The OPA698 is a wideband, unity gain stable voltage-feedback op amp that offers bipolar output voltage limiting. Two buffered limiting voltages take control of the output when it attempts to drive beyond these limits. This new output limiting architecture holds the limiter offset error to ±15 mV. The op amp operates linearly to within 30 mV of the output limit voltages.

The combination of narrow nonlinear range and low limiting offset allows the limiting voltages to be set within 100 mV of the desired linear output range. A fast 1-ns recovery from limiting ensures that overdrive signals will be transparent to the signal channel. Implementing the limiting function at the output, as opposed to the input, gives the specified limiting accuracy for any gain and allows the OPA698 to be used in all standard op amp applications.

Non-linear analog signal processing benefits from the ability of the OPA698 to sharply transition from linear operation to output limiting. The quick recovery time supports high-speed applications.

The OPA698M is available in an industry standard pinout CDIP-8 package. For higher gain or transimpedance applications requiring output limiting with fast recovery, consider the OPA699M.