LM12CL 80W Operational Amplifier

May 1999

LM12CL
80W Operational Amplifier
General Description ceeds 150˚C or as the supply voltage approaches the
BVCEO of the output transistors. The IC withstands overvolt-
The LM12 is a power op amp capable of driving ± 25V at ages to 80V.
± 10A while operating from ± 30V supplies. The monolithic IC
This monolithic op amp is compensated for unity-gain feed-
can deliver 80W of sine wave power into a 4Ω load with
back, with a small-signal bandwidth of 700 kHz. Slew rate is
0.01% distortion. Power bandwidth is 60 kHz. Further, a
9V/µs, even as a follower. Distortion and capacitive-load sta-
peak dissipation capability of 800W allows it to handle reac-
bility rival that of the best designs using complementary out-
tive loads such as transducers, actuators or small motors
put transistors. Further, the IC withstands large differential
without derating. Important features include:
input voltages and is well behaved should the
• input protection common-mode range be exceeded.
• controlled turn on The LM12 establishes that monolithic ICs can deliver consid-
• thermal limiting erable output power without resorting to complex switching
• overvoltage shutdown schemes. Devices can be paralleled or bridged for even
greater output capability. Applications include operational
• output-current limiting
power supplies, high-voltage regulators, high-quality audio
• dynamic safe-area protection amplifiers, tape-head positioners, x-y plotters or other
The IC delivers ± 10A output current at any output voltage servo-control systems.
yet is completely protected against overloads, including The LM12 is supplied in a four-lead, TO-3 package with V−
shorts to the supplies. The dynamic safe-area protection is on the case. A gold-eutectic die-attach to a molybdenum in-
provided by instantaneous peak-temperature limiting within terface is used to avoid thermal fatigue problems. The LM12
the power transistor array. is specified for either military or commercial temperature
The turn-on characteristics are controlled by keeping the range.
output open-circuited until the total supply voltage reaches
14V. The output is also opened as the case temperature ex-

Connection Diagram Typical Application*

DS008704-2

DS008704-1 *Low distortion (0.01%) audio amplifier

4-pin glass epoxy TO-3
socket is available from
AUGAT INC.
Part number 8112-AG7
Bottom View
Order Number LM12CLK
See NS Package Number K04A

© 1999 National Semiconductor Corporation DS008704 www.national.com

 Absolute Maximum Ratings (Note 1) Storage Temperature Range −65˚C to 150˚C
If Military/Aerospace specified devices are required, Lead Temperature
please contact the National Semiconductor Sales Office/ (Soldering, 10 seconds) 300˚C
Distributors for availability and specifications.
Total Supply Voltage (Note 1) 80V Operating Ratings
Input Voltage (Note 2) Total Supply Voltage 15V to 60V
Output Current Internally Limited Case Temperature (Note 4) 0˚C to 70˚C
Junction Temperature (Note 3)

Electrical Characteristics (Note 4)

