op-ampnonidealVosIBIos.

doc Page 1 28/11/2011

Effects of operational amplifier (op-amp) non-idealities.

Consider each effect in turn creating output error voltages AV
o
due to each non-ideality in
turn, with the op-amp otherwise considered ideal.
Imagine other voltage inputs (for non-inverting v
+
or inverting v

) short circuited (s/c) to

0V, then find total output effects by superposition.
Note that the dc power supply rails, V
s
are not shown in the following diagrams.

1. Offset voltage, V
os
= v

v
+

V
os
may be positive (+ve) or negative (ve).

(a) Non-inverting amplifier: input signal, v
in
heading towards non-inverting (+) input


v

_
+
v
in
=0V
v
o
=AV
o
due to V
os


R
1


0V
15kO

R
f


60kO
V
os

I
v
+


non-inverting amplifier circuit diagram
1
os
R
V
I = , and the same current also flows through R
f
,
so the voltage drop across R
f
is IR
f
=
f
1
os
R
R
V

This gives an error output voltage, AV
o
= V
os
+ IR
f
= V
os
+
f
1
os
R
R
V
=
os
1
f
V
R
R
1
|
|
.
|

\
|
+


For this circuit the offset error voltage, V
os
is multiplied by the same numerical voltage gain
as for normal v
in
input signals, ideal non-inverting gain, A
v
=
1
f
R
R
1 +
normal output, v
o
= A
v
v
in



op-ampnonidealVosIBIos.doc Page 2 28/11/2011

(b) Inverting amplifier: input signal or level, v
in
heading towards inverting () input




60kO R
f

15kO R
in

_
+
v
in
0V v
o

0V
V
os
I
I

inverting amplifier circuit diagram
As for the previous circuit,
in
os
R
V
I = , and the same current also flows through R
f
,
so again the voltage drop across R
f
is IR
f
=
f
in
os
R
R
V

This gives an error output voltage, AV
o
= V
os
+ IR
f
= V
os
+
f
in
os
R
R
V
=
os
in
f
V
R
R
1
|
|
.
|

\
|
+

Thus both inverting and non-inverting have error due to V
os
, AV
o
=
os
f
V
R
R
1 |
.
|

\
|
+
with appropriate R.

However, for this inverting circuit the gain for V
os
is not the same as the gain for normal
input v
in
signals.


Normal inverting numerical voltage gain, A
v
=
in
f
in
o
R
R
v
v
= assuming ideal op-amps

Signal output, v
o
= A
v
v
in




op-ampnonidealVosIBIos.doc Page 3 28/11/2011
2. Bias current effects

Data sheets give average bias currents, I
B+
and I
B
, (or i
+
and i

), flowing into (or out of)

the non-inverting (+) and inverting () inputs as I
BIAS
=
2
I I
B B +
+
.
The input offset current error source is I
os
= I
B+
I
B
= i
+
i



Ideal op-amp operation brings v
+
to the same voltage as v

.
v
+
= i
+
R
B
v

= i
+
R
B
giving I =
1
B
1
R
R i
R
v
+
= , I
F
= I i

=
1
B
R
R i
+
i

AV
o
= v
+
+ I
F
R
F
= i
+
R
B
+
F
1
B
R i
R
R i
|
|
.
|

\
|

+
=
( )
F
1
F 1 B
R i
R
R R R i

+

Then make R
B
=
( )
F 1
F 1
R R
R R
+

, which is the parallel combination of R

1
and R
F
,

giving error AV
o
= ( )
F OS F F F
R I R . i i R i R i = =
+ +


This allows the remaining error due to I
os
to be nulled or trimmed out by similar methods
as used for V
os


A similar analysis for the non-inverting amplifier shows that the inclusion of R
B
as below
can help reduce bias current errors for this circuit too. (parallel combination shorthand R
1
,, R
F
)


error AV
o
due to bias
currents
+

R
B



R
F

i
+

v

i

R
1

0V
v
+

V
1
=0V
error AV
o
due to bias
currents
+

R
1



R
F

i
+

v

i

R
B

I
0V
v
+

V
1
=0V
I
F
inverting amplifier

op-ampnonidealVosIBIos.doc Page 4 28/11/2011
3. Estimate effects due to errors, specified limits & practical component tolerances.
Check which are dominant - which do need dealing with - for good performance over the
required dynamic ranges.
Make good use of manufacturer's datasheets and application hints.

(a) Check the likely effects of the resistor tolerances, of resistor pairs not being perfectly
matched and of op-amp non-idealities. Estimate potential variations from ideal theory due
to realistic component tolerances. Resistor values may be 5%, capacitor values may be
20%, for instance. Variations due to tolerances and due to time or temperature drifts may
be reduced by using expensive precision components, if required by the application.

(b) Before practically testing an amplifier circuit, try nulling the op-amp's offset to minimise
V
os
and I
os
errors (with the 15V supply rails connected), eg for the A741by connecting
the v
+
and v

inputs to 0V and adjusting v

o
to 0V using a variable resistor between pins 1
and 5 with its wiper connected to 15V, or by using the summing input. Alternatively, an
op-amp with a better specification (spec) may be needed.

(c) Add appropriate resistances (R
B
) to minimise I
BIAS
effects.

(d) To predict the frequency response of a linear op-amp circuit from dc upwards:

The frequency, f
H
, where the output voltage has reduced from its steady mid-band/low f
value by
2
1
, corresponds to the 3dB half-power point.

Operational amplifiers without external components limiting their low frequency gain
normally provide no lower frequency limit, they will amplify down to dc, so f
L
= 0 Hertz,
and bandwidth (BW) = f
H
f
L
= f
H

For regions where the numerical gain multiplied by the bandwidth (BW) is constant
(gain.BW product = constant = unity gain BW), the bandwidth can be estimated by using
the unity gain BW from the op-amp specifications (eg the manufacturer's datasheet).

The BW at some other gain is ideally a scaled version of this, found by dividing by the new
non-inverting numerical gain, so new f
H
= new BW =
gain new
product BW . gain


(e) To practically estimate slew rate = maximum rate of change of v
o
, try square wave
inputs with increasing frequency to a unity gain buffer amp, measure max
t
V
o
A
A
in V/s.
For sinusoidal input & output signals and an output amplitude V
p
, (where V
p
= A
v
input
amplitude): slew rate = s V/ in 10 V f 2
dt
dv
6
p max
max
o
t =


When V
p
is at its maximum, then f
max
is the full power bandwidth.

(f) Check limits (clipping distortion) due to dc power supply rail voltages, V
s
.