This document defines and describes 16 key parameters of operational amplifiers (op-amps): differential input resistance, input capacitance, output resistance, input offset voltage, input offset current, input bias current, offset voltage adjustment range, input voltage range, common-mode rejection ratio, supply voltage rejection ratio, large-signal voltage gain, output voltage swing, output short-circuit current, slew rate, gain bandwidth product, and supply voltages. It also lists ideal characteristics for an op-amp, including infinite input resistance and voltage gain, zero output resistance and offset voltage.
This document defines and describes 16 key parameters of operational amplifiers (op-amps): differential input resistance, input capacitance, output resistance, input offset voltage, input offset current, input bias current, offset voltage adjustment range, input voltage range, common-mode rejection ratio, supply voltage rejection ratio, large-signal voltage gain, output voltage swing, output short-circuit current, slew rate, gain bandwidth product, and supply voltages. It also lists ideal characteristics for an op-amp, including infinite input resistance and voltage gain, zero output resistance and offset voltage.
It is denoted by Ri and often referred as input resistance. The equivalent resistance that is measured at either the inverting or non-inverting input terminal with the other terminal connected to ground is called input resistance. 2. Input Capacitance The Input capacitance, Ci is the equivalent capacitance that is measured at either the inverting or non- inverting terminal with the other terminal connected to ground. 3. Output Resistance Output resistance, Ro is the equivalent resistance which is measured between the output terminals of the op-amp and the ground (or common point). 4. Input Offset Voltage The input offset voltage is the voltage that must be applied between the two input terminals of an op-amp to null the output. 5. Input Offset Current The algebraic difference between the currents into the non-inverting and inverting terminals is referred to as input offset current. In the form of equation, Iio =| (IB+)-(IB-)|
Where Iio is the input offset current, IB+ is the current
into the non-inverting input and IB– is the current into the inverting input. 6. Input Bias Curren Input bias current is the average of the currents that flow into the inverting and non-inverting input terminals of an op-amp. In the equation form, IB = (IB+)+(IB-))/2 7. Offset Voltage Adjustment Range The offset voltage adjustment range is the range through which the input offset voltage can be adjusted by varying the 10KΩ potentiometer. 8. Input Voltage Range When the same voltage is applied to both input terminals, the voltage is called a common-mode voltage VCM, and the op-amp is said to be operating in the common-mode configuration. For IC LM741 the range of input common mode voltage is ± 13 V maximum. This means that the common mode voltage applied to both input terminals can be as high as + 13V to as low as – 13V without disturbing proper functioning of the op-amp. 9. Common-Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) The common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR) is defined as the ratio of differential voltage gain Ad to the common- mode voltage gain ACM. i.e. CMRR = Ad/ ACM 10. Supply Voltage Rejection Ratio (SVRR) The change in op-amp’s input offset voltage Vio caused by variations in supply voltages is called the supply voltage rejection ratio (SVRR). It is also called Power Supply Rejection Ratio(PSRR) and Power Supply Sensitivity(PSS). If we denote the change in supply voltages by ∆v and the corresponding change in input offset voltage by ∆Vio . Then, SVRR is defined as, SVRR = ∆Vio / ∆V . The lower the value of SVRR in microvolts/volt, the better the op-amp performance. 11. Large-Signal Voltage Gain Since the op-amp amplifies difference voltage between two input terminals, the voltage gain of the amplifier is defined as ratio of output voltage to differential input voltage. Voltage gain = (output voltage) / (Differential input voltage) That is, A = Vo/Vid Because the output signal amplitude is much larger than the input signal, the voltage gain is commonly called large-signal voltage gain. 12. Output Voltage Swing The difference between positive saturation voltage and negative saturation voltage is called output voltage swing. 13. Output Short-Circuit Current The output short circuit current is the value of output current that is allowed to flow by the internal short circuit protection circuitry, if the output is shorted to ground. It is denoted by ISC. 14. Slew Rate Slew rate is defined as the maximum rate of change of output voltage per unit of time and is expressed in volts per microseconds. In equation, SR = dVo/dt | maximum V/µs Slew rate indicates how rapidly the output of an op- amp can change in response to changes in the input frequency. 15. Gain Bandwidth Product Gain bandwidth product (GB) is the bandwidth of the op-amp when the voltage gain is 1. For 741 op-amp GB is 1MHz. GB is also known as closed-loop bandwidth, unity gain bandwidth and small signal bandwidth. 16. Supply Voltages It is defined as voltage applied to op-amp from power supply. Some op-amps use dual power supply and some use a single polarity supply voltage. The dual supply voltage is typically ±15V while a single polarity supply is typically +12V or +15V. 17. Supply Current It is defined as current drawn by the op-amp from the power supply. Ideal Op-amp Electrical Characteristics An ideal op-amp would exhibit the following electrical characteristics. Infinite input resistance (Ri=∞) so that almost any signal source can drive it and there is no loading of the preceding stage. Zero output resistance (RO=0) so that the output can drive an infinite number of other devices. Infinite voltage gain (A= ∞). Zero offset voltage (Vio=0) so that zero output voltage when input voltage is zero. Infinite bandwidth (BW=∞) so that any frequency signal from 0 to ∞ Hz can be amplified without attenuation. Infinite common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR=∞) so that the output common-mode noise voltage is zero. Zero Supply Voltage Rejection Ratio (SVRR=0) so that output voltage does not change due to fluctuation in supply voltage. Infinite slew rate (SR=∞) so that output voltage changes occur simultaneously with input voltage changes.