[FAQ] Designing with general purpose op amps

This FAQ covers a wide breadth of topics relating to designing with general purpose op amps and provides circuit design ideas and approaches while highlighting some of our latest products.

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Golden Reference Sources

Analog Engineer's Circuit Cookbook: Amplifiers: Learn how to simplify and speed up system design with our comprehensive library of sub-circuit ideas. Our analog engineer’s circuit amplifier cookbook offers 60+ sub-circuit designs in an easy to use e-book. Each circuit can be easily adapted to meet your specific end equipment needs and includes step-by-step instructions, basic formulas, schematic diagrams and SPICE simulations.

Texas Instruments Precision Labs – Op Amps: TI Precision Labs is the electronics industry’s most comprehensive online classroom for analog engineers. The on-demand courses and tutorials include introductory ideas about device architecture in addition to advanced, application-specific problem-solving, using both theory and practical knowledge. Use these hands-on courses to predict circuit performance and move seamlessly from abstract concepts to specific formulae in an easy-to-follow format. Industry experts present each topic in order to help reduce design time and move quickly from proof-of-concept to production.

Analog Engineer’s Pocket Reference: Written by op amp experts Art Kay and Tim Green, the Analog Engineer's Pocket Reference covers a wide variety of popular precision signal chain topics – from op amp bandwidth and stability to analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversions and more. The e-book is available three ways – PDF, iPhone and Android apps and hard copy (for purchase) – so you can keep this tried-and-true reference guide at your fingertips, no matter where you are.

Analog Engineer’s Calculator: The Analog Engineer’s Calculator is designed to speed up many of the repetitive calculations that analog circuit design engineers use on a regular basis. This PC-based tool provides a graphical interface with a list of various common calculations ranging from setting op-amp gain with feedback resistors to selecting appropriate circuit design elements for stabilizing an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) drive buffer circuit.

The Signal: A compendium of blog posts on op amp design topics, this source was compiled by the famous analog applications engineer, Bruce Trump.

AN-31 amplifier circuit collection: This collection of analog circuits provides a thorough list of amplifier configurations for a broad range of design needs.  Circuits come with relevant equations, TINA-TI simulation files, and links to extra resources.

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Choosing an op amp

What is an op amp?

Taking the family-first approach to op amp selection

Simplify your bill of materials with high-voltage amplifiers

Do You Really Need Rail-to-Rail Input Amplifiers?

Op amps with complementary-pair input stages: What are the design trade-offs?

Low Voltage, High Slew Rate Op-amps for Motor Drive Circuits

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LM358, LM324 and 555 timers

Application Design Guidelines for LM324/LM358 Devices

How do I design monostable timer circuits using LMC555, TLC555, LM555, NA555, NE555, SA555, or SE555?

How do I design a-stable timer circuits using LMC555, TLC555, LM555, NA555, NE555, SA555, or SE555?

Why Users Should Consider Upgrading Their LMV324, LMV358, and LMV321 Devices

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Circuit design topics

How to Design Transimpedance Amplifier Circuits

Using Operational Amplifiers as Multiplexers in Cost-Optimized Designs

Improve Stability Issues with Low C_ON Multiplexers

Using An Op Amp for High-Side Current Sensing

Designing for TLV90xxS operational amplifiers with shutdown

Low-side current sensing for high-performance cost-sensitive applications

Designing tiny microphone circuits with the industry’s smallest op amp

Using quad op amps to sense multiple currents

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Layout, manufacturing and second-sourcing

Designing and Manufacturing with TI’s X2SON Packages

How to lay out a PCB for high-performance, low-side current-sensing designs

Second-sourcing options for small-package amplifiers