Parameter Conditions Typ LM12CL Units
25˚C Limits
Input Offset Voltage ± 10V ≤ VS ≤ ± 0.5 VMAX, VCM = 0 2 15/20 mV (max)
Input Bias Current V− + 4V ≤ VCM ≤ V+ −2V 0.15 0.7/1.0 µA (max)
Input Offset Current V− +4V ≤ VCM ≤ V+ −2V 0.03 0.2/0.3 µA (max)
Common Mode V− +4V ≤ VCM ≤ V+ −2V 86 70/65 dB (min)
Rejection
Power Supply V+ = 0.5 VMAX, 90 70/65 dB (min)
Rejection −6V ≥ V− ≥ −0.5 VMAX
V− = −0.5 VMAX, 110 75/70 dB (min)
6V ≤ V+ ≤ 0.5 VMAX
Output Saturation tON = 1 ms,
Threshold ∆VIN = 5 (10 ) mV,
IOUT = 1A 1.8 2.2/2.5 V (max)
8A 4 5/7 V (max)
10A 5 V (max)
Large Signal Voltage tON = 2 ms,
Gain VSAT = 2V, IOUT = 0 100 30/20 V/mV (min)
VSAT = 8V, RL = 4Ω 50 15/10 V/mV (min)
Thermal Gradient PDISS = 50W, tON = 65 ms 30 100 µV/W (max)
Feedback
Output-Current Limit tON = 10 ms, VDISS = 10V 13 16 A (max)
tON = 100 ms, VDISS = 58V 1.5 0.9/0.6 A (min)
1.5 1.7 A (max)
Power Dissipation tON = 100 ms, VDISS = 20V 100 80/55 W (min)
Rating VDISS = 58V 80 52/35 W (min)
DC Thermal Resistance (Note 5) VDISS = 20V 2.3 2.9 ˚C/W (max)
VDISS = 58V 2.7 4.5 ˚C/W (max)
AC Thermal Resistance (Note 5) 1.6 2.1 ˚C/W (max)
Supply Current VOUT = 0, IOUT = 0 60 120/140 mA (max)
Note 1: Absolute maximum ratings indicate limits beyond which damage to the device may occur. The maximum voltage for which the LM12 is guaranteed to operate
is given in the operating ratings and in Note 4. With inductive loads or output shorts, other restrictions described in applications section apply.
Note 2: Neither input should exceed the supply voltage by more than 50 volts nor should the voltage between one input and any other terminal exceed 60 volts.
Note 3: Operating junction temperature is internally limited near 225˚C within the power transistor and 160˚C for the control circuitry.
Note 4: The supply voltage is ± 30V (VMAX = 60V), unless otherwise specified. The voltage across the conducting output transistor (supply to output) is VDISS and
internal power dissipation is PDISS. Temperature range is 0˚C ≤ TC ≤ 70˚C where TC is the case temperature. Standard typeface indicates limits at 25˚C while bold-
face type refers to limits or special conditions over full temperature range. With no heat sink, the package will heat at a rate of 35˚C/sec per 100W of internal
dissipation.
Note 5: This thermal resistance is based upon a peak temperature of 200˚C in the center of the power transistor and a case temperature of 25˚C measured at the
center of the package bottom. The maximum junction temperature of the control circuitry can be estimated based upon a dc thermal resistance of 0.9˚C/W or an ac
thermal resistance of 0.6˚C/W for any operating voltage.

Although the output and supply leads are resistant to electrostatic discharges from handling, the input leads are not.
The part should be treated accordingly.

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Output-Transistor Ratings (guaranteed)
Safe Area DC Thermal Resistance Pulse Thermal Resistance

DS008704-31 DS008704-32 DS008704-33

Typical Performance Characteristics

Pulse Power Limit Pulse Power Limit Peak Output Current

DS008704-34 DS008704-35 DS008704-36

Output Saturation Voltage Large Signal Response Follower Pulse Response

DS008704-37 DS008704-38 DS008704-39

Large Signal Gain Thermal Response Total Harmonic Distortion

DS008704-40 DS008704-41 DS008704-42

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 Typical Performance Characteristics (Continued)

Frequency Response Output Impedance Power Supply Rejection

DS008704-43 DS008704-44 DS008704-45

Input Bias Current Input Noise Voltage Common Mode Rejection

DS008704-46 DS008704-47 DS008704-48

Supply Current Supply Current Cross-Supply Current

DS008704-49 DS008704-50 DS008704-51

Application Information are realized, will prompt their use in applications that might
now seem trivial. Replacing single power transistors with an
op amp will become economical because of improved per-
GENERAL
formance, simplification of attendant circuitry, vastly im-
Twenty five years ago the operational amplifier was a spe- proved fault protection, greater reliability and the reduction of
cialized design tool used primarily for analog computation. design time.
However, the availability of low cost IC op amps in the late
Power op amps introduce new factors into the design equa-
1960’s prompted their use in rather mundane applications,
tion. With current transients above 10A, both the inductance
replacing a few discrete components. Once a few basic prin-
and resistance of wire interconnects become important in a
ciples are mastered, op amps can be used to give exception-
number of ways. Further, power ratings are a crucial factor in
ally good results in a wide range of applications while mini-
determining performance. But the power capability of the IC
mizing both cost and design effort.
cannot be realized unless it is properly mounted to an ad-
The availability of a monolithic power op amp now promises equate heat sink. Thus, thermal design is of major impor-
to extend these advantages to high-power designs. Some tance with power op amps.
conventional applications are given here to illustrate op amp
This application summary starts off by identifying the origin
design principles as they relate to power circuitry. The inevi-
of strange problems observed while using the LM12 in a
table fall in prices, as the economies of volume production

