TELKOMNIKA, Vol.10, No.8, December 2012, pp.

2295~2304
e-ISSN: 2087-278X
accredited by DGHE (DIKTI), Decree No: 51/Dikti/Kep/2010
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Modeling, Analysis and Design of Feedback

Operational Amplifier for Undergraduate Studies in
Electrical Engineering

Yang Han
Dept of Power Electronics, School of Mechatronics Engineering,
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No.2006 XiYuan Road, West Park of Chengdu
High-Tech Zone, Chengdu, China, Postal Code: 611731
e-mail: hanyang_facts@hotmail.com

Abstract
The analog electronics is a challenging subject for undergraduate students in electrical
engineering, due to the complex combination of many previous subjects, such as linear circuit analysis,
signal and system, linear control theory and some sort of mathematics. This paper presents the modeling,
analysis and design of the operational amplifier, which is used as benchmark system for analog
electronics,for undergraduate studies in electrical engineering. Followed by the introduction of the
operation amplifier circuit, the design of feedback network for the operational amplifier using MATLAB is
presented. The bandwidth and sensitivity analysis for the feedback control loop are also discussed. In
order to enhance the stability margin and dynamic characteristics of the operational amplifier, the lead
compensator is designed for the feedback loop by adding capacitive component to the feedback resistive
network. The presented analysis and design method of the operational amplifier by using
MATLAB/SIMULINK can be highly effective to compliment the classroom teaching for circuit design
courses for undergraduate studies in electrical engineering.

Keywords: analog electronics, operational amplifier, feedback network, lead compensation, circuit design

Copyright © 2012 Universitas Ahmad Dahlan. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
The operational amplifier is an extremely efficient and versatile device. Its applications
span the broad electronic industry filling requirements for signal conditioning, special transfer
functions, analog instrumentation, analog computation, and special systems design [1]. The
analog assets of simplicity and precision characterize circuits utilizing operational amplifiers.
Originally, the term, “Operational Amplifier,” was used in the computing field to describe
amplifiers that performed various mathematical operations. It was found that the application of
negative feedback around a high gain DC amplifier would produce a circuit with a precise gain
characteristic that depended only on the feedback used. By the proper selection of feedback
components, operational amplifier circuits could be used to add, subtract, average, integrate,
and differentiate [2-4, 10].
As practical operational amplifier techniques became more widely known, it was
apparent that these feedback techniques could be useful in many control and instrumentation
applications [5]. Today, the general use of operational amplifiers has been extended to include
such applications as DC Amplifiers, AC Amplifiers, Comparators, Servo Valve Drivers,
Deflection Yoke Drivers, Low Distortion Oscillators, AC to DC Converters, Multivibrators, and a
host of others [6, 7]. What the operational amplifier can do is limited only by the imagination and
ingenuity of the user. With a good working knowledge of their characteristics, the user will be
able to exploit more fully the useful properties of operational amplifiers [8, 9, 10].
The analog electronics is a challenging subject for undergraduate students in electrical
engineering, due to the complex combination of many previous subjects, such as linear circuit
analysis, signal and system, linear control theory and some sort of mathematics [3, 4, 8, 9]. This
paper presents the modeling, analysis and design of the operational amplifier of undergraduate
studies in electrical engineering using case studies in MATLAB. Section 2 presents the
introduction of the operation amplifiers. Section 3 presents the design of feedback network for
the operational amplifier using MATLAB. The bandwidth and sensitivity analysis for the

Received October 12, 2012; Revised November 16, 2012; Accepted November 29, 2012
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feedback control loop are also discussed. Section 4 presents the lead compensator design for
the feedback network by adding capacitive component to the feedback resistive network.
Hence, the stability margin and dynamic characteristics of the operational amplifier are
enhanced. Section 5 concludes this paper. The presented analysis and design method of the
operational amplifier by using MATLAB can be easily extended to similar circuit design and this
approach can be highly effective to compliment the classroom teaching for circuit design
courses for undergraduate studies in electrical engineering.

