Op amp output when supply is missing

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the behavior of an operational amplifier (op amp), specifically the TLE2061, when one of its power supply connections (Vcc or Vee) is missing. Participants explore the implications of this scenario on the output voltage, including saturation effects and the internal workings of the op amp.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that the output saturates to +Vsat when Vee is missing and to -Vsat when Vcc is missing, questioning why this occurs even in an inverting configuration.
  • Another participant argues that the formula Vout = -Rf/R1 (Vin) is only valid when both power supplies are connected, stating that without Vee, the op amp floats at Vcc, leading to high impedance at the output.
  • A participant questions the saturation behavior of the output stage when the input is zero, seeking clarification on how the output stage is activated under these conditions.
  • One reply suggests that the output stage is neither saturated nor turned on, comparing the op amp to a resistor connected to Vcc, indicating that no current flows and thus no voltage drop occurs.
  • Another participant emphasizes the need to examine the internal components of the op amp to understand its behavior, mentioning that the differential inputs are isolated by several reverse diode junctions, which should have minimal effect on the output.
  • There is a query about the specific transistor designators related to the back-to-back diode junctions mentioned in the context of the TLE2061.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the output behavior of the op amp when one power supply is missing, with no consensus reached on the underlying mechanisms or implications of this behavior.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific internal components and configurations of the TLE2061, indicating that understanding the op amp's behavior may depend on detailed knowledge of its design and internal circuitry.

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What is the output of the op amp when either Vcc or Vee is not connected.
I simulated this and got Vsat. +Vsat when Vee was missing and -Vsat when Vcc was missing.
But I don't know why the output saturates to +Vsat, even in a inverting configuration. Shouldn't it go to ground, since the output equation is Vout = -Rf/R1 (Vin)
Same is try when Vin is zero. Op amp in question is TLE2061
 
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Your formula Vout = -Rf/R1 (Vin) is valid only if both Vcc and Vee are connected and Vcc is positive with respect to Vee. Without Vee, the whole opamp floats at Vcc. There is no way the output could be anything else. Most likely in spite of it being at Vcc the output would be high impedance and unable to source appreciable current.
 
Why does it saturate at +Vsat when Vee is absent and -Vsat when Vcc is absent.
How is the output stage turned on when the input is zero.
 
The output stage is neither saturated nor turned on. If you replaced the opamp with a resistor and connected one end to Vcc, the other side of the resistor would also be at Vcc because there is no current flowing through it and no voltage drop across it.
 
That's a simplified explanation. It's nice though.
But why should I replace the opamp with a resistor. What exactly is happening at the output of the opamp?
 
Really, you would have to look at the internal components to know what the behavior or a particular op amp would be like. In the case of the TLE2061, the differential inputs are are several reverse diode junctions away and should have little effect. Without biasing the IC, the inputs have little effect on the output.

On the other hand, Vcc and the output are separated by two back-to-back diode junctions. You are effectively looking at a high impedance two terminal device where the return path is supplied by the current through your DVM.
 
Back to back diode junctions? I can't find them. Can you tell me the transistor designators - Q39, Q42?
 

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