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Introduction

Analog design can be intimidating. If your engineering talents have been focused in digital, software or even scientific fields, you may be intimidated with what would seem to be a simple analog circuit. As you trespass into the analog domain you are confronted with terminology and decisions that leave you unsure.

The operational amplifier is a useful foundation for many analog circuits. The term was originally applied to amplifiers that were part of analog computers used during the 1950s and 60s. Those circuit configurations could perform most of the algebraic and calculus operations and could solve differential and integral equations. An op amp in the 50s was in a package measuring 12 cm high by 5 cm wide by 15 cm deep and consumed about 5 W. They cost about $100. Today we can get two op amps in a package that is 0.3 cm by 0.15 cm by 0.11 cm (SOT-23) and the cost is less than $1. Along with the reduction in cost and size has come a significant increase in the types and variety to choose from.

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