2. Description of the Operational Amplifiers

The modern operational amplifier is a solid state, high gain, DC voltage amplifier.
Practical feedback circuits employing it are based on the circuits that were derived in the
preceding section using the ideal operational amplifier model. Substituting a real for an ideal
operational amplifier will result in some predictable variation from ideal operation that is
negligibly small in many applications. The standard building block of electrical feedback circuits
is the operational amplifier (op amp), a differential voltage amplifier designed to have extremely
high dc gain, often in the range of 1e5 to 1e7 [1, 2, 10].

Figure 1. Circuit Diagram of the operational amplifier

Figure 1 shows the electrical symbol for the operational amplifier. In Figure 1, an
uncompensated operational amplifier with 2 poles (at frequencies ω1, ω2) and high dc gain (a0)
is considered. Assuming this operational amplifier is operated in its linear mode (not saturated),
then its open-loop transfer function can be represented as a linear time-invariant (LTI) system.
Though higher-order poles will exist in a physical operational amplifier, it has been assumed in
this case that these poles lie in a frequency range where the magnitude has dropped well below
unity. The open-loop transfer function is derived as [1, 2]:
a0
a (s)= (1)
(1 + s / ω1 )(1 + s / ω2 )
where the parameters a0, ω1 and ω2 are assumed as a0 =1e5, ω1=1e4 and ω2=1e6.
The AC response characteristics of the operational amplifier are very important
considerations in circuit design. DC operational amplifiers will operate successfully at audio,
ultrasonic, and radio frequencies with some predictable variation from DC operation. Circuits
designed to operate at DC are also affected by the AC response since random noise and
varying DC levels contain AC components. The frequency response curve of operational
amplifier circuitry is conveniently represented by the bode-plot. The absolute value of voltage
gain is plotted in dB versus the orthodox decade logarithmic frequency scale [4, 5].
Next, a transfer function model of this system is created using the Control System
Toolbox in MATLAB. This model will be stored in the MATLAB workspace as an LTI object.
Firstly, we define the Laplace variable, ‘s’, using the TF command. Then let us use ‘s’ to
construct the open-loop transfer function, a(s):
s = tf('s');
a = a0/(1+s/w1)/(1+s/w2)
h = bodeplot(a,'r');
Hence, the open-loop bode plot of the operational amplifier circuit is obtained, as shown
in Figure 2. A menu of properties for this bode diagram can be observed by right-click on the
plot. Besides, the normalized step response of a(s) can be obtained by using the STEPPLOT
and DCGAIN commands in MATLAB, as shown in Figure 3. It can be observed that the rise
time and settling time are 2.2e-4s and 3.9e-4s, respectively.

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Bode Diagram Normalized Open-Loop Step Response

1
100
0.9
80
M a g n itu d e ( d B)

0.8
60
0.7
40

N orm aliz ed Am plitude

0.6
20

0.5
0
0
0.4
-45
0.3
Ph a s e (d e g )

-90 0.2

-135 0.1

-180 0
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 -4
Time (sec) x 10
Frequency (rad/sec)

Figure 2. Bode plot of the open-loop transfer Figure 3. Normalized open-loop frequency
function response of the operational amplifier

3. Design of Feedback Amplifier

As shown in Figure 4, by adding a resistive feedback network, the operational amplifier
becomes a non-inverting amplifier. This feedback network, b(s), is simply a voltage divider with
input VO and output VN. Solving for the ratio VN/VO yields the transfer function for b(s):
VN R1
b( s ) = = (2)
VO R1 + R2
The block diagram representation of the system is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 4. Operational amplifier with Figure 5. The block diagram representation of the
resistive feedback network resistive feedback network

Solving for the ratio VO/VP yields the closed-loop gain, A(s):
VO a( s)
A( s ) = = (3)
VP 1 + a ( s )b( s )
If the product 'a(s)b(s)' is sufficiently large (>>1), then A(s) may be approximated as:
1
A( s ) = (4)
b( s )

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Now assume that we need to design an amplifier of dc gain (VO/VP) 10 and that R1 is
fixed at 10 kΩ. Solving for R2 yields:
R2 = R1 ⋅ (1 / b − 1) (5)
Substituting the parameters in Eq.(5), we have R2=90 kΩ.

