Frequency Response Of An Op-

amp

LECTURE-5
 Outline
• Introduction
• Frequency response
• Compensating networks
• Frequency response of internally compensated op-amps
• Frequency response of noncompensated op-amps
• High-frequency op-amp equivalent circuit
• Open-loop voltage gain as a function of frequency
• Closed-loop frequency response
• Circuit stability
• Slew rate
• Difference between bandwidth,transient response,and slew
rate
 Introduction
• Gain A decrease as operating frequency
increases
• We investigate factors responsible for
variations in open-loop gain as a function of
frequency
 Frequency Response
• Gain is complex number that is function of
frequency,so at a given frequency gain will
have specific magnitude as well as phase angle
• Manner in which gain of op-amp responds to
different freq. is called freq. response
• Graph of magnitude of gain vs. freq. is called
freq. response plot
 Compensating Networks
• Operating freq. increases than
– (1) gain of amp. Decreases and
– (2) phase shift between o/p and i/p increases
• Op-amp change in gain and phase shift as
function of frequency is attributed to internally
integrated capacitor(s), as well as stray
capacitance
• Capacitances are due to physical char. Of
semiconductor devices (BJTs and FETs) and
internal construction of op-amp
 Compensating Networks
• Cross-over freq.,referred to as unity gain
bandwidth(UGB),is maximum usable freq. for given
op-amp.for 741 op-amp.UGB=1MHz
• Rate of change of gain as well as phase shift of op-amp
can be change by using specific components with
it(resistors and capacitors)
• Network formed by such components and used for
modifying rate of change of gain and phase lead are
most commonly used compensating network
• Main purpose of compensating network is to modify
performance of op-amp circuit over desired freq. range
by controlling its gain and phase shift
Fig:1:Freq. Response Of Internally
Compensated Op-amp 741C
 Compensating Networks
• Two types of op-amp:
– (1)internally compensated
– (2)externally compensated
• 709C op-amp requires three compensating
components, are shown in fig:2
• 741C op-amp has internal compensating
capacitor C1(30pF)
Fig:2:Frequency Compensation Circuit
Of Μa709 Op-amp

4
3 1

V-
- G R2
7 1 2
OU T
mA709
2 V+ 6 C2
+ B/S
U2
B 1 2
8
5

2
2
R1
C1
1k
1 1n 1
 Frequency Response Of
Internally Compensated Op-amp
• Unity-gain bandwidth of 741C is approximately 1MHz
and 741C has single break freq. fo before unity gain
bandwidth
• At break freq. fo open-loop gain is down 3dB or .707
of its value at 0 Hz(dc)
• Gain remain constant from 0Hz to break freq. fo, and
thereafter rolls off at constant rate, that is, 20dB per
decade
• Open-loop bandwidth is freq. band extending 0Hz to fo
• Open-loop bandwidth of 741C is approximately 5Hz
 Frequency Response Of
Internally Compensated Op-amp
• 30pF capacitor is internal compensating
component which helps to control open-loop
gain to allow it to roll off at rate of
20dB/decade
 Frequency Response Of
Non-compensated Op-amps
• Op-amps requiring external compensating
components called noncompensated op-amps.
• If C1=10pF, R1=0 ohm and, C2=3pF, bandwidth
is approximately 5 kHz, while if C1=5000pF,
R1=1.5ohm C2=200pF, bandwidth is 100Hz
• Freq. compensation circuit of μA709 is shown
in fig:2
• Uncompensated op-amps offer relatively
broader open-loop bandwidths
 High-frequency Op-amp
Equivalent Circuit
• Gain of op-amp roll off after certain freq. is reached
due to capacitance,since its reactance decreases as freq.
increases
• This means that we have to include capacitor in high-
frequency model of op-amp at o/p terminal
• Two major sources are responsible for capacitive
effects
– (1)physical characteristics of semiconductor devices:op-
amp are composed of BJTs and FETs which contain
junction capacitors.these junction capacitors are very
small(order of pF) and act as open circuits at low freq. but
take finite values at higher freq.
 High-frequency Op-amp
Equivalent Circuit
• Freq. increases,reactances of capacitors decrease
– (2)internal construction of op-amp is second source of
capacitive effects.in op-amp no. of transistor as well as
resistors and sometimes capacitor are integrated on
same material, called substrate. Substrate acts as
insulator and helps separate these components. Various
components are connected by conducting paths, and
paths are separated by insulator.
– Whenever two conducting paths are separated by
insulators, it acts as capacitor.so,because of its
construction op-amp may contain no. of stray
capacitances
 High-frequency Op-amp
Equivalent Circuit
• Cumulative effect of these capacitances due to
characteristics of semiconductor devices and
internal constriction of op-amp causes gain to
decrease as freq. increases
• For op-amp with only break freq., we will
represent all capacitive effects by single capacitor,
as shown in fig:3
• Op-amp with more than one break freq. May be
represented by using many capacitors as break
freq. they have
Fig:3: High-freq. Model Of Op-amp
With Single Break Freq.
Open-loop Voltage Gain
As Function Of Freq.
 Open-loop Voltage Gain
As Function Of Freq.
• Where AOL(f)=open-loop voltage gain as
function of freq.
• A=gain of op-amp at 0 Hz (dc)
• f=operating freq(HZ)
• fo=break frq of op-amp(Hz)
• Note that fo depends on value of C and on o/p
resistance Ro
Open-loop Voltage Gain
As Function Of Freq.
Open-loop Voltage Gain
As Function Of Freq.
 From Gain Calculations
1) AOL(f)dB is approximately constant from 0Hz to
break freq fo
2) f=fo than gain AOL(f)dB is 3dB down from its
value at 0Hz, for this reason break freq. is called
-3dB frq. Or corner freq.
3) AOL(f)dB is approximately constant up to break
freq fo, but thereafter it decreases 20dB each
time there is tenfold increase in freq. therefore
gain roll off at rate of 20dB/decade
4) At specific value of i/p freq. AOL(f)dB is zero
called unity gain bandwidth(UGB).
 Phase Angle Calculation
• 𝛷(f)=-tan^-1(f/5)
• At f=0Hz, 𝛷(f)=-tan^-1(0/5)=0 ̊
• At f=fo=5Hz, 𝛷(f)=-tan^-1(5/5)=-45 ̊
• At f=50Hz, 𝛷(f)=-84.29 ̊
• At f=500Hz, 𝛷(f)=-89.43 ̊
• At f=5kHz, 𝛷(f)=-89.94 ̊
• At f=50kHz, 𝛷(f)=-89.99 ̊
• At f=100kHz, 𝛷(f)=-90 ̊
• At f=5MHz, 𝛷(f)=-90 ̊
 Equation To Remember
• fo=UGB/A
 Ex:5.1
• The 741C is connected as noninvertng
amplifier. what maximum gain can be used
that will still keep amplifier’s response flat to
10kHz?
• Ans: value of gain is 40dB, that is 100.(see
fig:4)
Fig:4: 741C Frequency Response Plot
Fig:5(a):
 Ex:5.2
• Using frequency response and phase response
curves shown in fig:5, obtain gain eq. for
MC1556 op-amp. also determine approximate
values of break freq.
Fig:5(b):
Circuit Stability
Fig:6: Typical Closed-loop System

