Basic Op-Amp Circuits

An operational amplifier, or op-amp in short, is an integrated circuit designed to operate as a high-voltage-gain differential amplifier, with large input resistance and small output resistance. Op-amp applications range from voltage amplifiers, linear combiners, voltage-level shifting, filters, and background noise removal, all of which require op-amps to operate in a negative feedback configuration, to comparators and advanced comparators known as Schmitt Triggers that utilize open-loop op-amps and even positive feedback. These applications serve to introduce basic advanced design system (ADS) concepts. The first involves setting up a design kit, which contains a collection of electronic parts used throughout thebook. The chapter then covers how to create an ADS workspace. A workspace is a software container for all the design work and analysis results display. The steps needed for creating a basic schematic and analyzing it, using the transient simulator, are discussed. Basic ADS data display is covered as well, from plotting of named circuit node voltages to plotting of variables defined algebraically or via measurement equations. A second ADS simulation mode is AC simulation, intended for studying the frequency response of linear, or linearized, circuits.