EXPERIMENT NO.

Characterization of Operational Amplifier

Date: _________________ PS No.:__________ Batch No.________

ID No. ________________ Name: __________________________________________

Aim: To study the input offset voltage, the input bias current, the input offset current, the input and output voltage ranges,
and the slew rate of an op-amp.

Equipment & Components: Analog Electronics Trainer kit, DSO & Function Generator (Analog Discovery kit),
Digital multimeter, µA 741 IC, Resistors, Connecting wires.

Theory:

Introduction:

For applications needing accurate design, it is necessary to know the various characteristics such as the input offset
voltage, the input bias currents, the output currents, the input and output voltage ranges, the open loop gain, the slew rate
and the bandwidth of operational amplifier to be used. In this experiment, we shall first define these terms and then use
the experimental methods to measure them.

1. Input Offset Voltage

If both the input terminals of the op-amp are grounded, a finite dc voltage will still appear as the output. This voltage
divided by the gain of the op-amp gives the input offset voltage. The output voltage can be brought to zero by connecting
a dc voltage source of proper polarity and magnitude between the two input terminals of the op-amp. The cause of this
offset is mismatch in the devices inside the op-amps.

Figure 4.1 models the effect of the input offset voltage. We can eliminate this offset voltage by connecting a 1 KΩ
potentiometer between the offset null inputs and negative power supply¿).

Figure 4.1 Circuit showing the effect of input offset voltage.

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2. Input Bias and Input Offset Currents

The inverting and non-inverting terminals of the op-amps are internally supplied with dc currents, termed the input bias
currents, IB1 and IB2, as shown in Figure 4.2.

Figure 4.2 Opamp showing input bias currents.

The average value of the two currents is called the input bias current, I B ¿(I ¿ ¿ B 1+ I B 2)/2 ¿ and the difference of the
two currents is called the input offset current, I os= |I B 1−I B 2|. Manufacturers specify these two parameters.

3. Input and Output Voltage Ranges

Maximum positive and negative input voltage applied to the op-amp for undistorted output gives the input voltage range.
Maximum positive and negative undistorted output voltage of the op-amp gives the output voltage range.

4. Open-loop Gain

The open-loop voltage gain A of the op-amp is defined as the ratio of the output voltage to the difference in inverting and
non-inverting voltages.

5. Slew Rate

It is the maximum rate of change of the output voltage in response to a step change in the input voltage. It is expressed in
volts per microsecond. Normally, we apply input pulses for the experimental measurement of slew rate. Since the edges of
the pulse may not be sharp, the zero to maximum voltage and time measurements may not be accurate. Thus, we measure
the rise time of the pulse and change the input voltage from 10% to 90% of its amplitude. The ratio of change in the
voltage to the rise time of the output waveform is the measure of slew rate.

Observations:
Use op-amp (µA 741 IC), dc power supply voltages of ± 15V wherever not specified.

Run1: Input offset voltage:

1.1 Assemble the circuit as shown in Figure 4.3 with R1 = 10 Ω and R2 = 100 Ω. Observe the dc output voltage (V odc ¿ in
DSO/DMM.

The value of V odc = __-15.85 mV____.

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 R1
The input offset voltage is given by: V os =V odc ×
R1 + R2

Calculate the value of input offset voltage, V os (practical) = __.

Figure 4.3 Circuit to calculateV os .

1.2 From the data sheet of 741 op-amp, the maximum value of input bias current, I Bmax .=¿ 200 nA.
The input offset voltage, V os (theoretical) = I Bmax × R1 .= _________.

1.3 Compare the practical and theoretical values of V os from steps 1.1 and 1.2.

S.No V os (Practical) V os (Theoretical)

1.4 Connect the fixed terminals of a 1 KΩ potentiometer (nulling potentiometer) between pins 1 and 5 of the op-amp and
the variable terminal to the negative power supply voltage, -15V. Change (vary) the potentiometer to make the output
(V ¿¿ odc )¿zero. This nullifies the effect of the input offset voltage.

