Nanopower op amps maximise battery and sensor life

Texas Instruments (TI) claims to have introduced the first precision nanopower operational amplifiers. With up to 60% lower power consumption than competitive precision op amps and offset voltage as low as 300µV, the family of op amps extends battery and sensor life for applications such as building automation, wired and wireless sensor nodes, and wearables.

The LPV811 and LPV812 consume quiescent current as low as 320nA and are part of a family of four low power op amps. The devices help detect low concentrations of environmental gases and increase two-lead electrochemical sensor life and sensitivity. According to the company, the LPV811 and LPV812 extend the battery life of carbon monoxide gas detectors to as long as 10 years.

In addition, the LPV811 family of amplifiers can drive the ADS7042 successive approximation register A/D converter, helping to deliver and low-power analogue front end.

Designers also have access to a suite of online support resources, including a library of TI designs and SPICE models.

Additional features:

  • Low power consumption: 4 to 20mA loop systems
  • 1.6V single supply voltage
  • High electromagnetic interference immunity: An input rejection ratio greater than 80dB in the 500MHz to 1GHz frequency range