DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : K.RAMPRASAD
Designation : Lecturer
Institution : Q. Q. GPT., Hyderabad
Year/Sem : V Semester
Branch : Applied Electronics & Instrumentation
Engg.
Subject : LIC Applications
Subject code : AEI-505
Topic : Applications of operational amplifiers
Sub -Topic : Voltage follower
Duration : 50 min.
Teaching Aids : PPT, Animations
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 Objectives
Upon the completion of this topic the student will
be able to learn about :
 Schematic diagram and definition of voltage follower

 Operation of voltage follower

 Characteristics of voltage follower

 Applications of voltage follower

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 Recap

 Definition of op-amp

 Differential amplifier configuration

 Non inverting amplifier configuration

 Inverting amplifier configuration

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 Voltage follower

Definition
When the non inverting amplifier is configured for

unity gain, it is called voltage follower.

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 Characteristics of voltage follower

 The output voltage is equal to and in phase with

the input.

 In voltage follower the output follows the input

 It is a non inverting buffer

 Input impedance is increased

 Bandwidth is increased

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Schematic Circuit diagram

Fig. 1

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Specifications

Fig. 2
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Voltage follower with offset voltage
compensating network

Fig. 3
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 Circuit operation

 All the output is feed back to the inverting

terminal of the op-amp.

 The gain of the feedback circuit is 1

 Input current flows through directly to output

through unity feedback network shown in fig. 1

 Output voltage is equal to the input voltage

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 Gain of voltage follower

 Feedback resistance, Rf = 0
A
Gain 
  Rf  
 1  
  R  

 Since Rf = 0; A = 1

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 Gain

1
A f = =1
β

Where,

Af = gain of voltage follower

β = feedback constant

For voltage follower β = 1

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 Input impedance

Rif  Ri (1  A )

Where,

Rif = input impedance of the voltage follower

Ri = input impedance of op-amp

Rif = RiA

(Since β = 1& A>1)

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 Output impedance

ROF = RO //( I + Aβ ) = RO / A

Where,

Rof = output impedance of the voltage follower

Ro = input impedance of op-amp

Rof = Ro ÷ A

(Since β = 1& A>1)

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 Bandwidth

ff = f 0(1 + Aβ ) = Afo
Where,

ff = bandwidth of the voltage follower

fo = bandwidth of op-amp

ff = fo.A

(Since β = 1& A>1)

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 Applications

 The voltage follower is used in buffer circuits

 Voltage follower is used in bootstrapped circuits

 The voltage follower is used in impedance

matching circuits

 It is also used in D.C. coupled circuits

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D.C. coupled Voltage follower

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A.C. coupled Voltage follower

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 Summary

In this class we have discussed about :

 Schematic diagram and definition of voltage

follower

 Operation of voltage follower

 Characteristics of voltage follower

 Applications of voltage follower

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 Quiz

1. Voltage follower is used as

a) Amplifier

b) Buffer

c) Oscillator

d) Regulator

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 Frequently asked questions

1. Draw the circuit diagram of voltage follower ?

2. Explain the operation of voltage follower.

3. List the applications of voltage follower.

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