
most of the voltage gain and introduces the input resistance of operational amplifier.
•Intermediate Stage − This stage is dual input, unbalanced output differential amplifier, which is driven by the
output of first stage.
•Level Shifting Stage − Since direct coupling is used, therefore the DC voltage at the output of intermediate
stage is above the ground potential. Hence, the level shifting transistor circuit is used after intermediate stage
to shift the DC level at intermediate stage output downward to zero volts with respect to ground.
•Output Stage − The output stage is a push-pull complementary amplifier. The output stage increases the
output voltage. The output stage also provides low output resistance.
❑ Schematic Symbol of Op-Amp
Operational amplifiers have three main terminals: two high input impedance
inputs and one low impedance output. The non-inverting input terminal is
denoted by positive sign and the inverting input terminal is denoted by a
negative sign. Other than input-output terminals there are two Op-Amp
power supply terminal denoted by (+VCC) and (-VCC).
❑ Working Principle of Operational Amplifier
✓ Open Loop Operation
In the open loop operation there is no feedback provided in the amplifier circuit. Therefore, two signals one at
inverting terminal and the other at the non-inverting terminal applied then, the Op-Amp amplifies the
difference of the two applied signals. This difference of the two input signals is called as differential input
voltage. The output of Op-Amp is given by,
Where, Vout= Output Voltage
A openloop = Open loop gain of OP- The output of the Op-Amp is non-zero only when the differential
Amp input voltage is non-zero i.e. V1 and V2 are not equal. The open
V1 = Voltage at the non inverting loop gain (A) of Op-Amp is very high. Thus an open loop Op-Amp
terminal can amplify a small differential input signal to a high value. The
V2 = Voltage at the inverting terminal Op-Amp can amplify the input signal to a very high value but
V1-V2 = Differential input voltage cannot exceed the supply voltage of operational amplifier.
✓ Close Loop Operation
When the Op-Amp provided with a feedback signal is known as closed
loop operational amplifier. The feedback path feeds the output signal to
the input. The output equation for the closed loop operation is given by,
When the feedback is connected to non-inverting terminal then feedback is called as the positive feedback.
The positive feedback is used in oscillator applications.
When the feedback is connected to inverting terminal then it is called as negative feedback. The negative
feedback is used the amplification applications.
❑ Characteristics of Ideal Operational Amplifier
An ideal Op-Amp would exhibit the following electrical characteristics −
•Infinite voltage gain (A).
•Infinite input resistance (Ri) so that any source of signal can drive it.
•Zero output resistance (Ro) so that output can drive infinite number of other devices.
•Infinite bandwidth so that signal of any frequency (from 0 to ∞ Hz) can be amplified.
•Infinite Common Mode Rejection Ration (CMRR = ∞) so the output common mode noise voltage is zero.
•Infinite slew rate so that output voltage changes simultaneously with the input voltage changes
❑ Equivalent Circuit of Operational Amplifier
❑ Advantages of Op-Amps
The integrated Op-Amp has the following advantages −
•High Reliability
•Small size and cheap
•Power consumption is less
❑ Applications of Operational Amplifier
✓ Voltage follower
The most basic operational amplifier circuit is a voltage follower. This circuit does
not generally require external components, and provides high input impedance
and low output impedance, which makes it a useful buffer. Because the voltage
input and output are equal, changes to the input produce equivalent changes to
the output voltage. VOUT=VIN
✓ Inverting operational amplifier
In inverting operational amplifiers, the op amp forces the negative terminal to equal the
positive terminal, which is commonly ground. Therefore, the input current is determined
by the VIN / R1 ratio.
In this configuration, the same current flows through R2 to the output. Ideally, current
does not flow into the operational amplifier’s negative terminal due to its high ZIN. The
current flowing from the negative terminal through R2 creates an inverted voltage polarity
with respect to VIN. This is why these op amps are labeled with an inverting configuration.
Note that the op amp’s output can only swing between its positive and negative supplies,
so creating a negative output voltage requires an op amp with a negative supply rail.
VOUT can be calculated with Equation (1):
✓ Non-inverting operational amplifier
In a non-inverting amplifier circuit, the input signal from the source is connected to the
non-inverting (+) terminal. The operational amplifier forces the inverting (-) terminal
voltage to equal the input voltage, which creates a current flow through the feedback
resistors. The output voltage is always in phase with the input voltage, which is why this
topology is known as non-inverting. Note that with a non-inverting amplifier, the voltage
gain is always greater than 1, which is not always the case with the inverting
configurations. VOUT can be calculated with Equation (2):
