De La Salle University - Dasmariñas

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Engineering Department

Engr. Aga T. Zinampan Jr, PECE

1st Semester, AY 2010-2011
Operational Transconductance Amplifier, OTA

The operational transconductance amplifier

(OTA) is an amplifier whose differential input voltage
produces an output current. Thus, it is a voltage
controlled current source (VCCS).
 Principal Differences from Standard
Operational Amplifiers
First, its output of a current contrasts to that of standard
operational amplifier whose output is a voltage.
Second, except for its input stage (which is simple two
transistor differential amplifier), its internal circuitry is
completely different. The OTA is constructed completely of
transistors and diodes; it uses no resistors or capacitors.
Third, it usually used “open loop”; without negative
feedback in linear applications. This is possible because the
magnitude of the resistance attached to its output controls its
output voltage. Therefore a resistance can be chosen that keeps
the output from going into saturation, even with high differential
input voltages.
 The double circle symbol at the output
represents an output current source that is dependent
on a bias current. Like the conventional op- amp, the
OTA has two differential input terminals, a high input
impedance and a high CMRR. Unlike the conventional
op- amp, the OTA has a bias current input terminal, a
high output impedance, and no fixed open loop
voltage gain.
 The Transconductance Is the Gain of
an OTA
By, definition, the transconductance of an
electronic device is the ratio of the output current to
the input voltage. For an OTA, voltage is the input
variable and current is the output variable; therefore,
the ratio of output current to input voltage is also its
gain. Consequently, the voltage-to-current gain of an
OTA is the transconductance. gm
Iout

gm = Vin
 In an OTA, the transconductance is dependent
on a constant (K) times the bias current (IBIAS), The
value of the constant is dependent on the internal
circuit design.

gm = KIBIAS
The output current is controlled by the input
voltage and the bias current as shown by the
following formula:

Iout = gmvin = KI BIAS vin

Transconductance increases linearly with the
bias current. The constant of proportionality, K, is
the slope of the line. In this case, K is approximately
16 S/A.
Gm
(μS)

Bias Current (μA)

Basic OTA Circuits
Figure 14-15 shows the OTA used as an inverting amplifier with
a fixed voltage gain. The voltage gain is set by the
transconductance and the load resistance as follows.

Vout = Iout RL
Dividing both sides by Vin

Vout = Iout RL

Vin Vin

Since Vout/ Vin is the Voltage gain and Iout/Vin = gm’

Av = gmRL
 The transconductance of the amplifier is determined
by the amount of bias current, which is set by the dc supply
voltages and the bias resistor RBIAS.
One of the most useful features of an OTA is that the
voltage gain can be controlled by the amount of bias current.
This can be done manually by using a variable resistor in
series with RBIAS in the circui. By changing the resistance,
you can produce a change in IBIAS., which changes the
transconductance. A change in the transconductance
changes the voltage gain. The voltage gain can also be
controlled with an externally applied variable voltage. A
variation in the applied bias voltage causes a change in the
bias current.
A Specific OTA

The LM13700 is a typical OTA and serves as a

representative deice. The LM13700 is a dual device
package containing two OTAs and buffer circuits.
Not only does the transconductance of an OTA
vary with bias current, but so do the input and output
resistances. Both the input and output resistances
decrease as the bias current increases.
Two OTA Applications

Amplitude Modulator- The voltage gain is

varied by applying a modulation voltage to the bias
input. When a constant- amplitude input signal is
applied, the amplitude of the output signal will vary
according to the modulation voltage on the bias
input. The gain is dependent on bias current, and
bias current is related to the modulation voltage by
the following relationship:

IBIAS., = VMOD - ( - V) - 1.4 V

RBIAS
 Schmitt Trigger- Basically, a Schmitt
trigger is a comparator with hysteresis where the
input voltage is large enough to drive the device
into its saturated states. When the input voltage
exceeds a certain threshold value or trigger point,
the deice switches to one of its saturated output
states. When the input falls back below another
threshold value, the devices switches back to its
other saturated output state.
 In the case of the OTA Schmitt Trigger, the
threshold levels are set by the current through
resistor R1. The maximum output current in an OTA
equals the bias current. Therefore, in the saturated
output states, Iout = IBIAS. The maximum positive
output voltage is Iout R1, and this voltage is positive
threshold value or upper trigger point. When the input
voltage exceeds this value, the output switches to its
maximum negative voltage, which is Iout R1. Since
Iout = IBIAS, the trigger points can be controlled by
the bias current.