9.2.2.1 Noise Performance

Figure 40 shows the total circuit noise for varying source impedances with the op amp in a unity-gain configuration (no feedback resistor network, and therefore no additional noise contributions).

The OPA1612-Q1 device (GBW = 40 MHz, G = +1) is shown with total circuit noise calculated. The op amp contributes both a voltage noise component and a current noise component. The voltage noise is commonly modeled as a time-varying component of the offset voltage. The current noise is modeled as the time-varying component of the input bias current and reacts with the source resistance to create a voltage component of noise. Therefore, the lowest noise op amp for a given application depends on the source impedance. For low source impedance, current noise is negligible, and voltage noise generally dominates. The low voltage noise of the OPA1612-Q1 device makes it a good choice for use in applications where the source impedance is less than 1 kΩ.

9.2.2.1.1 Basic Noise Calculations

Design of low-noise op amp circuits requires careful consideration of a variety of possible noise contributors: noise from the signal source, noise generated in the op amp, and noise from the feedback network resistors. The total noise of the circuit is the root-sum-square combination of all noise components.

The resistive portion of the source impedance produces thermal noise proportional to the square root of the resistance. Figure 40 plots this function. The source impedance is usually fixed; consequently, select the op amp and the feedback resistors to minimize the respective contributions to the total noise.

Figure 38 shows both inverting and noninverting op amp circuit configurations with gain. In circuit configurations with gain, the feedback network resistors also contribute noise.

The current noise of the op amp reacts with the feedback resistors to create additional noise components. The feedback resistor values can generally be chosen to make these noise sources negligible. The equations for total noise are shown for both configurations.

At 1 kHz, e_n = 1.1 nV/√Hz and i_n = 1.7 pA/√Hz.

Figure 38. Noise Calculation in Gain Configurations

9.2.2.2 Total Harmonic Distortion Measurements

The OPA1612-Q1 op amp has excellent distortion characteristics. THD + noise is below 0.00008% (G = +1, V_O = 3 V_RMS, BW = 80 kHz) throughout the audio frequency range, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, with a 2-kΩ load (see Figure 7 for characteristic performance).

The distortion produced by OPA1612-Q1 op amp is below the measurement limit of many commercially available distortion analyzers. However, a special test circuit (such as Figure 39 shows) can be used to extend the measurement capabilities.

Op amp distortion can be considered an internal error source that can be referred to the input. Figure 39 shows a circuit that causes the op amp distortion to be 101 times (or approximately 40 dB) greater than that normally produced by the op amp. The addition of R₃ to the otherwise standard noninverting amplifier configuration alters the feedback factor or noise gain of the circuit. The closed-loop gain is unchanged, but the feedback available for error correction is reduced by a factor of 101, thus extending the resolution by 101. Note that the input signal and load applied to the op amp are the same as with conventional feedback without R₃. Keep the value of R₃ small to minimize its effect on the distortion measurements.

Validity of this technique can be verified by duplicating measurements at high gain and/or high frequency where the distortion is within the measurement capability of the test equipment. Measurements for this data sheet were made with an audio precision system two distortion and noise analyzer, which greatly simplifies such repetitive measurements. The measurement technique can, however, be performed with manual distortion measurement instruments.

1.

NOINDENT:

For measurement bandwidth, see Figure 7 through Figure 12.

	SIGNAL GAIN	DISTORTION GAIN	R1	R2	R3
	1	101	∞	1 kΩ	10 Ω
	–1	101	4.99 kΩ	4.99 kΩ	49.9 kΩ
	10	110	549 Ω	4.99 kΩ	49.9 kΩ

Figure 39. Distortion Test Circuit

9.2.2.3 Capacitive Loads

The dynamic characteristics of the OPA1612-Q1 device is optimized for commonly encountered gains, loads, and operating conditions. The combination of low closed-loop gain and high capacitive loads decreases the phase margin of the amplifier and can lead to gain peaking or oscillations. As a result, heavier capacitive loads must be isolated from the output. The simplest way to achieve this isolation is to add a small resistor (R_S equal to 50 Ω, for example) in series with the output.

This small series resistor also prevents excess power dissipation if the output of the device becomes shorted. Figure 19 and Figure 20 illustrate graphs of Small-Signal Overshoot vs Capacitive Load for several values of R_S. For details of analysis techniques and application circuits, refer to Applications Bulletin AB-028, Feedback Plots Define Op Amp AC Performance (SBOA015).