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Application Information (Continued) Many problems unrelated to system performance can be
traced to the grounding of line-operated test equipment used
wide variety of designs with all sorts of fault conditions. A few for system checkout. Hidden paths are particularly difficult to
simple precautions will eliminate these problems. One sort out when several pieces of test equipment are used but
would do well to read the section on supply bypassing, can be minimized by using current probes or the new iso-
lead inductance, output clamp diodes, ground loops and lated oscilloscope pre-amplifiers. Eliminating any direct
reactive loading before doing any experimentation. ground connection between the signal generator and the os-
Should there be problems with erratic operation, cilloscope synchronization input solves one common prob-
blow-outs, excessive distortion or oscillation, another lem.
look at these sections is in order.
The management and protection circuitry can also affect op- OUTPUT CLAMP DIODES
eration. Should the total supply voltage exceed ratings or When a push-pull amplifier goes into power limit while driv-
drop below 15–20V, the op amp shuts off completely. Case ing an inductive load, the stored energy in the load induc-
temperatures above 150˚C also cause shut down until the tance can drive the output outside the supplies. Although the
temperature drops to 145˚C. This may take several seconds, LM12 has internal clamp diodes that can handle several am-
depending on the thermal system. Activation of the dynamic peres for a few milliseconds, extreme conditions can cause
safe-area protection causes both the main feedback loop to destruction of the IC. The internal clamp diodes are imper-
lose control and a reduction in output power, with possible fect in that about half the clamp current flows into the supply
oscillations. In ac applications, the dynamic protection will to which the output is clamped while the other half flows
cause waveform distortion. Since the LM12 is well protected across the supplies. Therefore, the use of external diodes to
against thermal overloads, the suggestions for determining clamp the output to the power supplies is strongly recom-
power dissipation and heat sink requirements are presented mended. This is particularly important with higher supply
last. voltages.
Experience has demonstrated that hard-wire shorting the
SUPPLY BYPASSING output to the supplies can induce random failures if these ex-
All op amps should have their supply leads bypassed with ternal clamp diodes are not used and the supply voltages are
low-inductance capacitors having short leads and located above ± 20V. Therefore it is prudent to use outputclamp di-
close to the package terminals to avoid spurious oscillation odes even when the load is not particularly inductive. This
problems. Power op amps require larger bypass capacitors. also applies to experimental setups in that blowouts have
The LM12 is stable with good-quality electrolytic bypass ca- been observed when diodes were not used. In packaged
pacitors greater than 20 µF. Other considerations may re- equipment, it may be possible to eliminate these diodes, pro-
quire larger capacitors. viding that fault conditions can be controlled.
The current in the supply leads is a rectified component of
the load current. If adequate bypassing is not provided, this
distorted signal can be fed back into internal circuitry. Low
distortion at high frequencies requires that the supplies be
bypassed with 470 µF or more, at the package terminals.

LEAD INDUCTANCE
With ordinary op amps, lead-inductance problems are usu-
ally restricted to supply bypassing. Power op amps are also
sensitive to inductance in the output lead, particularly with
DS008704-6
heavy capacitive loading. Feedback to the input should be
taken directly from the output terminal, minimizing common Heat sinking of the clamp diodes is usually unimportant in
inductance with the load. Sensing to a remote load must be that they only clamp current transients. Forward drop with
accompanied by a high-frequency feedback path directly 15A fault transients is of greater concern. Usually, these
from the output terminal. Lead inductance can also cause transients die out rapidly. The clamp to the negative supply
voltage surges on the supplies. With long leads to the power can have somewhat reduced effectiveness under worst case
source, energy stored in the lead inductance when the out- conditions should the forward drop exceed 1.0V. Mounting
put is shorted can be dumped back into the supply bypass this diode to the power op amp heat sink improves the situ-
capacitors when the short is removed. The magnitude of this ation. Although the need has only been demonstrated with
transient is reduced by increasing the size of the bypass ca- some motor loads, including a third diode (D3 above) will
pacitor near the IC. With 20 µF local bypass, these voltage eliminate any concern about the clamp diodes. This diode,
surges are important only if the lead length exceeds a couple however, must be capable of dissipating continuous power
feet ( > 1 µH lead inductance). Twisting together the supply as determined by the negative supply current of the op amp.
and ground leads minimizes the effect.
REACTIVE LOADING
GROUND LOOPS
The LM12 is normally stable with resistive, inductive or
With fast, high-current circuitry, all sorts of problems can smaller capacitive loads. Larger capacitive loads interact
arise from improper grounding. In general, difficulties can be with the open-loop output resistance (about 1Ω) to reduce
avoided by returning all grounds separately to a common the phase margin of the feedback loop, ultimately causing
point. Sometimes this is impractical. When compromising, oscillation. The critical capacitance depends upon the feed-
special attention should be paid to the ground returns for the back applied around the amplifier; a unity-gain follower can
supply bypasses, load and input signal. Ground planes also handle about 0.01 µF, while more than 1 µF does not cause
help to provide proper grounding. problems if the loop gain is ten. With loop gains greater than
unity, a speedup capacitor across the feedback resistor will

