Purpose of a voltage follower (buffer)?

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A voltage follower, or buffer, is characterized by its nearly infinite input impedance, allowing it to connect to a signal source without loading it down, thus preserving the original signal. This makes it ideal for applications where signal integrity is crucial, such as in sensor interfacing and audio processing. The discussion also touches on the concept of a current follower, which is confirmed to exist and is typically designed with low input impedance. Participants emphasize the importance of prior research on the topic to foster more informed discussions. Understanding these concepts is essential for effective circuit design and signal management.
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What are the applications of a voltage follower?
 
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lamba89 said:
What are the applications of a voltage follower?

Probably the most important characteristic of a voltage follower is that it has almost infinite input impedance. This means that when you connect a signal to its input, the source of the signal is not loaded down and the source won't even notice it has something connected to it, almost like an open circuit. So the voltage follower is able to reproduce the signal from the source to its output without the problem of changing the original signal by drawing current from it.
 
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is there a current follower? and if so, should it have a low input impedance? Thanks.
 
lamba89 said:
What are the applications of a voltage follower?

Hopefully you did at least the minimum reading at wikipedia and other basic websites before posting this open-ended question here. What did you learn from that research, and what are your specific questions that you still have after that reading? Please provide links to what you don't understand yet.
 
delta14 said:
is there a current follower? and if so, should it have a low input impedance? Thanks.

Yes, and yes.
 

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