3.1 Bandwidth
The open loop bandwidth of the operational amplifier is shown explicitly in the Bode
plot. The plot has only two distinguishing frequencies, one being the unity gain crossover
frequency and the second being the 3 dB point. The 3 dB point is considered to be the
bandwidth of the open loop amplifier and used in open loop specifications [1, 2].
Normally, the unity gain crossover frequency may be from 100 kHz for signal amplifiers
to 1 GHz or higher for high-speed amplifiers. An important aspect of bandwidth - besides
making high frequency operational amplifier circuits practical - is to improve the precision of
signal amplification. The loss of high frequency components of non-sinusoidal voltages such as
pulses, control signals, DC steps, or even speech patterns may result in undesirable distortion
and phase shift. Wide bandwidth operational amplifiers are used to maintain high loop gain at
lower signal frequencies. For example, it is necessary to use an operational amplifier with open
loop bandwidth of at least 200 MHz to provide a closed loop gain of 40 dB at 1 MHz [1, 2, 6, 10].
As for the present case, the closed-loop system transfer function can be obtained using
the FEEDBACK command in MATLAB. Next, the frequency responses of a(s) and A(s) is
plotted together, as shown in Figure 6. It can be observed that the use of negative feedback to
reduce the low-frequency (LF) gain has led to a corresponding increase in the system
bandwidth (defined as the frequency where the gain drops 3dB below its maximum value). This
gain and bandwidth tradeoff is a powerful tool in the design of feedback amplifier circuits.

Bode Diagram
110
Open-Loop Gain (a)
100
Closed-Loop Gain (A)

90

80 Reduced LF gain

70
Magnitude (dB)

60

50

40

30
Increased system bandwidth
20

10

0
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Frequency (rad/sec)

Figure 6. Frequency response of the open-loop and closed-loop networks

3.2 Sensitivity Analysis

In a practical circuit, loop gain is the increase in gain that is observed when the
feedback path is opened, but with all circuit loads intact. Loading effects of finite input and
output impedance, as well as the external feedback components, will lead to reduced loop gain.
For example, in a unity gain inverting configuration, 6 dB is lost due to the voltage divider effect
of the input and feedback resistors. Since the phase compensation network fixes the 3 dB point
and roll off rate of the frequency response, the reduced gain effectively lowers the bandwidth [1,
2, 10].
Since the gain is now dominated by the feedback network, a useful relationship to
consider is the sensitivity of this gain to variation in the op amp's natural (open-loop) gain.

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Before deriving the system sensitivity, it is useful to define the loop gain, L(s)=a(s)b(s), which is
the total gain a signal experiences traveling around the loop:
L( s) = a ( s ) ⋅ b( s ) (6)
The system sensitivity and stability margins can be evaluated by using this quantity.
The system sensitivity, S(s), represents the sensitivity of A(s) to variation in a(s). The inverse
relationship between S(s) and L(s) reveals another benefit of negative feedback: "gain
sensitivity".
S ( s ) = 1 / (1 + L( s )) (7)
Notably, S(s) has the same form as the feedback equation and, therefore, may be
constructed using the more-robust FEEDBACK command: S =feedback(1,L). Hence, the
magnitudes of S(s) and A(s) may be plotted together using the BODEMAG command, as shown
in Figure 7. From Figure 7, it can be observed that the very small low-frequency sensitivity
(about -80 dB) indicates a design whose closed-loop gain suffers minimally from open-loop gain
variation. Such variation in a(s) is common due to manufacturing variability, temperature
change, etc.

