Operaatoramplifikaator

Operaatoramplifikaator, often abbreviated as op-amp, is a fundamental building block in analog electronic circuits. It is a high-gain, differential voltage amplifier with a single-ended output. The name "operational amplifier" stems from its original use in analog computers to perform mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, integration, and differentiation. An ideal op-amp has infinite open-loop gain, infinite input impedance, zero output impedance, infinite bandwidth, and zero voltage offset. Real op-amps approximate these ideal characteristics.

Op-amps are characterized by two input terminals: a non-inverting input (marked with a plus sign) and an inverting input (marked with a minus sign). The output voltage is proportional to the difference between the voltages at these two inputs, multiplied by the op-amp's open-loop gain. In practical applications, op-amps are almost always used with negative feedback, which significantly reduces the circuit's overall gain but also improves stability and linearity. This feedback configuration allows op-amps to be configured for a wide variety of functions, including amplifiers, filters, oscillators, and voltage regulators. Their versatility and relatively low cost have made them indispensable components in countless electronic devices.