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 Application Information (Continued) INPUT COMPENSATION
The LM12 is prone to low-amplitude oscillation bursts com-
aid stability. In all cases, the op amp will behave predictably ing out of saturation if the high-frequency loop gain is near
only if the supplies are properly bypassed, ground loops are unity. The voltage follower connection is most susceptible.
controlled and high-frequency feedback is derived directly This glitching can be eliminated at the expense of
from the output terminal, as recommended earlier. small-signal bandwidth using input compensation. Input
So-called capacitive loads are not always capacitive. A compensation can also be used in combination with LR load
high-Q capacitor in combination with long leads can present isolation to improve capacitive load stability.
a series-resonant load to the op amp. In practice, this is not
usually a problem; but the situation should be kept in mind.

DS008704-9

DS008704-7
An example of a voltage follower with input compensation is
Large capacitive loads (including series-resonant) can be shown here. The R2C2 combination across the input works
accommodated by isolating the feedback amplifier from the with R1 to reduce feedback at high frequencies without
load as shown above. The inductor gives low output imped- greatly affecting response below 100 kHz. A lead capacitor,
ance at lower frequencies while providing an isolating im- C1, improves phase margin at the unity-gain crossover fre-
pedance at high frequencies. The resistor kills the Q of se- quency. Proper operation requires that the output impedance
ries resonant circuits formed by capacitive loads. A low of the circuitry driving the follower be well under 1 kΩ at fre-
inductance, carbon-composition resistor is recommended. quencies up to a few hundred kilohertz.
Optimum values of L and R depend upon the feedback gain
and expected nature of the load, but are not critical. A 4 µH
inductor is obtained with 14 turns of number 18 wire, close
spaced, around a one-inch-diameter form.

DS008704-10

Extending input compensation to the integrator connection is

DS008704-8 shown here. Both the follower and this integrator will handle
1 µF capacitive loading without LR output isolation.
The LM12 can be made stable for all loads with a large ca-
pacitor on the output, as shown above. This compensation
CURRENT DRIVE
gives the lowest possible closed-loop output impedance at
high frequencies and the best load-transient response. It is
appropriate for such applications as voltage regulators.
A feedback capacitor, C1, is connected directly to the output
pin of the IC. The output capacitor, C2, is connected at the
output terminal with short leads. Single-point grounding to
avoid dc and ac ground loops is advised.
The impedance, Z1, is the wire connecting the op amp output
to the load capacitor. About 3-inches of number-18 wire
(70 nH) gives good stability and 18-inches (400 nH) begins
to degrade load-transient response. The minimum load ca-
pacitance is 47 µF, if a solid-tantalum capacitor with an
DS008704-11
equivalent series resistance (ESR) of 0.1Ω is used. Electro-
lytic capacitors work as well, although capacitance may have This circuit provides an output current proportional to the in-
to be increased to 200 µF to bring ESR below 0.1Ω. put voltage. Current drive is sometimes preferred for servo
Loop stability is not the only concern when op amps are op- motors because it aids in stabilizing the servo loop by reduc-
erated with reactive loads. With time-varying signals, power ing phase lag caused by motor inductance. In applications
dissipation can also increase markedly. This is particularly requiring high output resistance, such as operational power
true with the combination of capacitive loads and supplies running in the current mode, matching of the feed-
high-frequency excitation. back resistors to 0.01% is required. Alternately, an adjust-
able resistor can be used for trimming.

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Application Information (Continued) proached. This will not damage the LM12. It can be avoided
in both cases by connecting A1 as an inverting amplifier and
PARALLEL OPERATION restricting bandwidth with C1.

