Operational amplifiers, known also as op amps, play a major role in analog signal conditioning applications. Invented by Karl Dale Swartzel Jr. in 1941, these products are largely used in today’s electronic devices.
They are key enablers for industrial applications towards industry 4.0 and for automotive customers on their transition to electrification.
ST's operational amplifier portfolio provides a unique choice of high performance, low-power, precision op amps and tiny packages.
It addresses voltages from 1.5 to 44 V and operating temperatures from -40 to 175°C.
What are op amps used for and why you should choose ST’s op amps
Operational amplifiers are primarily used for:
- AC and/or DC signal amplification
- Buffering
- Driving signals
- Gain and level shifting
- Filtering
- Performing mathematical operations
But there is more, by choosing our products you also benefit from:
- Largest micropower op amp portfolio on the market, with consumption as low as 600 nA
- High volume supplier of highly reliable standard and high-performance op amps
- Space-saving packages including CSP, DFN, QFN, SOT-23 and SC-70
Operational amplifiers: new current sensing solutions for industrial systems
Types of operational amplifiers
Each application has a suitable operational amplifier: Discover our ever-increasing range of op amps designed for the challenging industrial, automotive and consumer markets.
Low power op amps
Operational amplifiers with exceptionally low current consumption, enabling longer battery life and designed for a large diversity of applications.
Precision op amps
ST's precision op amp solutions include zero drift amplifiers and amplifiers with a low offset drift over temperature. They are a perfect fit for use with any sensor, including gas, temperature, pressure and position sensors.
Low input bias current op amps
Our portfolio is a perfect fit for any transimpedance usage or when dealing with high impedance sensors.
Rail-to-rail op amps
Our rail-to-rail operational amplifier portfolio includes several series covering different voltage ranges, as well as many possible combinations of power consumption and gain bandwidth.
High voltage op amps
Featuring an extended supply voltage range from 2.7 up to 36 V, our high-voltage series simplify the design of a wide variety of automotive and industrial applications: filters, power supply and motor control, actuator driving, hall effect sensors and resistive transducers.
High speed op amps
ST offers a portfolio of high-end, high-speed operational amplifiers.
Featured op amps
Op amps for Automotive Applications
Discover our automotive-grade op amp portfolio featuring extreme reliability and quality demanded by automotive applications.
See all Automotive op ampsOp amps - Quick Reference Guide (PDF)
Download this very practical PDF resource covering:
- How do I pick the right op amp for an application?
- Typical op amp applications and key parameters
- Step-by-step op amp selection using the ST op amps App
- ST's op amp naming convention
- Glossary
ST's op amps series at a glance
Recommended for you
New 20MHz, low-offset op amp in high-performance 5V family
The TSV771 and TSV772 are a single and dual operational amplifier (op amp) ideal for low-side current measurement, combining high accuracy and low power consumption.
Enlarging ST’s high-performance 5V op amps family, the devices feature also rail-to-rail inputs / outputs, 20MHz gain-bandwidth (GBW), and is unity-gain stable. With a slew rate of 13V/µs, 7nV/√Hz input noise density, and 4kV ESD capability (HBM), the TSV772 is a strong all-round performer in a very small 2.0mm x 2.0mm DFN8 package.
Automotive grade version is also available.
High bandwidth and low offset 5 V op amps for Industrial and Automotive
ST enlarges its 5V op amps portfolio with the new TSV7722 and TSV7723 dual high-performance operational amplifiers.
Boasting a gain bandwidth product of 22MHz, an input offset voltage of 50µV, and a wide supply voltage range, the TSV7722 and TSV7723 (feat. shutdown option) are the perfect choice for low-side current sensing in industrial and automotive contexts.
Automotive grade version is also available for TSV7722.
Questions / Answers
What are the main characteristics of ideal and real op amps?
Ideal op amp | Real op amp |
| Infinite bandwidth: all frequency signals are amplified without attenuation. | Each op amp has its specific gain-bandwidth product: input frequency should not exceed this particular frequency range at the desired gain. |
| Infinite input impedance: in order not to affect upstream circuitry. | Very high, but finite input impedance. |
| Zero output impedance: in order not to affect downstream circuitry. | Very low, but not zero output impedance. |
What are the main applications for op amps?
It can be easily said that op amps are present in almost all electrical devices and can be used for various applications, depending on the external components/circuitry or topology.
Differential amplifier (difference amplifier)
Amplifies the difference in voltage between its inputs.
Inverting amplifier
An inverting amplifier is a special case of the differential amplifier producing an output which is 180° out of phase with respect to its input.
Non-inverting amplifier
In this case, the output voltage is always in phase with the input voltage, which is why this topology is known as non-inverting.
Voltage follower (unity buffer amplifier)
This circuit does not generally require external components, and provides high input impedance and low output impedance, which makes it a useful buffer.
eDesignSuite
eDesignSuite is a comprehensive set of easy-to-use design-aid utilities ready to help you streamline the system development process with a wide range of ST products.
Signal Conditioning Design Tool
Active Filters
Handles multi-stage-designs and common topologies Returns circuit component values Provides gain, phase and group delay graphs Low Pass, High Pass and Band Pass 
Comparators
Handles most common configurations Returns circuit components values Provides I/O signal waveforms Inverting, Non Inverting, Window 
Current Sensing
Returns circuit component values Provides current error graphs