2.

Operational Amplifiers

2. Operational Amplifiers

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Figure 2.1 Circuit symbol for the op amp.

Operational amplifier: A differential amplifier with very high voltage gain. Usually realized as
integrated circuit.

2. Operational Amplifiers

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2.1 The Ideal Operational Amplifier

Ideal operational amplifier:
Infinite input impedance.
Infinite open loop gain AOL for differential
signal.
Zero gain for the common - mode signal.
Zero output impedance.
Infinite bandwidth.

Figure 2.2 Equivalent circuit for the ideal op amp. AOL is very
large (approaching infinity).

Common-mode input signal

vicm =

1
( v 1 + v2 )
2

Differential input signal

vid = v1 v2

2. Operational Amplifiers

Figure 2.3 Op-amp symbol showing power supplies.

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2.2 The Summing-Point Constraint

Operational amplifiers are almost always used with negative feedback, in which part of the opamp output signal is returned to the input in opposition to the source signal.
Ideal op-amp circuits are analyzed by the following steps:
1. Verify that the negative feedback is present. Usually this takes the form of a resistor network
connected to the output terminal and to the inverting input terminal.
2. Assume that the differential input voltage and the input current of the op amp are forced to
zero. (This is summing - point constraint.)
3. Apply standard circuit analysis principles, such as Kirchhoffs laws and Ohms law, to solve
for the quantities of interest.

2. Operational Amplifiers

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2.3 The Inverting Amplifier

v
i1 = in
R1
i2 = i1

Figure 2.4 Inverting amplifier.

(2.1)
(2.2)

v
i2 = in
R1

(2.3)

vo + R2i2 = 0

(2.4)

Av =

vo
R
= 2
vin
R1

Z in =

vin
= R1
i1

(2.5)
(2.6)

R2
(2.7)
vi
R1
vo is independent of the load resistance RL. Thus
the output acts as ideal voltage source and output
impedance is 0.
vo =

Figure 2.5 We make use of the summing-point constraint in

the analysis of the inverting amplifier.

2. Operational Amplifiers

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The Virtual-Short-Circuit Concept

The voltage between both inputs of the Op

Amps is forced to be 0.
There is no short circuit between both inputs
because the current is also 0.

Figure 2.5 We make use of the summing-point constraint in

the analysis of the inverting amplifier.

2. Operational Amplifiers

The circuit between both inputs is called

virtual-short-circuit: v = 0; i = 0.

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Exercise 2.1. Summing Amplifier

A circuit known as a summing amplifier is illustrated
in Figure 2.7.
(a) Use the ideal-op-amp assumption to solve for the
output voltage in terms of the input voltages and
resistor values.
(b) What is the input resistance seen by vA?
(c) By vB?
(d) What is the output resistance seen by RL?

+
-

iB

vA
+
-

vB

RB

v=0

iB =

vB
RB

i f = i A + iB =

v A vB
+
RA RB

Rf
Rf

vo = i f R f = v A
+ vB
RB
RA

if

RA

iA

Solution:
v
iA = A
RA

Rf

Input impedance seen by vA: RA

+

vo
-

RL

Input impedance seen by vB: RB

vo doesnt depend on RL, thus the output
impedance is 0.

Figure 2.7 Summing amplifier.

2. Operational Amplifiers

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Exercise 2.3.
Find an expression for the output voltage of the circuit, shown in Figure 2.9.

vo1

Figure 2.9 Circuit of Exercise 2.3.

The second Op Amp is connected as summing

amplifier

Solution:
The first Op Amp is connected as an inverting
amplifier. Thus

vo1 =

20000
R2
v1 =
v1 = 2v1
10000
R1

R5
R5

vo = vo1 + v2
R4
R3
20000
20000
=
vo1
v2 = 2vo1 2v2
10000
10000
vo = 4v1 2v2

2. Operational Amplifiers

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Positive Feedback

The high gain increases the input voltage vi, this

increases further the output voltage and so on.
Very soon the output voltage reaches the supply
voltage, the amplifier enters in switching mode
of operation and doesnt function any more as
amplifier.

Figure 2.10 Schmitt trigger circuit.

The current equation at the noninverting input is

vi vin vi vo
+
=0
R
R
vi =

1
(vin + vo ) = 1 (vin + AOL vi )
2
2

2. Operational Amplifiers

(2.18)

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2.4 The Noniverting Amplifier

The Voltage Follower
Av = 1 when R2 = 0 and/or R1 = . The circuit is
called voltage follower.

Figure 2.11 Noninverting amplifier.

Since vi = 0

v1 = vin

R1
v1 =
vo
R1 + R2
v
R
Av = o = 1 + 2
vin
R1

(2.19)
Figure 2.12 Voltage follower.

(2.20)
(2.21)

Since ii = 0, Ri = .
Since vo doesnt depend on RL; Ro = 0.
2. Operational Amplifiers

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Exercise 2.5. Differential amplifier.

Find an expression for the output voltage in in terms of the resistance and input voltages for the
differential amplifier shown in Figure 2.14.
i1
i1
+
-

v1

+
-

v2

R1

v-

R1

v+

R2

R2

vo

RL

Figure 2.14 Differential amplifier.