SINGLE-SUPPLY OPERATION

DS008704-12

Output drive beyond the capability of one power amplifier

can be provided as shown here. The power op amps are
wired as followers and connected in parallel with the outputs
coupled through equalization resistors. A standard,
high-voltage op amp is used to provide voltage gain. Overall DS008704-14

feedback compensates for the voltage dropped across the

Although op amps are usually operated from dual supplies,
equalization resistors.
single-supply operation is practical. This bridge amplifier
With parallel operation, there may be an increase in un- supplies bi-directional current drive to a servo motor while
loaded supply current related to the offset voltage across the operating from a single positive supply. The output is easily
equalization resistors. More output buffers, with individual converted to voltage drive by shorting R6 and connecting R7
equalization resistors, may be added to meet even higher to the output of A2, rather than A1.
drive requirements.
Either input may be grounded, with bi-directional drive pro-
vided to the other. It is also possible to connect one input to
a positive reference, with the input signal varying about this
voltage. If the reference voltage is above 5V, R2 and R3 are
not required.

HIGH VOLTAGE AMPLIFIERS

DS008704-13

This connection allows increased output capability without

requiring a separate control amplifier. The output buffer, A2,
provides load current through R5 equal to that supplied by
the main amplifier, A1, through R4. Again, more output buff-
ers can be added.
Current sharing among paralleled amplifiers can be affected
by gain error as the power-bandwidth limit is approached. In
the first circuit, the operating current increase will depend DS008704-15
upon the matching of high-frequency characteristics. In the
second circuit, however, the entire input error of A2 appears The voltage swing delivered to the load can be doubled by
across R4 and R5. The supply current increase can cause using the bridge connection shown here. Output clamping to
power limiting to be activated as the slew limit is ap- the supplies can be provided by using a bridge-rectifier as-
sembly.

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 Application Information (Continued)

DS008704-16

One limitation of the standard bridge connection is that the load cannot be returned to ground. This can be circumvented by op-
erating the bridge with floating supplies, as shown above. For single-ended drive, either input can be grounded.

DS008704-17

This circuit shows how two amplifiers can be cascaded to double output swing. The advantage over the bridge is that the output
can be increased with any number of stages, although separate supplies are required for each.

DS008704-18

Discrete transistors can be used to increase output drive to ± 70V at ± 10A as shown above. With proper thermal design, the IC
will provide safe-area protection for the external transistors. Voltage gain is about thirty.

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Application Information (Continued)

OPERATIONAL POWER SUPPLY

DS008704-19

Note: Supply voltages for the LM318s are ± 15V

External current limit can be provided for a power op amp as shown above. The positive and negative current limits can be set
precisely and independently. Fast response is assured by D1 and D2. Adjustment range can be set down to zero with potentiom-
eters R3 and R7. Alternately, the limit can be programmed from a voltage supplied to R2 and R6. This is the set up required for
an operational power supply or voltage-programmable power source.
SERVO AMPLIFIERS drive to the motor. Current drive eliminates loop phase shift
When making servo systems with a power op amp, there is due to motor inductance and makes high-performance ser-
a temptation to use it for frequency shaping to stabilize the vos easier to stabilize.
servo loop. Sometimes this works; other times there are bet-
ter ways; and occasionally it just doesn’t fly. Usually it’s a
matter of how quickly and to what accuracy the servo must
stabilize.

DS008704-21

This position servo uses an op amp to develop the rate sig-

nal electrically instead of using a tachometer. In
DS008704-20
high-performance servos, rate signals must be developed
with large error signals well beyond saturation of the motor
This motor/tachometer servo gives an output speed propor- drive. Using a separate op amp with a feedback clamp al-
tional to input voltage. A low-level op amp is used for fre- lows the rate signal to be developed properly with position
quency shaping while the power op amp provides current errors more than an order of magnitude beyond the
loop-saturation level as long as the photodiode sensors are
positioned with this in mind.

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 Application Information (Continued) AUDIO AMPLIFIERS

VOLTAGE REGULATORS

DS008704-22

An op amp can be used as a positive or negative regulator.

Unlike most regulators, it can sink current to absorb energy
dumped back into the output. This positive regulator has a DS008704-25

0–50V output range.

A power amplifier suitable for use in high-quality audio equip-
ment is shown above. Harmonic distortion is about
0.01-percent. Intermodulation distortion (60 Hz/7 kHz, 4:1)
measured 0.015-percent. Transient response and saturation
recovery are clean, and the 9 V/µs slew rate of the LM12 vir-
tually eliminates transient intermodulation distortion. Using
separate amplifiers to drive low- and high-frequency speak-
ers gets rid of high-level crossover networks and attenua-
tors. Further, it prevents clipping on the low-frequency chan-
nel from distorting the high frequencies.

