Op amp reduces power consumption by 30%

Analog Devices Inc. introduced an operational amplifier (op amp) that aims to meet the power, voltage, accuracy and price requirements of portable battery-powered applications. The AD8500 is said to consume 30 percent less power than competing solutions and operates at a low 1.8V. The product suits applications that require precision sensing, including smoke detectors, glucose monitors and remote sensors.

The AD8500 is a precision CMOS op amp that features a 1μA maximum supply current. The device operates from a single supply voltage of 1.8V to 5.5V or a dual supply voltage of ±0.9V to ±2.75V.

The product offers 1mV max offset performance and a low 1pA input bias current. The ability to swing rail-to-rail at both the input and output is said to help maximize the dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratio in systems that operate at very low voltages. The low offset voltage allows the AD8500 to be used in systems with high gain without having excessively large output offset errors, said the company.

The AD8500 is also well-suited for battery-powered consumer, medical and safety applications, including electrocardiograms, pulse monitors, security systems, gas detectors, backup battery sensors, insulin pumps and ultraviolet radiation detectors in cellular handsets.

The AD8500 precision op amp is available in production quantities now. Housed in a 5-lead SC-70 package, it is priced at 70 cents per unit in 1,000-piece quantities. The device is fully specified over the industrial temperature range of -40°C to 85°C.