Run2: Input bias and input offset currents:

2.1 Assemble the voltage follower circuit as shown in Figure 4.4. Connect the non-inverting input to ground. Using a
nulling potentiometer, make the output (V ¿¿ odc )¿zero for zero input as per procedure given in step 1.4.

Figure 4.4 Voltage Follower circuit.

2.2 Connect a resistor R1 of value 1 MΩ between the non-inverting input and ground. Measure the output voltage V o 2.
V o 2= -35 mV.

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The input bias current I B 2 is given by I B 2 = V o 2 / R1 = _____________.
2.3 Remove the resistor R1 and ground the non-inverting input. Now connect resistor R1 of value 1 MΩ between the
inverting input and output. Measure the output voltage V o 1.
V o 1= 38 mV.
The input bias current I B 1 is given by I B 1= V o 1 / R1= __________.
2.4 Calculate the input bias current and the input offset current from these two values.
I B ¿(I ¿ ¿ B 1+ I B 2)/2 ¿ =________ and I os= |I B 1−I B 2| = __________.
2.5 Compare the results with the data sheet values.

Parameter Practical values Datasheet values

Input bias current, I B 200nA

Input offset current, I OS 70nA

Run3: Input and Output voltage ranges:

3.1 Assemble the voltage follower circuit as shown in Figure 4.5 with R1= R2= 100 KΩ. Use op-amp dc power supply
voltages of ± 5V .

Figure 4.5 Circuit to find the input voltage range.

3.2 Apply the sinusoidal inputV S ( p− p)=¿ 2 V and frequency 100 Hz. Observe the voltages at the non-inverting input and
output pins simultaneously on a DSO. Increase the signal amplitude until distortion is observed at the peak value of the
output. Measure the positive and negative input voltage peak values. This gives the op-amp input voltage range.

Input voltage range: V ¿ (+ve peak) =_______to V ¿ (-ve peak) =_______.

3.3 Change the circuit of Figure 4.5 to an inverting amplifier. Connect R1between the source and inverting input. Ground
the non-inverting input. Choose R1= R2=¿100 KΩ.Repeat observations of step 3.2 starting with sinusoidal input of (
V s ( p− p) ¿=0.5 V and frequency 100 Hz. Measure the positive and negative output voltage peak values. This gives the op-
amp output voltage range.

Output voltage range: V out (+ve peak) =_______to V out (-ve peak) =______.

Run4: Slew Rate:

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4.1 Assemble the voltage follower circuit as shown in Figure 4.4. Apply the square wave input ( V s ) of V S ( p− p)=¿ 8 V
and frequency 10 kHz.

4.2 Measure the rise time ( t r) & Output Voltage (V out ( p− p)) of the output waveform and calculate the slew rate (SR).
t r = 0.015 ms; V out ( p− p) =8.11 V; SR = V out ( p− p)/t r=0.54 V/us

4.3 Replace the square wave input, with sine wave input of V S ( p− p)=¿ 0.2 V. Sweep the frequency from 1 kHz to 5 MHz,
and find the 3 dB upper cutoff frequency ( f H ¿.

Practical: f H (cut-off) = ____________.

4.4 Reset the sine wave input toV S ( p− p)=¿8V and sweep the frequency from 1 kHz to 5 MHz . Find the 3 dB upper cutoff
frequency ( f H ¿.This is called the slew rate (SR) limited cutoff frequency.

Practical: f H (cut-off) = ____________.

4.5 The difference of frequencies ( f H ¿in steps 4.3 and 4.4 is _________.

4.6 Assemble a non-inverting amplifier circuit with a gain ( A v ¿ of 101. Let the value of the resistor between the output
and inverting input be R F= 100 kΩ. Feed the square wave input of V S ( p− p)=¿ 0.1 V, and frequency of 10 KHz to non-
inverting input through a resistor of R s= 1 kΩ.

4.7 Measure the rise time ( t r) & Output Voltage (V out ¿ of the output waveform and calculate the slew rate (SR).

t r =_______; V out ( p− p)=____________; SR=__________.

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Conclusions:

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