Active Circuits

Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud

Winter 2008

Chapter 1:

Design of Compensated Finite Gain

op-amp based Amplifiers for High
Frequency Applications.

Winter 2008

Design of Compensated Finite Gain op-amp based

Amplifiers for High Frequency Applications.
Objectives and outlines:
1. Introduction
Typical frequency response of the operational amplifiers
The effect of finite GB of op-amp on the performance of op-amp
amplifiers.
Definitions: Error Function (S), Magnitude error
Phase error ()
2. The compensation of Non-Inverting Amplifier
Passive Compensation
Active Compensation
3. The compensation of Inverting Amplifier
Passive Compensation
Active Compensation (Assignment 1)
Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

() and

1. Introduction
The non-inverting and inverting finite gain amplifiers are
basic building blocks in the realization of active RC filters
and oscillators.
The finite gain bandwidth
product of the op-amp
degrades significantly the phase and magnitude of the
conventional finite gain amplifiers.
The purpose of this lecture is to introduce two methods
of compensated non-inverting and inverting finite gain
amplifiers using passive or active elements.
The compensated amplifiers have negligible phase and
magnitude errors up to an extended frequency range.

Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud

Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

Typical frequency response of the operational amplifiers Av(S=j)

Av ( S )

Avo
S
S
S
(1 )(1 )(1 ).........

Assuming the zeros are neglected

Note: 1 is much lower than the

rest of the break-frequencies,
causing 1 to be the dominant
influence
in
the
frequency
response.
Av ( S )

Avo
S
(1
)

For 2 > >> 1, Av ( S ) Avo1 GB t

S

Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud

Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

Where GB is the gain-bandwidth of

the op-amp and t is the unity gain
radian frequency

The effect of finite GB of op-amp on the performance of op-amp amplifiers

For Non-inverting Amplifier

Vout

Vin

Vout
1
A(V V )
Vin
Vout
A
1 K

A
-

KR

Vout
(1 K )
1

(1 K )
(
1

K
)
(1 K ) S
Vin 1
1
A
t
For ideal Amplifier

Vout
Vin

(1 K )

Let

1 K

Therefore, we define the error function

(s) as follows:

(S )

1
(1 K ) S

Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud

Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

(S )

t
1
1 S

1
( j )
1 j

Vout

From the error function ( j )

1
, we can define also:
1 j

(a) Phase error : ()

( ) tan ( ) 0 tan ( )
1

() ( )
(b) Magnitude error :

for 1

()

( )

1
1 ( )

1
( ) ( ) 2
2

for 1

From (a) and (b), we note that the phase error is more dangerous than
the magnitude error
Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

The effect of finite GB of op-amp on the performance of op-amp amplifiers

For inverting Amplifier

Vout A(V V )

KR
Vin

Vout
K
1
0 [
Vin
Vout ]
A
1 K
1 K
Vout
1
1
K
K
(1 K )
(1 K )
Vin
1
1
S
A
t
Vout
For ideal Amplifier
K
Vin A
Therefore, we define the error function
(s) as follows:

(S )
1

1
(1 K ) S

Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud

Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

A
+

Let

1 K

1
(S )
1 S

( j )

1
1 j

Vout

From the error function ( j )

1
,
1 j

(a) Phase error : ()

( ) tan ( ) 0 tan ( )
1

() ( )
(b) Magnitude error :

for 1

()

( )

1
1 ( )

1
( ) ( ) 2
2

for 1

Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud

Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

2. The compensation of Non-Inverting

Amplifier
(a) Passive Compensation (Wilson1976)

Vin

Vout A(V V )
Vout
Vout
Vin
A
(1 K ) KSCR
Vout
Vin

Vout

KR

KCR
1 S(
)
K 1
(1 K )
1 K
KCR
1 S(
) S2(
)

KCR
1 S(
)
K 1
(s)
1 K
KCR
1 S(
) S2(
)

Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud

Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

; second order error function

Note: For the error function

1 a1S
( s)
1 a2 S bS 2
The magnitude and phase errors are given as follows:
3
3
a

a
3
1
2)
( ) (a1 a2 ) [(
a2 b ]
3

( )

2
2

[a12 a22 2b]

Therefore the condition for minimum phase error is a1=a2 and in this case

( ) [a2b]
3

( ) 2 [b]
Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

Therefore, the design value of C for minimum phase error , we must force
the coefficient of S in the Numerator and to be the same;

(s)

1 S(

KCR
)
K 1

1 K
KCR
1 S(
) S2(
)

Let

1 K

KCR 1 K

K 1
t

KRC

K 1

1 S
( s)
1 S S 2 2

(1 K ) 2
C
KRt

( ) ( )3

( ) ( )

Note :The main disadvantages of the passive compensation is that the value
of C is determined in terms of t but t is sensitive to the process and
temperature variation, hence active compensation is uses.

Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud

Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

(b) Active Compensation

Vin

Vout

A1
-

K1 R1
R1

A2
-

Vo1

R2
K2 R2

For op-amp 1:

V Vin

Vo1
V
1 K1

Phase Corrector

For op-amp 2:

V Vout

K2
1
V
Vout
Vo1
1 K2
1 K2

Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud

Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

Calculation of Vo1 :

Vin

Vout

A1

Vo1
K2
1
Vout (
Vout
Vo1 )
A2
1 K2
1 K2

K1 R1
R1

1
Vo1
V
(1 K 2 ) out
1
A2

A2
-

Vo1

R2
K2 R2

Phase Corrector

Calculation of Vout :

Vout
Vout
1
1
Vin
Vo1 Vin
A1
1 K1
1 K1 [1 (1 K 2 ) ]
A2
Vout
Vin

1 K2
)
A2
(1 K1 )
1 K1 (1 K1 )(1 K 2 )
1 (
)
A1
A1 A2
1 (

Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud

Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

Therefore, the error function is given by:

1 (

( s)
1 (

1 K1

t 1

1 K2

)S

t 2

)S

(1 K1 )(1 K 2 )

For minimum phase error:

t1t 2

(1 K1 )

t 1

; second order error function

S2

(1 K 2 )

t 2

If A1 and A2 are matched (t1= t2) K1= K2

Let

1 K1

t 1

1 K2

t 2

1 S
( s)
1 S S 2 2
Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

( ) ( )3

( ) ( )

3. The compensation of Inverting Amplifier

(a) Passive Compensation (Wilson)
C

(1)

Vin

R
By applying KCL at
node (1):

KR

C/K

Vout

Vout

Vout 1
Vout SC
Vout 1
(Vin
)( SC )
(Vout
)
0
A R
A K
A KR
Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

Therefore;

Vout
1 SCR
K
1 K
1 K
Vin
1 (
) SCR(
)
A
A

1 SCR
( s)
1 K
2 1 K
1 S(
)S (
) RC

For minimum phase error:

Let

1 K

; second order error function

(1 K )

RC

RC

1 S
( s)
1 S S 2 2
Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department

(1 K )
C
R t

( ) ( )

( ) ( ) 2

(b) Active Compensation (Assignment 1)

Phase Corrector

K1 R

A2

R
-

Vin

K2 R

R
-

A1

Show that:

Vout

(a) The closed loop gain is given by:

Vout
Vin

1 K2
)
A2
K1
1 K1 (1 K1 )(1 K 2 )
1 (
)
A1
A1 A2
1 (

(b) Find the necessary condition for phase compensation and determine
the resulting phase and magnitude errors of the compensated amplifier
Associate Prof. Dr. Soliman Mahmoud
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department