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 Multi Meter, 741 IC, Resistors, Capacitors, 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 3.1 models the effect of the input offset voltage. We can eliminate this offset voltage by connecting a 10 K
V cc
potentiometer between the offset null inputs and negative power supply ).

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 Figure 3.1 Circuit showing the effect of input offset voltage.

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 3.2.

Figure 3.2 Opamp showing input bias currents.

I
The average value of the two currents is called the input bias current,
IB ( B 1+ I B 2)/2 and the difference

I os = |I B 1I B 2|
of the two currents is called the input offset current, . 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:

Run1: Input offset voltage:

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 R1 R2
1.1 Assemble the circuit as shown in Figure 3.3 with = 10 and = 100 . Observe the dc output voltage (

V odc in DSO/DMM.

V odc
The value of = ______.

The input offset voltage is given by:

V os = V odc R1 /(R 1+ R 2) .

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

V os .
Figure 3.3 Circuit to calculate

1.2 From the data sheet of 741 op-amp, the maximum value of input bias current,
I Bmax .= _________.

The input offset voltage,

V os (theoretical) = I Bmax R1 .= _________.

1.3 Compare the theoretical and practical values of VOS.

V os (practical) V os (theoretical)

1.4 Connect the fixed terminals of a 1 K 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:

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2.1 Assemble the voltage follower circuit as shown in Figure 3.4. Connect the non-inverting input to ground. Using a
V
nulling potentiometer, make the output ( odc ) zero for zero input as per procedure given in step 1.4.

Figure 3.4 Voltage Follower circuit.

R1
2.2 Connect a resistor of value 1 M between the non-inverting input and ground. Measure the output voltage
V o2 .

V o 2 =__________.

I B 2 is given by I B 2 = V o 2 / R1 = _____________.
The input bias current

R1 and ground the non-inverting input. Now connect resistor R1 of value 1 M between
2.3 Remove the resistor
V o1 .
the inverting input and output. Measure the output voltage

V o 1 =__________.

I B 1 , given by I B 1 = V o 1 / R1 = __________.
The input bias current

2.4 Calculate the input bias current and the input offset current from these two values.
I B =__________, I OS =__________.

2.5 Compare the results with the data sheet values.

Parameter Practical values Datasheet values

Input bias current

Input offset current

Run3: Input and Output voltage ranges:

R1 = R2 = 100 K. Use op-amp dc power
3.1 Assemble the voltage follower circuit as shown in Figure 3.5 with

supply voltages of 5 V .

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 Figure 3.5 Circuit to find the input voltage range.
V S ( p p)=
3.2 Apply the sinusoidal input 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 3.5 to an inverting amplifier. Connect

R1 between the source and inverting input.

Ground the non-inverting input. Choose

R1 = 100 K, R2 = 100 K. Repeat observations of step 3.2 starting with

V s (p p ) =0.5 V
sinusoidal input of ( and frequency 100 Hz. Measure the positive and negative output voltage peak
values. This gives the op-amp output voltage range.

V out (+ve peak)_______to V out (-ve peak)_______.

Output voltage range:

Run4: Slew Rate:

Vs
4.1 Assemble the voltage follower circuit as shown in Figure 3.4. Apply the square wave input ( ) of
V S ( p p)=
8 V and frequency 10 kHz.

t r ) & Output Voltage ( V out (p p ) ) of the output waveform and calculate the slew rate
4.2 Measure the rise time (
(SR).
tr V out (p p ) SR V out (p p ) tr =
= _______; = ____________; = /
____________;

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

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

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

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

4.5 The difference of frequencies (fH) in steps 4.3 and 4.4 is _________.

4.6 Assemble a non-inverting amplifier circuit with a gain (

Av of 101. Let the value of the resistor between the
RF = 100 k. Feed the square wave input of V S ( p p)=
output and inverting input be 0.1 V, and frequency of 10

KHz to non-inverting input through a resistor of

Rs = 1 k.

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 =__________.

=____________;

Conclusions:

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