Bode Diagram
40

20

0
Magnitude (dB)

-20

-40

-60

-80
Closed-Loop Gain(A)
System Sensitivity(S)
-100
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Frequency (rad/sec)

Figure 7. Frequency response of the closed-loop gain and system sensitivity

Step Response
20

18

16
Excessive ringing → poor phase margin
14

12
Amplitude

10

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
Time (sec) -5
x 10

Figure 8. Step response of the operational amplifier with resistive feedback network

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Figure 8 shows the step response of A(s) using the STEPPLOT command in MATLAB.
It can be observed that the rise time and settling time are 1.1e-7s and 7.6e-6s, respectively.
Note that the use of feedback has greatly reduced the settling time (by about 98%). However,
the step response now displays a large amount of ringing, indicating poor stability margin.
Figure 9 shows the stability margin by plotting the loop gain, L(s), with the MARGIN
command in MATLAB. The resulting plot indicates a phase margin of less than 6 degrees. You
will need to compensate this amplifier in order to raise the phase margin to an acceptable level
(generally 45 deg or more), thus reducing excessive overshoot and ringing.

Bode Diagram
Gm = Inf dB (at Inf rad/sec) , Pm = 5.78 deg (at 9.97e+006 rad/sec)
80

60
Magnitude (dB)

40

20

-20

-40
0

-45
Phase (deg)

-90

-135

-180
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Frequency (rad/sec)

Figure 9. Stability margin of the resistive compensated network

Remarks: (1) Just as local degeneration around a transistor can reduce circuit
sensitivity to certain parameter changes in that transistor, feedback around an operational
amplifier will reduce sensitivity to open loop parameter changes. Open-loop gain, phase shift,
input impedance, and output impedance may vary with temperature, power supply voltage, and
time. Loop gain is the payment made for circuit stability and gain accuracy, and it is a direct
measure of the improvement obtained. Basic stability, however, must be designed into the open
loop amplifier [10].
(2) Noise, drift, and offset will not be affected by loop gain. These parameters are
essentially input functions that, like the signal, will be increased by the closed loop gain. The
signal to noise ratio will remain constant, independent of gain. Loop gain will improve closed
loop gain stability, phase shift, input impedance, and output impedance.

4. Lead compensator design for the feedback network

As indicated above, the closed loop amplifier circuit cannot supply more gain than is
available from the operational amplifier itself, so at high frequencies, the closed loop bode-plot
intersects and follows the open-loop gain curve. The intersection point between the closed and
open loop curves is important because the angle between the two curves - or, more precisely,
the “rate of closure” since the curves aren’t actually straight lines - determines whether the
closed loop amplifier, differentiator, etc., being designed will be stable [1, 2,10].
If the rate of closure between the open and closed loop sections of the Bode plot is
greater than 40 db per decade the system is likely to be unstable. Bode plots may be varied
almost at will to insure stability or to provide some tailor made frequency response
characteristic. A commonly used method of compensation in this type of circuit is "feedback
lead compensation". This technique modifies b(s) by adding a capacitor, C, in parallel with the
feedback resistor, R2. The open loop gain of operational amplifiers is tailored or “compensated”
with one or more simple resistor and capacitor combinations. Phase compensation is achieved

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in order that the majority of popular circuits utilizing operational amplifiers will be inherently
stable, even under conditions of 100% feedback. As a consequence of internal compensation,
we may connect feedback around the amplifier with relative impunity.
We must hasten to add, though, that each feedback condition is, in essence, a special
case. Superior results may be obtainable by adding external compensation. Knowledge of the
stability criteria and the bode-plot will be adequate in all but the most unorthodox circuits. If
compensation were not provided, certain amplifier circuits would be unstable under normal
operating conditions according to the above “rate of closure” or change of slope principle [1, 2,
6, 8, 9].
Figure 10 shows the circuit diagram of the feedback lead compensation network for the
operational amplifier. The capacitor value is chosen so as to introduce a phase lead to b(s) near
the crossover frequency, thus increasing the amplifier's phase margin. The new feedback
transfer function is shown in Figure 11.

