Operational Amplifier Fundamentals Unit 4 – The Voltage Follower
- The rated output of an op amp is affected by a parameter called full-power bandwidth: the
maximum frequency at which an op amp can produce a large-signal (10 Vpk) output without
significant distortion. - An increase in the amplitude of a sinusoidal waveform increases the rate of change of the
waveform. This increase can cause the amplifier to distort the waveform because of slew rate
limitations. - At the full-power bandwidth frequency, the output waveform of the op amp goes out of phase
with the input waveform. However, there is little effect on output amplitude. - If the op amp operates below the full-power bandwidth, Vo is in phase with Vi but not
distorted. - When input frequency is greater than the full-power bandwidth, the output waveform
becomes slew-rate limited (and appears triangular) and its amplitude decreases.