Vin +
i/p ⅀ AoL(f) Vo
o/p
summing junction

- B
Vf
feedback signal
 Circuit Stability
• Closed-loop gain AF is given by
AF=Vo/Vin=AOL/(1+(AOL)(B))
where B=gain of feedback circuit
• Once magnitude versus freq. and phase angle versus
freq. plot are drawn, system stability may be
determined as follows:
• Method 1:Determine angle when magnitude of
(AOL)(B) is 0dB or 1.If phase angle is >-180 ̊, system is
stable. However, for some systems magnitude may
never be 0dB; in that case, method 2 must be used to
determine system stability
 Circuit Stability
• Method 2:Determine magnitude of (AOL)(B)
when phase angle is -180 ̊.If magnitude is
negative decibels, then system is stable.
However, sometimes phase angle of system
may never reach -180 ̊;under such conditions,
method 1 must be used to determine system
stability
Fig:7:Slew Rate
 Slew Rate
• Slew rate is caused by current limiting and saturation of
internal stages of op-amp when high freq., large-
amplitude signal is applied
• Resulting current is maximum current available to
charge compensation capacitance network. Capacitor
required finite time to charge and discharge.
• This means that internal capacitors prevent o/p voltage
from responding immediately to fast-changing i/p
• Rate at which voltage across capacitor rises is
dVc/dt=I/C
• Slew rate limiting is caused by this capacitor charging
rate, in which voltage across capacitor is o/p voltage
Slew Rate Equation
 Fig:8: Deriving Slew Rate Equation

+VCC
4
3 U1A
V+
+
1
OUT
2
V-

-
11

-VEE

Vin
 Slew Rate Equation
• SR=2𝛑fVp V/s
=2𝛑fVp /10^6 V/μs (5.4)
Where SR=slew rate (V/μs)
f=i/p frequency (Hz)
Vp=peak value of o/p sine wave (volts)
• For o/p free of distortion, slew rate determines maximum
freq. of operation fmax desired o/p swing
• As long as value of right-hand side of eq.(5.4) is less than
slew rate of op-amp, o/p waveform will always be
undistorted
• If either freq. or amplitude of i/p signal is increased to
exceed slew rate of op-amp, o/p will be distorted.
 Effect Of Slew Rate
In Applications
+VCC

4
3 U1A

V+
+
Vin 1 2
OUT
2 RL

V-
-
10k
11
-VEE 1
 Effect Of Slew Rate
In Applications
• i/p and o/p Waveform are given in board
• 741C has typical slew rate of 0.5 V/μs; therefore, 28V/0.5
V/μs=56 μs must be minimum time between two zero
crossings
• Hence maximum i/p freq. fmax at which o/p will be distorted
is given by fmax=1/(2)(56 μs)=8.93 kHz
• Therefore, at fmax o/p may be triangular instead of square
wave
• Faster slew rate op-amps are characterized by overshoot
and ringing, which cause o/p to take longer to reach steady
state than with slower slew rate op-amps
• So settling time is another important parameter that should
be considered, especially in (D/A) and (A/D) applications
 Difference Between Bandwidth,
Transient Response And Slew Rate
• Table:5.1
Sr no. Band width Transient response Slew rate

1 Small signal Small signal Large signal

phenomenon phenomenon phenomenon

2 Band of frequency for That part of total Maximum time rate of

which gain remain response before the change of output
constant response reaches a voltage
steady state

3 Depends on Composed of Slew rate limiting

compensating overshoot and rise depends on both
components and time ;rise time related frequency and
closed-loop gain to bandwidth and amplitude; often
overshoot is measure increases with closed-
of stability loop gain and power
supply voltages

4 If exceed, results in Affect settling time If exceeded, results in

reduction of output distortion
voltage
keep silence