The Operational Amplifier

Abstraction

Review

MOSFET amplifier 3 ports

+

+
vO output
port

+
input
vI
port

VS

power
port

Amplifier abstraction
VS
+

+
vI

+
v
O

vI

vO
Function of vI

Review
vI

vO
Function of vI

Can use as an abstract building block for

more complex circuits (of course, need
to be careful about input and output).

Today
Introduce a more powerful amplifier
abstraction and use it to build more
complex circuits.

Reading: Chapter 15 from A & L.

Operational Amplifier
Op Amp
VS

input
port

power
port

output
port

VS
More abstract representation:
+
vIN

vOUT

Circuit model (ideal):

+
i=0
+
v

i=0

vO

v+

Av
A

i.e. input resistance

0 output resistance
A virtually
No saturation

Using it
12V

vIN

VS = 12V

vO

12V

RL

VS = 12V

Demo
12V

10 V
12V

vO active region
saturation

10V

vIN

A ~ 106
but unreliable,
temp. dependent

(Note: possible confusion with MOSFET saturation!)

Let us build a circuit

Circuit: noninverting amplifier
v+
v

vIN +

vO

R1
R2

Equivalent circuit model

+
i=0

vIN +

op amp

v+
v

vO
+ A(v + v )

R1

i=0
R2

Let us analyze the circuit:

Find vO in terms of vIN, etc.

vO = A(v + v )
R2

= A vIN vO

R1 + R2

AR2
vO 1 +
= AvIN
R1 + R2

AvIN
vO =
AR2
1+
R1 + R2
What happens when A is very large?

Lets see When A is large

AvIN
AvIN

vO =
AR2
AR2
1+
R1 + R2 R1 + R2
vIN
Suppose

A = 10 6
R1 = 9 R
R2 = R

(R1 + R2 )
R2
gain

10 6 vIN
vO =
10 6 R
1+
9R + R

10 6 vIN
=
1
6
1 + 10
10
vO vIN 10

Demo

Gain:
determined by resistor ratio
insensitive to A, temperature, fab variations

Why did this happen?

Insight:
5V
v+

vIN +

5V

10V

6V

6V

negative
feedback

i =0

12V

vO = 2vIN

R
vO
2
R

e.g. vIN = 5V
Suppose I perturb the circuit

(e.g., force vO momentarily to 12V somehow).

Stable point is when v+ v- .

Key: negative feedback portion of

output fed to ve input.
e.g. Car antilock brakes
small corrections.

Question: How to control a

high-strung device?
Antilock brakes
is it
turning?

no

di
s

yes
release apply

Michelin

yes/no
k
c
a
db
e
e
f

v. v. powerful brakes

its
all about
control

More op amp insights:

Observe, under negative feedback,
R1 + R2
vIN

R1
v
0
v+ v = O =
A
A

v+ v
We also know
i+ 0
i - 0
yields an easier analysis method
(under negative feedback).

Insightful analysis method

under negative feedback
v+ v
i+ 0
i 0
g vO = vIN

a vIN
+

vIN +

R1 + R2
R2
vO

b vIN
c vIN

R1 f

e i=0

vIN
d
R2

R2

vIN
R2

Question:
a vIN v +
+

vIN +

b vIN

vO vIN

or

R1 + R2
vO = vIN
R2
with R1 = 0
R2 =

c vIN

vO

Why is this circuit useful?

+

vIN +

vO vIN

Buffer

voltage gain = 1
input impedance =
output impedance = 0
current gain =
power gain =

vO