operatiivisvahvistimen

Operatiivisvahvistin, often abbreviated as op-amp, is an electronic component that amplifies voltage. It is a high-gain, differential voltage amplifier with a singleended output. The term "operational" refers to its ability to perform mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, integration, and differentiation when combined with external feedback components.

An ideal operational amplifier has infinite open-loop gain, infinite input impedance, and zero output impedance. In reality, these characteristics are finite but are often approximated as ideal for circuit analysis. Op-amps are characterized by their differential input terminals (inverting and non-inverting) and a single output terminal. The output voltage is proportional to the difference between the input voltages, multiplied by the amplifier's gain.

The behavior of an operational amplifier in a circuit is primarily determined by its feedback configuration. Negative feedback is commonly used to stabilize the amplifier and create predictable circuit functions. With negative feedback, the op-amp seeks to drive the voltage difference between its input terminals to zero. This property is fundamental to understanding how op-amp circuits perform various signal processing tasks.

Operational amplifiers are ubiquitous in analog electronics. They are found in audio amplifiers, filters, oscillators, comparators, and a wide range of signal conditioning circuits. Their versatility and relatively low cost have made them indispensable building blocks for analog signal processing and control systems.