Solution:

i1 =

v1 vo
R1 + R2

Since Op Amp input voltage is 0, v- = v+ and

v1

v1 vo
R1
R1 + R2
From voltage divider principle
R2
v + = v2
R1 + R2

v1 vo
R2
R1 = v2
R1 + R2
R1 + R2

v = v1 i1 R1 = v1

2. Operational Amplifiers

vo =

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(v2 v1 )
R1

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2.5 Design of Simple Amplifiers

Amplifier Design Using Op Amp
Example 2.1 Noniverting Amplifier Design
Design a noninverting amplifier that has a
voltage gain of 10 using an ideal op amp. The
input signal lie in the range from -1 V to 1 V.
Use 5 % tolerance discrete resistors for the
feedback network.

Figure 2.20 If low-value resistors are used, an impractically large

current is required.

Solution:
R
Av = 10 = 1 + 2
R1
From the formula follows that only the ratio R2/R1
is important to achieve the desired gain.
The values of R2 and R1 are restricted from
additional practical considerations and must be in
the range 100 .. 1M.
2. Operational Amplifiers

Figure 2.21 If very high value resistors are used, stray

capacitance can couple unwanted signals into the circuit

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Example 2.2 Amplifier Design

Suppose that we need an amplifier with input
resistance of 500 k or greater and a voltage gain
of -10. The feedback resistors are to be
implemented in integrated form and have values
of 10 k or less to conserve chip area. Choose a
suitable circuit configuration and specify the
resistance values. Finally, estimate the resistor
tolerance needed so that the gain magnitude
maintained within 5 % of its nominal values.

These values exceed the maximum values

allowed.
A voltage follower at the input must be added as
a buffer amplifier.
Values for R1 and R2: R1 = 1k; R2 = 10k.
Resistor tolerances: not more than 2.5%;
practically 1%.

Solution:
To attain desired input resistance
R1 = 500 k
The formula for the gain is
R
Av = 2
R1

Figure 2.22 To attain large input resistance with moderate

resistances for an inverting amplifier, we cascade a
voltage follower with an inverter.

To achieve the desired gain

R2 = 10 R1 = 10 500 103 = 5M
2. Operational Amplifiers

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2.6 Op-amp Imperfections in the Linear Range of Operation

The nonideal characteristics of real op amps fall

into three categories:

Input Impedance and Output Impedance

1. Nonideal properties in the linear range of

operation.

BJT input stage: > 100k, typically few M;

FET input stage: ~1012

2. Nonlinear characteristics.

Output impedance: ~100 or less.

3. DC offsets.

If the gain the Op Amp is high, the influence of

the input and output impedance is small.

2. Operational Amplifiers

Input impedance

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Gain and Bandwidth Limitations

When the Op Amp is included in a feedback loop

in order to realise a finite gain amplifier, the
bandwidth of the finite gain amplifier is extended
proportionally to the feedback.

Figure 2.25 Bode plot of open-loop gain for a typical op amp.

AOL ( f ) =

A0OL
1 + j( f / f BOL )

(2.24)
Figure 2.27 Bode plots.

2. Operational Amplifiers

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Some Popular Op Amps

Table 2.4 Typical specifications for two popular Op Amps
Type
A0OL
Ft
SR
Input resistance
Output resistance
Voff
IB
Ioff

2. Operational Amplifiers

LM741
2105
1.5MHz
0.5V/s
2M
50
1mV
80nA
20nA

LF411
2105
4.0MHz
15V/s
1012
50
0.8mV
50pA
25pA

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2.7 Large Signal Operation

Output Voltage Swing

Output Current Limits

The maximum that an Op Amp can supply to a
load is restricted. For A741 this limitation is
25mA. If a small-value load resistance drew a
current outside this limits, the output waveforme
would become clipped.

Figure 2.28 For a real op amp, clipping occurs if the output

voltage reaches certain limits.

For A741: If the supply voltages are +15V and

15V the amplitude of the output voltage without
clipping is 14V typically (guaranteed is 12V).
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Slew-Rate Limitations

Slew-rate: the speed of the change of the output

voltage. Maximum slew rate SR is limited for
every Op Amp.

dvo
SR
dt

(2.45)

Figure 2.31 An example of the effect of the slew-rate limitation

on the output wave-shape in a certain finite gain
amplifier, realized with Op Amp. 4vs(t) is the expected
output wave shape based on the voltage gain. vo(t) is the
real output wave-shape, distorted due to the limited slew
rate of the Op Amp.

2. Operational Amplifiers

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2.8 DC Imperfections
Dc currents flow into Op Amp inputs (they are
the base currents of the input transistors). Two
input currents: IB+ and IB-. Their average is called
bias current IB

IB =

I B+ + I B
2

(2.47)

The difference between IB+ and IB- is called

offset current Ioff

I off = I B + I B

Figure 2.33 Current sources and a voltage source model the

dc imperfections of an op amp.

2. Operational Amplifiers

(2.48)

Output voltage may not be zero for zero input

voltage. The Op Amp behaves as if a small dc
source known as offset voltage Voff is in series
with one of the input terminals.

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2.11 Integrators and Differentiators

v (t )
iin ( t ) = in
R

1t
vc ( t ) = iin ( x )dx
C0

(2.50)

(2.51)

vo ( t ) = vc ( t )

(2.52)

1 t
vo ( t ) =
vin ( x )dx
RC 0

(2.53)

Figure 2.60 Integrator.

2. Operational Amplifiers

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Differentiators Circuit
vo ( t ) = RC

dvin
dt

(13)

Figure 2.18 Differentiator.

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Operations on the Input signals, Which Can Be Realized With Op Amps

Linear operations:
Multiplication with a constant (amplification);
Summation
Subtracting
Differentiation
Integration
Other nonlinear operations are also possible.

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