Analysis of a Complementary Amplifier Useful for High Slew Rate Applications

Operational amplifiers which are utilized in applications involving the amplification of high-frequency signals and for fast rise-time pulses must have a high slew rate and a wide bandwidth. Integrated circuit, particularly thin-film hybrid, amplifiers with wide bandwidths can be readily obtained; however, monolithic IC's are not readily available with as large a slew rate as can be obtained with discrete-device amplifiers.

The goal of this thesis was to investigate the design of an amplifier using a complementary output stage with the objectives of obtaining low quiescent power dissipation, a slew rate equivalent to the small-signal bandwidth of the amplifier, and a closed-loop gain of 10. The circuit was constructed and tested experimentally, and the results indicated that a slew rate of 200 volts per usec could be obtained using a single complementary output stage.