Chapter 5:

Operational Amplifiers (Part 1)

March 30, 2017

Minkyu Je

Operational Amplifiers EE201 Circuit Theory (Spring 2017) 1

 Outline

 Introduction

 Op-Amp Models

 Fundamental Op-Amp Circuits

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 Introduction
 Why are they called operational amplifiers (op-amps)?
 Originally, the op-amp was designed to perform mathematical operations
such as addition, subtraction, differentiation, and integration.
 By adding simple networks to the op-amp, we can create these “building
blocks” as well as voltage scaling, current-to-voltage conversion, and
myriad more complex applications.

 Why do we study op-amps at this point?

 Op-amps are very useful electronic components.
 Although the op-amp involves complicated interconnection of transistors
and resistors, its behavior can be described by a simple linear circuit model
(consisting of a dependent source and resistors).
 We already have the tools to analyze practical circuits using op-amps.

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 Op-Amps in the Real World
General-Purpose LM324 Quad Op-Amp
(National Semiconductor, $0.40)

LM324

LMC6492
Discrete Op-Amp
MAX4240
on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
Integrated
Circuit (IC)
Pinout (DIP)

PA03:
High-Voltage
High-Power
Op-Amp

Dimensions (in inches)

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 Op-Amps in the Real World

UA741 General-Purpose Single Op-Amp in DIP

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 Op-Amp Symbol

Vo Vo

Dual supply Single supply

IN+: noninverting input

IN−: inverting input
Vo: output
Vo = Ao (IN+ − IN−)
Ao: gain of the op-amp
Amplification requires power that is provided by the dc voltage sources
connected to pins VCC and VEE.

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 Simple Linear Model

Ri: input resistance

Ro: output resistance
Ao: gain of the op-amp
Vo = Ao (IN+ − IN−)

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 Ideal Op-Amp

Op-amp

VS and RTH1: driving circuit

RL: load

Overall gain of the circuit: To maximize the overall gain,

characteristics of the ideal op-amp
Vo  Ri   RL 
= should be as follows.
VS  Ri + RTH 1  o  Ro + RL 
A
Ao  ∞
Ri  ∞
Ro  0

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 Real Op-Amps

Typical characteristics of real op-amps

Ao: 104 V/V – 107 V/V
Ri: 105 Ω – 1013 Ω
Ro: 1 Ω – 200 Ω

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 Real Op-Amps

Each op-amp has minimum and maximum supply ranges over which the op-
amp is guaranteed to function.
For proper operation, the input and output voltages are limited to no more than
the supply voltages.

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 Unity Gain Buffer

VS = IRi + IRo + AoVin For Ro << Ri ,

Vo = IRo + AoVin Vo 1
≈
Vin = IRi VS 1 + 1
Ao
Vo 1 If Ao >> 1,
=
VS 1 + Ri
Vo
Ro + Ao Ri ≈1
VS

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 Zero Input Current & Virtual Short

Ideal op-amp model:

Ao = ∞; Ri = ∞; Ro = 0

 Zero input current

 Since Ri  ∞, the input currents are approximately zero (i.e., i+ ≈ i− ≈ 0).

 Virtual short
 Since Ao  ∞, if the output voltage is to remain bounded, the voltage across
the input terminals must become infinitesimally small (i.e., v+ ≈ v−).
 The difference between these input voltages is often called the error signal
(i.e., v+ − v− = ve)

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 Ideal vs. Real Unity Gain Buffers
 Characteristics of an ideal unity gain buffer
 The input current is zero.
 Given that Vin is zero, the voltage at both
op-amp inputs is VS.
 Since the inverting input is physically
connected to the output, Vo is also VS.

 Characteristics of unity gain buffers using

real op-amps

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 Loaded Ideal Unity Gain Buffer

The gain is still unity.

The op-amp requires no current from the driving circuit.
The output current comes from the power supplies, which have plenty of
current output capacity, rather than the driving circuit, which may have little.

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 Buffered Connection
 Connection without buffer
 Vo is not equal to VS because of the voltage drop across RS: Vo = VS − IRS.
 The resistive network interacts with the source, causing the voltage Vo to be
less than VS. (The resistive network loads the source voltage.)
 The energy supplied to the resistive network comes from the source VS.

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 Buffered Connection
 Buffered connection
 The input current to the op-amp is zero, and hence VS appears at the op-amp
input. Since the gain of the unity gain buffer is 1, Vo = VS.
 The op-amp isolates the source from the resistive network.
 The energy supplied to the resistive network comes from the power supplies
that supply the amplifier, and little or no energy is drawn from VS.

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 Summary
 Introduction

 Op-Amp Models
 Simple Linear Model
 Ideal Op-Amp Model
 Unity Gain Buffer
 Zero Input Current and Virtual Short
 Buffered Connection

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 Recommended Problems
 Problems 5.5, 5.7, 5.9, 5.13

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