Figure 11. Block diagram representation of the

Figure 10. Circuit diagram of the feedback circuit in Figure 10
lead compensation network

The value for the capacitor C can be approximated a by placing the zero of b(s) at the
0dB crossover frequency of L(s). Hence, the following commands can be used:
[Gm,Pm,Wcg,Wcp] = margin(L);
C = 1/(R2*Wcp)
To study the effect of C on the amplifier response, the linear time-invariant (LTI) model
array of b(s) is created for several values of C around the initial guess, with the following codes:
K = R1/(R1+R2);
C = [1:.2:3]*1e-12;
for n = 1:length(C)
b_array(:,:,n) = tf([K*R2*C(n) K],[K*R2*C(n) 1]);
end
A_array = feedback(a,b_array);
L_array = a*b_array;
Next, the step response of all models in the LTI array, A_array(s), together with A(s)
can be obtained by using the STEPPLOT command in MATLAB, as shown in Figure 12. It can
be observed that, with the increase of capacitor value, the damping ratio increase in the closed-
loop step response curve.
In order to derive the phase margins for the loop gain array, L_array(s), the MARGIN
command is used as follows:
[Gm,Pm,Wcg,Wcp] = margin(L_array);
Therefore, the phase margins can be plotted as a function of the capacitor value, as
shown in Figure 13. From Figure 13, it can be noticed that a maximum phase margin of 58 deg
is obtained when C=2pF (2e-12).

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Closed-Loop Step Response (Compensated) 60

14
0 pF
1 pF ← Peak Phase Margin @ C = 2pF
12

10
55

Phas e M argin (deg)

8
Amplitude

3 pF

Increasing C 50
4

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 45
Time (sec) -6
x 10
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Compensation Capacitor, C (pF)

Figure 12. Closed-loop frequency response of

Figure 13. The phase margin of the open-loop
the lead compensated network
gain array with different capacitor value

20
Uncompensated (0 pF)
18 Compensated (2 pF)

16

14

12
Amplitude

10

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
Time (sec) -5
x 10
Figure 14. Step response of the uncompensated and compensated network

100

50
Magnitude (dB)

-50 Reduced LF gain

Increased system bandwidth

-100
0
a(s)
-45 A (s)
Phase (deg)

A _comp(s)
-90

-135

-180
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Frequency (rad/sec)

Figure 15. A comparison of bode-plots for the open-loop, closed-loop and the compensated
closed-loop system

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From the above analysis, it is found that the model corresponding to C=2pF is the sixth
model in the LTI array, b_array(s). Figure 14 shows the step response of the closed- loop
system for this model by selecting index 6 of the LTI array A_array(s). It can be observed that
the settling time has been further reduced by an additional 85%. Figure 15 shows the
frequency-response of all three models (open-loop, closed-loop, compensated closed-loop)
using the BODE command in MATLAB. Noticeably, the addition of the compensation capacitor
has eliminated the resonant peak in the closed-loop gain and also greatly extended the phase
margin.

5. Conclusion
This paper presents the modeling, analysis and design of the operational amplifier of
undergraduate studies in electrical engineering. In this paper, the design of feedback network
for the operational amplifier using MATLAB is presented. The bandwidth and sensitivity analysis
for the feedback control loop are also discussed. Next, the lead compensator design for the
feedback network is presented by adding capacitive component to the feedback resistive
network. Hence, the stability margin and dynamic characteristics of the operational amplifier are
enhanced. A brief summary of the choice of component values in the design of this non-
inverting feedback amplifier circuit: R1=10 kΩ, R2=90 kΩ, C=2 pF. The following conclusions are
made:
(1). A resistive feedback network (R1, R2) was selected to yield a broadband amplifier gain of
10 (20 dB).
(2). Feedback lead compensation was used to tune the loop gain near the crossover
frequency.
(3). The value for the compensation capacitor, C, was optimized to provide a maximum phase
margin of about 58 degrees.
The presented analysis and design method of the operational amplifier by using
MATLAB can be extended to similar circuit design tasks and this approach is highly effective to
compliment the classroom teaching for circuit design courses for undergraduate studies in
electrical engineering.

Acknowledgement
This work is supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central
Universitiesof China under grant No.ZYGX2011J093.

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Education, July 2003.
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[5] Makris C. A., Toumazou C., Operational amplifier modeling for high speed sample data applications,
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[10] Art Kay, Operational Amplifier Noise: Techniques and Tips for Analyzing and Reducing Noise,
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