Unit I

OP-AMP Basics
Instructor:
Mr.Tejas Umesh Mahagaonkar

Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering

 History

 Introduction

 What is an operational amplifier ?

 Block Diagram of Operational Amplifier (Op-amp)

 Op-Amp means an
operational amplifier.

 It is a solid state integrated

circuit.

 The first op-amp is

manufactured by “Fairchild
Semiconductors” in 1963.
 The op-amp is the basic building blocks of analog electronic circuits

that perform a various types of analog signal processing tasks.

 Operational amplifiers use external feedback to control its functions.

 Op-Amp has two inputs and one output termed as inverting and non

inverting.

 The main function of an op-amp is to amplify AC and DC signals

and also for mathematical operations like addition, multiplication,

subtraction.
 An op-amp is a multi-stage, direct coupled, high gain
negative feedback amplifier.

 It has one or more differential amplifiers with a level

translator and an output stage.

 A voltage-shunt feedback is provided in an op-amp to

obtain a stabilized voltage gain.
 A voltage-shunt feedback is provided in an op-amp to

obtain a stabilized voltage gain.

 Op-amps are available as Integrated Circuits (IC’s).

 The main use of an op-amp is to amplify ac and dc input

signals.

 It is used for basic mathematical operations such as

addition, subtraction, multiplication, differentiation and

integration.
 The application of op-amps varies from ac and dc signal
amplification to use in active filters, oscillators, comparators,
voltage regulators, instrumentation and control systems,
pulse generators, square wave generators and many more
electronic circuits.
 V1 (Volts) – Non-inverting input voltage.

 V2 (Volts) – Inverting input voltage.

 V0 (Volts) – Output voltage.

 A- Large signal voltage gain.

 The inverting and non-inverting inputs are
provided to the input stage which is a dual input,
balanced output differential amplifier.
 The voltage gain required for the amplifier is
provided in this stage along with the input
resistance for the op-amp.
 In this stage direct coupling is used, which makes
the dc voltage at the output of the intermediate
stage above ground potential.
 The dc level at its output must be shifted down to
0Volts with respect to the ground.
 The level shifting stage is used where usually
an emitter follower with the constant current
source is applied.

 The level shifted signal is then given to the

output stage where a push-pull amplifier
increases the output voltage swing of the
signal and also increases the current
supplying capability of the op-amp.
Transistorised differential amplifier
➢ Two Transistor Q1 and Q2 have exactly matched characteristics.

➢ The resistances of the circuits are equal, i.e. RE1 = RE2, RC1 = RC2.

➢ The magnitude of +VCC is equal to the magnitude of -VEE.

➢ The differential amplifier obtained by using two emitter based

circuits.
Differential amplifier circuit
 Connecting emitter E1 of transistor Q1 to the emitter E2 of
transistor Q2.
 Due to this RE1 in parallel with RE2 and the combination was
replaced by a single resistance RE.
 The base of Q1 is connected to the input 1 which is V1, while
the base of Q2 is connected to the input 2 which is V2.
 The supply voltage are measured with respect to ground.
 The Balanced output is taken between the collector C1 of Q1
and the collector C2 of Q2.
 Such amplifier is called as emitter coupled differential
amplifier.
 Consider the two input signals which are same in magnitude but 180" out of phase.
 Sine wave on the base of Q 1is positive going while on the base of Q 2 is negative
going.
 With a positive going signal on the base of Q 1, an amplified negative going signal
develops on the collector of Q1.
 Due to positive going signal, current through R E also increases and hence a
positive going wave is developed across R E.
 Due to negative going signal on the base of Q2, an amplified positive going signal
develops on the collector of Q 2.
 A negative going signal develops across R E,
 So signal voltages across R E, due to the effect of Q1 and Q2 are equal in magnitude
and 180 degree out of phase, due to matched pair of transistors.
 Two signals cancel each other and there is no signal across the emitter resistance.

 Hence there is no a.c. signal current flowing through the emitter resistance.

 While Vo is the output taken across collector of Q1 and collector of Q 2.

 The two outputs on collector 1 and 2 are equal in magnitude but opposite in

polarity.

 Vo is the difference between these two signals.

 e.g. +10 - (-10) = + 20.

 Four different types of configuration in differential amplifier.

 Dual input and balanced output

 Dual input and unbalanced output

 Single input and balanced output

 Single input and unbalanced output

Fig.1.Dual Input Balanced Output Fig.2. Dual Input unbalanced Output
Fig.1.Single Input Balanced Output Fig.2. Single Input unbalanced Output
DC EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT FOR DUAL-INPUT BALANCED OUTPUT DIFFERETIAL
AMPLIFIER
 To determine the operating point values (ICQ and VCEQ) for
the differential amplifier, we need to obtain dc equivalent
circuit.
 The dc equivalent circuit can be obtained simply by reducing
the input signals vin1 and vin2 to zero.
 The internal resistances of the input signals are denoted by
Rin because Rin1= Rin2.
 To determine the operating point collector current ICQ and
collector to emitter voltage VCEQ for only one section.
 Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law to the base-emitter loop of the transistor Q1,
RinIB-VBE-RE(2IE)+VEE= 0………………………….(1)
But
I B= I E/Bdc Since I C= I E
➢ The emitter current through Q1is determined directly from eqn(1) as follows :

I E= (VEE-VBE)/(2RE+ Rin/Bdc) .............................(2)

➢ where VBE = 0.6V for silicon transistors,

➢ VBE=0.2V for germanium transistors

➢ Generally, Rin/Bdc<< 2RE.Therefore, eqn(2) can be rewritten as

I CQ=I E = (VEE -VBE)/2RE .................................(3)

➢ From eqn (3) we see that the value of RE sets up the emitter current in transistors Q1and Q2 for a given value of
VEE.
 Ddetermine the collector to emitter voltage VCE.
 The voltage at the emitter of transistor Q1is approximately equal to V BE.
 Knowing the value of emitter current I E(=I C), we can obtain the voltage at the collector V CC as
follows:
 VC= VCC –RCI C
 The collector to emitter voltage VCE is
VCE= VC-VE
= (VCC–RCI C) – ( - VEE)
= VCC + VBE – RCI C ………………………………… 4
➢ For both transistors we can determine the operating point values by using the eqns (2) and(4),
respectively, because at the operating point IE=ICQ and VCEQ=VCE
➢ dc analysis eqns (2) and (4) are applicable for all 4 differential amplifier configurations.