EE101A Winter 2016

Stanford University

Lecture 11
Last time:
Negative feedback: Making op-amps useful
Analysis of circuits with ideal op-amps
The differential amplifier

Today:
Op-amp imperfections: Limited output current and
nonzero offset voltage
Designing practical amplifiers using op-amps
The mighty instrumentation amplifier

Lecture 11

T. H. Lee

EE101A Winter 2016

Stanford University

Caveats* about op-amp circuits

Output current: Can impose a limit on vo
vo
Require | iL |=
< imax
RL

iL

imax is around 30mA for

general-purpose op-amps

Input offset voltage: Zero output voltage may not

occur for zero input voltage
Vcc
+

vs
Lecture 11

+
-

vo = ?

-Vcc

Caveat: Latin for Murphy never sleeps

T. H. Lee

EE101A Winter 2016

Stanford University

The OPA2134 spec sheet

1. Maximum output current | io | < 35mA
Example: RL = 100
| vo | < (35mA)(100) = 3.5V
[Much smaller than the allowed supply voltage!]
2. Input offset voltage Vos is defined as the value of vp vn that
makes vo = 0V.
[Vos = 500V (typical), 2mV (max) for the OPA2134]
vo

Ideal (zero offset)

Vcc
First op-amp:
Vos = 500V

Second op-amp:
Vos = +750V
vp vn
Vcc

Lecture 11

Offset Voltage (mV)

T. H. Lee

EE101A Winter 2016

Stanford University

Measuring the input offset voltage

Vcc = 5 V

+
+
vin = 0V

Vcc = 5 V

vo VOS

This method is approximate, but gives good results

as long as the output voltage is in the linear region
of the op-amp.
Lecture 11

T. H. Lee

EE101A Winter 2016

Stanford University

Whats the output voltage?

+
-

How would we model an op-amp that has a nonzero offset?

Lecture 11

T. H. Lee

EE101A Winter 2016

Stanford University

Whats the output voltage?

+Vos-

+
-

Look at the input terminals!

Lecture 11

T. H. Lee

EE101A Winter 2016

Stanford University

Useful feedback amplifiers based on op-amps

Lecture 11

T. H. Lee

EE101A Winter 2016

Stanford University

Example of designing a summing amp

Weve only seen an inverting summer, so well fix the sign by

adding another inverter

Lecture 11

T. H. Lee

EE101A Winter 2016

Stanford University

Summing amp design (cont.)

Select Rf1 = 56k and find that R1 = 14k and R2 = 8k

Select Rf2 = 20k and find that Rs2 = 20k
Are these good choices? What are the considerations?
Lecture 11

T. H. Lee

EE101A Winter 2016

Stanford University

Measuring a temperature signal

Assumed to be very accurate

Lecture 11

T. H. Lee

EE101A Winter 2016

Stanford University

Difference amplifier (from last time)

vo = (R2 /R1){v2 [R4 /(R3 + R4)][1 + R1 /R2] v1}. If all resistors = R,

vo = v2 v1
This circuit does amplify differentially, but also has nonzero
input currents i1 and i3. Sometimes that matters. How to fix?
Lecture 11

T. H. Lee

EE101A Winter 2016

Stanford University

The instrumentation amplifier

Highly sensitive differential amplifier

Non-inverting pre-amplifiers
Non-ideal difference amplifier
The fix is easy: Precede non-ideal diff. amp with high-input
resistance pre-amplifiers. This popular topology is ubiquitous in
instrumentation. EKGs almost always use an IA, for example.
Lecture 11

T. H. Lee

EE101A Winter 2016

Stanford University

The instrumentation amplifier

Highly sensitive differential amplifier

R4 R1 + R2 + R3
vo =
( v2 v1 )
R2
R5

Lecture 11

T. H. Lee