Bandwidth of op amps

An experiment - connect a simple non-inverting op amp and measure

the frequency response. From the ideal op amp model, we expect the
amp to work at any frequency. Is that what happens? Make a
frequency response plot to check it out.

˜ +
˜
–

R1 R2 250 k!
1 k!

The frequency response shows a very clear low-pass type of behavior.

Yet, there is no capacitor in sight. What is going on?
EE 230 gain-bandwidth – 1
 The gain of the op-amp itself must have a low-pass type of frequency
dependence. This is definitely a modification of our ideal view of an
op-amp. We don’t know the mechanism of the high-frequency roll off
of the op-amp, but we can guess – there must be capacitor internal to
the amp. That is exactly what is happening. At certain amount of
capacitance is purposely added to the op-amp circuitry by the
designers to improve the stability of the amp. (We will examine the
issue of amplifier stability soon enough.) The is the same capacitance
that causes to the limited slew rate of the op amp, which we will also
look at within the next few lectures.

EE 230 gain-bandwidth – 2
 The corner frequency of the closed-loop amp changes with the gain in
a predictable fashion. This suggests that the low-pass behavior of the
op amp itself follows a simple model. It appears that the open-loop
gain of the op-amp must have a low-pass type of behavior, suggesting
the following modification:

A ( )=
+

where Ao is the gain at very low frequencies and ωb is the corner

frequency of the open-loop gain. The low-frequency gain value is
generally listed in the op-amp data sheet (eg. 200,000 for the 741), but
corner frequency is not listed directly. Instead it is given in terms of
another quantity, the gain-bandwidth product. We will see what this
means shortly.

In order to see the effect of the frequency dependence of the op amp

gain, we need to start with an op-amp model that has finite gain.
Fortunately, we have already done this a couple of time. Most recently,
we looked at the effect of finite gain when discussing op amp
limitations (slide 3 of the notes on non-ideal op amps).
EE 230 gain-bandwidth – 3
 We can use feedback theory to see what is happening.

A
G=
1 + Aβ

A ( s) ωb
G (s ) = A ( s) = A o
1 + A (s ) β s + ωb

Ao s+ωωb b Ao ω b
G ( s) = =
1 + Ao β s+ωωb b s + ω b (A o β + 1)

ωcl
= Go
s + ωcl
Ao
Go = ωcl = ωb (1 + Ao β)
1 + Ao β

Feedback reduces (“controls”) gain and widens the bandwidth!

EE 230 gain-bandwidth – 4
 We can also go at it with straight-forward circuit analysis.

+ +
vS + vd + Av vo R2
– – d vo 1+
– – G= = R1
vi 1
1+ R2
+1
A R1

R2 (Done previously.)

+ +
vf R1 vo
– –

We can utilize the above expression, but now we replace A with its
low-pass frequency-dependent form.
ωb Ao
A A ( s) = A o =
s + ωb 1 + ωsb
EE 230 gain-bandwidth – 5
 +
= Wow.
+ + +

Re-arrange a bit.

+
=
+ + + +

Note that 1 + R2/R1 is the gain that we would have expected for non-
inverting amp without all of the frequency-dependent messiness.

call it: = +

then: =
+ +
EE 230 gain-bandwidth – 6
 Next, we note that Ao is very big and Go probably not so big for most
feedback circuits, so that Go/Ao << 1.

Also, the quantity Aoωb/Go is also a frequency. Give it a new symbol:

With these two modifications, the closed-loop gain function can be

written as:

( )=
+

Look at that! The low-pass behavior of the op-amp manifests itself by

causing the closed-loop amplifier to have a low-pass function. At low
frequencies, the non-inverting circuit behaves just like it did in the ideal
case, but at higher frequencies (above ωcl), the closed-loop gain also
rolls off with a low-pass response.

EE 230 gain-bandwidth – 7
 The quantity Aoωb is key parameter here. For obvious reasons, this is
called the gain-bandwidth product of the op amp. This quantity is
generally listed in the data sheets. (Usually in terms of Hz rather than
rad/s.)

For 741, Ao = 200,000 and Aofb = 1.5 Mhz. This implies fb ≈ 7.5 Hz.
For 660, Ao = 2,000,000 and Aofb = 1.4 Mhz. This implies fb ≈ 0.7 Hz.
(For a frequency response plot, see Fig. 10 in the 660 data sheet.)

The open-loop corner frequency of the op amps is really low! Again, the
amps are designed this way. Having this response improves the usability
of op amp. Because there is so much gain to begin with, having it roll
off in a low-pass fashion doesn’t hurt in many (most) closed-loop
applications. It is only at higher operating frequencies and with higher
gains that gain-bandwidth limitation becomes an issue.

EE 230 gain-bandwidth – 8
 Open-loop gain as function of frequency for 741 op amp (Aofb = 1.5 MHz).

= = =
+ + + ft = Aofb
|A|= 1
At high frequency (f >> fb), fb

We note that magnitude of A will drop to 1 (0 dB) when f = Aofb.

Therefore, the Aofb is also known as the unity-gain frequency. At
frequencies above this value, the amp no longer provides any gain – it
becomes an attenuator. Sometimes an alternate symbol used: ft = Aofb.

The key thing to remember is that the unity-gain frequency (or gain-
bandwidth product – take your pick) is a limiting factor for a amplifier.
In your application, you cannot have Go· fcl be bigger than ft.
EE 230 gain-bandwidth – 9
 The gain-bandwidth of the op-amp makes it easy to determine the
expected high-frequency limits of when using the amp. We saw earlier
that

= or = =

Given an amp with gain-bandwidth of 3 MHz, we might want to make a

closed-loop amp with gain of 100. The closed-loop gain will begin to roll
off at

= = =

Using the same amp, if we want to provide flat gain out to 200 kHz, we
must keep the gain below

= = = Easy.

EE 230 gain-bandwidth – 10
 The gain-bandwidth limit may change how we design an amplifier circuit.
Example
In an application, you need to provide a gain of at least 25 at a frequency
of 250 kHz. The op-amps you have available have a unity-gain
frequency of 3 MHz. (The gain can be slightly bigger, but it can be no
less than 25 at 250 kHz.)
You immediately see that cannot achieve the goal using a single amplifier
stage. Go· fcl = (25)(250 kHz) = 6.25 MHz. This is significantly bigger
than ft.

Instead, try using two stages, each with a low-frequency gain of 5 and the
other with a nominal gain of 6. With Go1 = 5, fcl1 = (3 MHz)/5 = 600 kHz.
and with Go2 = 6, fcl2 = 500 kHz.

For the cascaded pair:

Go1 Go2
G (s ) = ·
1 + ωscl1 1 + ωscl2

EE 230 gain-bandwidth – 11
 Go1 Go2
G (jω) = ·
ω ω
1+j ωcl1 1+j ωcl2

Plugging in the numbers to find the gain at 250 kHz (using real frequency
instead of radial frequency):

5 6
G = · = 24.8
250 2 250 2
1+ 600 1+ 500

Very close, but probably not good enough. Particularly if we allow for
any variability in component values, etc. So try two amps, each with a
gain of 6 (and fcl2 = 500 kHz). In that case, the cascaded gain is 28.8,
which should be good enough. (Check it for yourself.)

EE 230 gain-bandwidth – 12