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LMP2012: LMP2012 Bi-Polar or CMOS?

Part Number: LMP2012
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: LMC6081

Quick questions:  is LMP2012 is fully Bi-polar technology or if it is part CMOS technology.  Let me know, thanks!

  • Hi Isaiah,

    LMP2012 is CMOS. A couple of ways you can identify this are:

    1. Input Bias Current - for a bipolar device, bias current is typically on the order of tens to hundreds of nanoamps at room temperature. FET or CMOS op amps will typically have bias currents on the order of tens of picoamps or less (CMOS devices like the LMC6081 can achieve bias currents down to tens of femtoamps). 
      1. LMP2012 has a bias current specification of 3pA, which suggests a CMOS input stage 
    2. Output Swing - CMOS output stages will swing much closer to the supply rails than bipolar output stages. A common-emitter output stage's swing will be limited by the saturation voltage of the output devices - typically a few hundred mV, while an emitter-follower's swing is limited to a diode drop (~700mV) from the rails at best. CMOS, by comparison, can achieve output swings less than 100mV from the rail with light loads.
      1. LMP2012 specifies a typical output swing of around 20 to 40mV from the supplies with a 10kΩ load, suggesting a CMOS output stage.
    3. Chopper/Auto-zero - Chopping or auto-zero op amps require analog switching in their inputs in order to function. These switches are typically implemented with CMOS technology and the logic that controls them is easier to implement with CMOS, so the op amp itself will also typically be CMOS. 
    1. LMP2012 is an auto-zero amplifier, which again would suggest a CMOS input stage.

    All of this suggests a CMOS amplifier, which the parametric table on the LMP2012 product page confirms.