4. What is an Op-Amp?
(The Surface)
An Operational Amplifier (Op-Amp) is an integrated
circuit that uses external voltage to amplify the input
through a very high gain.
FIG-1: What an Op-Amp looks like to a lay-person
5. What is an Op-Amp?
(Pin Diagram)
There are 8 pins in a common Op-Amp IC, like the IC741
which is used in many instructional courses.
FIG-2: What an Op-Amp looks like to an engineer
6. Op-Amp Characteristics
Infinite open-loop gain G = vout / vin
Infinite input impedance
Infinite output voltage range
Zero output impedance
Zero noise
Infinite power supply rejection ratio.
7. Types of Op-Amps
Inverting
Non-inverting
Summing amplifier
The voltage follower
Integrator
Differentiator
8. Applications of Op-Amps
Comparator
Integration and differentiation
Charge amplifier
Capacitance multiplier
Oscillators
Filters
Audio and video preamplifiers and buffers
Voltage regulator and current regulator
Digital-to-analog converter