How to Buffer an Op-Amp Output for Higher Current,

Part 2
allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/how-to-buffer-an-op-amp-output-for-higher-current-part-2

Technical Article

In this article, we will look at two variations on the basic BJT

current-buffering circuit.

In this article, we will look at two variations on the basic BJT current-buffering circuit.

Supporting Information

Previous Article
How to Buffer an Op-Amp Output for Higher Current, Part 1

If Your Op-Amp Output Stage Can’t Handle the Pressure

The basic BJT buffering circuit discussed in the previous article is great for many
applications, but it suffers from two limitations that need to be addressed: first, high load
currents may require too much output current from the op-amp; second, it is not
compatible with negative load voltages. We’ll start with the first concern.

As mentioned in the previous article, the output current required from the op-amp will be
approximately equal to the load current divided by the transistor’s active-region current
gain (aka beta or hFE). In some situations, it might be problematic to incorporate this
much output-current capacity into your design. One possibility is the following: You are
using an op-amp part that includes multiple amplifiers in one package. If you already
have a low-output-current part that is just right for your system and you are using three
out of the four amplifiers in the package, you might be determined to put that fourth
amplifier to work. Or let’s say you have an op-amp integrated into the board’s
microcontroller. That op-amp is not likely to offer much in the way of output current, but
you don’t want to bring in an external part just because you need another 20 or 30 mA
from the integrated op-amp. The solution to situations such as these is additional current
gain from the BJT. The first thing to do is simply look for a transistor with higher hFE, but
if you need much more current gain—because your load current is so high or your op-amp
is so puny, or both—it’s time for Darlington.

The Darlington Pair

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The circuit symbol tells most of the story. A Darlington pair is two BJTs sharing a
common collector, integrated into a single package. The result is a device that functions
very much like a normal BJT, but with extremely high hFE—the overall current gain is
approximately equal to hFE of the first transistor multiplied by hFE of the second
transistor. At this point you might be thinking, “I’ve got plenty of 2N2222 transistors lying
around in the basement, I’ll just connect them Darlington-style and call it good.” Well, it’s
not quite that simple. Take a look at the equivalent circuit for the
TIP142TDarlingtontransistorfromFairchild (PDF):

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In addition to the BJTs, we have a protection diode and two resistors. The resistors
improve turn-off time by providing a discharge path for the right-hand transistor’s base-
emitter junction capacitance, and they ensure a defined state for the right-hand
transistor’s base node, which otherwise would be floating when the Darlington pair is in
cutoff. They also result in lower hFE, because some of the base current is shunted around
the base-emitter junctions. This reduction in gain is actually beneficial in many situations
because it reduces the effects of leakage current—and the fact is you really shouldn’t need
the full current gain, which would be something like 10,000 if we assume that each BJT
has hFE of 100. So the point is, it’s probably better to buy a Darlington device rather than
make your own out of two discrete BJTs.

Here is an LTspice schematic with a Darlington pair instead of a single BJT.

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LTspice doesn’t come with a Darlington part, but you can go here to download subcircuit
and symbol files for the TIP142.

Here is a plot with VIN, VOUT, and the voltage applied to the base of the Darlington.

As with the single-BJT circuit, the output voltage tracks the input voltage (the VIN trace is
hidden underneath the VOUT trace). Note that VBASE is about 1.3–1.4 V above the load
voltage; this is because now we have two base-to-emitter voltage drops instead of one.

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Thus, you have to be especially careful to ensure that your Darlington and op-amp supply
voltages are high enough to allow for your full load-voltage range (for more details on this,
see the “Simple, but Not Foolproof” section at the end of the previous article).

This next plot shows the load current and the current flowing into the base of the
Darlington.

So with a load current of 360 mA, the base current is 169 µA, corresponding to hFE ≈
2130. The datasheet indicates that the current gain should be closer to 1000; perhaps this
particular SPICE model is not as accurate as it could be. In any event, we have succeeded
in greatly reducing the output current required from the op-amp.

Another way to deal with an op-amp that can’t supply enough output current is to use a
MOSFET instead of a BJT. We’ll cover MOSFET implementations in the next article.

Going Below Ground

Op-amps are often used with negative output voltages. An obvious example is sinusoidal
signals, such as we find in audio, video, and RF applications. When the op-amp generates
a positive output voltage, the output current flows “out of” the op-amp and “into” the
ground node through the load. Hence, when the output is positive, the op-amp sources
current. With a negative output voltage, current flows “out of” the ground node, through
the load, and “into” the op-amp, such that the op-amp is now sinking current. Thus, to
support signals that extend above and below ground, we need an output-current buffer
that can both sink and source current. Voilà:

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The general idea is the same: the BJTs provide higher current capacity, and the feedback
configuration makes the op-amp modify its output in whatever way is needed to ensure
that the load voltage VOUT is equal to VIN. The difference is the addition of a PNP
transistor, which accomplishes for negative load voltages what the NPN transistor
accomplishes for positive load voltages. In other words, when the input voltage is positive,
the op-amp output swings positive to turn on the NPN transistor, and current is sourced
from the NPN to the load; when the input voltage is negative, the op-amp output swings
negative to turn on the PNP, and the PNP sinks the load current. Here is an LTspice
schematic:

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Note that I have chosen the PNP part number recommended as a complementary device
in the datasheet for the 2SCR293P:

Here is a plot with VIN and VOUT. As usual, the input voltage is hidden underneath the
output voltage.

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This next zoomed-in plot includes the op-amp’s output voltage. Note how the negative-
feedback action causes the op-amp to automatically bypass the “dead band,” i.e., the
voltage range (from about –0.7 V to 0.7 V) in which both transistors are in cutoff.

Is This an Audio Amplifier?

At this point you might be wondering if you can use this circuit as a power amplifier for
audio signals. You certainly can, but the sound quality will not be the best. Actually, the
NPN-plus-PNP arrangement in this circuit is referred to as a Class B output stage, and
combining the Class B stage with an op-amp and some negative feedback yields a power

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amplifier with minimal crossover distortion (the Class B stage by itself has major
distortion problems created by the large dead band). However, even with negative
feedback, sound quality is still somewhat degraded by the alternate turning on and off of
the NPN and PNP transistors. This is why the preferred circuit for audio is the Class AB
amplifier, in which the transistors are biased such that both conduct for small input
voltages above or below the crossover point.

Conclusion

We have covered three simple, low-cost circuits that can greatly amplify an op-amp’s
output current. These three configurations cover most situations in which a high-output-
current amplifier is needed—just don’t forget to double-check your supply voltages,
current limitations, and power dissipation.

Next Article in Series: How to Buffer an Op-Amp Output for Higher Current,
Part 3

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