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Objective
Students are to model and build a circuit resembling the LM741 Operation Amplifier using simple parts
such as transistors, resistors and capacitors. By conducting an AC small-signal analysis on both the
LM741 Op-Amp chip and design circuit, students are expected to receive similar results in voltage gain.
Introduction
Operational amplifiers are among the most widely and commonly used component used in electronic
devices today. It is considered the backbone of electronics for circuit design. An operational amplifier is
a DC-coupled circuit used to receive and input signal and output a signal with a higher voltage gain.
Depending on the configuration of the circuit, the op-amp can produce different outputs, including an
inverting signal and even a signal with lower gain. The architecture of all operational amplifiers consist
of four different gain stages within the internal circuitry. These include the differential amplifier, bias
generator, gain stage, and output stage. Descriptions and explanations of these four gain stage can be
found below. The internal circuitry of the LM741 Op-Amp consists of several PNP transistors, NPN
transistors, resistors, and capacitors. Therefore, the op-amp can be made using the same basic
components and theoretically will produce similar results to the IC chip.
Differential Amplifier
The input stage is a transconductance amplifier, which consists of a cascaded differential amplifier
followed by a current-mirror active load. This transconductance amplifier turns a differential voltage
signal at the bases of Q2 and Q1 into a current signal for the base of Q15. Both Q2 and Q1 create a NPN
emitter follower pair that provides a high input impedance. Below the NPN emitter follower is Q3 and
Q4, a PNP common-base pair that eliminates the increase in input capacitance. Both the PNP
transistors drive and active load Q7 and a matched pair Q5 and Q6. The active load is implemented as a
Wilson current mirror in order to convert the input current signal to a single-ended signal, thus creating
a small-signal differential current in Q3 and Q5 feeding into the base of Q15.
Voltage Amplifier
The voltage gain stage is a class-A gain stage consisting of two NPN transistors (Q15 and Q19) utilizes the
output of the current mirror from Q12 and Q13 as a collector load to achieve its high voltage gain. The
common collectors of Q15 and Q19 drives the base of Q20 while Q16 drives the base of Q14. The
transistor Q22 controls the current, preventing excess current to pass into Q20.
Output Amplifier
The output stage consists of transistors Q14 and Q20. It is a class AB emitter follower amplifier. It
provides an output drive with a low impedance of 50 Ohms. Transistor Q16 provides current for the
output transistors while Q17 provides output current limiting.
PSPICE Simulation
The following image (Fig 1) is the PSPICE model of the circuit design that represents the 741 Op-Amp IC
chip. It is wired with a inverting amplifier circuit where Rf is 10k ohms and R1 is 3.33k ohms. This
configuration creates an output with a gain of -3.
The following figure (Fig 3) represents the bias analysis of the circuit representing the 741 Op-Amp. The
PSPICE model allows the user to view the current and voltage at each point in the circuit. As seen
below, the current are marked with red tags while the voltages are marked with the voilet tags. By
providing currents and voltages at each point in the circuit, the user can further analyze and confirm the
inner workings of the op-amp circuit.
The following figure (Fig 4) is the PSPICE simulation of the output signal versus the input signal. Since
the circuit is designed to provide an inverting gain of 3, we expect the output signal to be greater and
opposite in magnitude as compared to the input signal. The input signal was 3 Vp-p at 5 kHz in
frequency whereas the output signal is inverted 9Vp-p at 5 kHz frequency.
Graphical Data
The following figures (figures 6-10) are graphs of the input signal vs the output signal on the same graph.
These graphs include signals of the 3904 design circuit and 741 IC chip at different frequencies.
Gain Analysis
An inverting amplifier can be configured by attaching a resistor, R from the output of the to the output
of the amplifier. This negative feedback results in the inverting input terminal having a different signal
on it than the actual input voltage as it will be the sum of the input voltage plus the negative feedback
voltage. The ratio between the resistors R and Rin determine the voltage gain of the circuit.
Figure 11
By setting R to 10k ohms and Rin to 3.33k ohms, voltage gain of -3 can be achieved.
Conclusion
By using the 2N3904 and 2N3906 transistors, a circuit can be made that replicates the functions of the
741 Op-Amp IC. When comparing the design circuit with the 741 IC chip, the gain functions appear to
have the same results. However, when conducting a frequency response, the 741 IC chip is more
tolerable to higher frequencies. At 30kHz in frequency, the voltage gain of the design circuit begins to
break down. In contrast, the 741 IC chip begins to break down at 60kHz. The voltage gain of the design
circuit drops more rapidly and is much more sensitive to changes in frequency. This is due to the use of
individual transistors where the 741 IC uses different micro transistors within the chip. It is expected
and confirmed that the design circuit and the 741 IC chip operates similarly at low frequencies while the
741 IC chips functionality surpasses the design circuit at higher frequencies.