DETERMINING MAXIMUM DISSIPATION

It is a simple matter to establish power requirements for an
op amp driving a resistive load at frequencies well below
10 Hz. Maximum dissipation occurs when the output is at
one-half the supply voltage with high-line conditions. The in-
dividual output transistors must be rated to handle this power
continuously at the maximum expected case temperature.
The power rating is limited by the maximum junction tem-
perature as determined by
TJ = TC + PDISS θJC,
DS008704-23
where TC is the case temperature as measured at the center
Dual supplies are not required to use an op amp as a voltage of the package bottom, PDISS is the maximum power dissipa-
regulator if zero output is not required. This 4V to 50V regu- tion and θJC is the thermal resistance at the operating volt-
lator operates from a single supply. Should the op amp not age of the output transistor. Recommended maximum junc-
be able to absorb enough energy to control an overvoltage tion temperatures are 200˚C within the power transistor and
condition, a SCR will crowbar the output. 150˚C for the control circuitry.
If there is ripple on the supply bus, it is valid to use the aver-
REMOTE SENSING age value in worst-case calculations as long as the peak rat-
ing of the power transistor is not exceeded at the ripple peak.
With 120 Hz ripple, this is 1.5 times the continuous power
rating.
Dissipation requirements are not so easily established with
time varying output signals, especially with reactive loads.
Both peak and continuous dissipation ratings must be taken
into account, and these depend on the signal waveform as
well as load characteristics.
With a sine wave output, analysis is fairly straightforward.
DS008704-24 With supply voltages of ± VS, the maximum average power
dissipation of both output transistors is
Remote sensing as shown above allows the op amp to cor-
rect for dc drops in cables connecting the load. Even so,
cable drop will affect transient response. Degradation can be
minimized by using twisted, heavy-gauge wires on the out-
put line. Normally, common and one input are connected to-
gether at the sending end.

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Application Information (Continued) sulting in even higher peak dissipation than a
permanent-magnet motor having the same locked-rotor re-
where ZL is the magnitude of the load impedance and θ its sistance.
phase angle. Maximum average dissipation occurs below
maximum output swing for θ < 40˚. VOLTAGE REGULATOR DISSIPATION
The pass transistor dissipation of a voltage regulator is eas-
ily determined in the operating mode. Maximum continuous
dissipation occurs with high line voltage and maximum load
current. As discussed earlier, ripple voltage can be averaged
if peak ratings are not exceeded; however, a higher average
voltage will be required to insure that the pass transistor
does not saturate at the ripple minimum.
Conditions during start-up can be more complex. If the input
voltage increases slowly such that the regulator does not go
into current limit charging output capacitance, there are no
problems. If not, load capacitance and load characteristics
must be taken into account. This is also the case if automatic
restart is required in recovering from overloads.
DS008704-26
Automatic restart or start-up with fast-rising input voltages
The instantaneous power dissipation over the conducting cannot be guaranteed unless the continuous dissipation rat-
half cycle of one output transistor is shown here. Power dis- ing of the pass transistor is adequate to supply the load cur-
sipation is near zero on the other half cycle. The output level rent continuously at all voltages below the regulated output
is that resulting in maximum peak and average dissipation. voltage. In this regard, the LM12 performs much better than
Plots are given for a resistive and a series RL load. The latter IC regulators using foldback current limit, especially with
is representative of a 4Ω loudspeaker operating below reso- high-line input voltage above 20V.
nance and would be the worst case condition in most audio
applications. The peak dissipation of each transistor is about POWER LIMITING
four times average. In ac applications, power capability is of-
ten limited by the peak ratings of the power transistor.
The pulse thermal resistance of the LM12 is specified for
constant power pulse duration. Establishing an exact
equivalency between constant-power pulses and those en-
countered in practice is not easy. However, for sine waves,
reasonable estimates can be made at any frequency by as-
suming a constant power pulse amplitude given by:

where φ = 60˚ and θ is the absolute value of the phase angle

of ZL. Equivalent pulse width is tON ≅ 0.4τ for θ = 0 and tON DS008704-27

≅ 0.2τ for θ ≥ 20˚, where τ is the period of the output wave- Should the power ratings of the LM12 be exceeded, dynamic
form. safe-area protection is activated. Waveforms with this power
limiting are shown for the LM12 driving ± 26V at 30 Hz into
DISSIPATION DRIVING MOTORS 3Ω in series with 24 mH (θ = 45˚). With an inductive load, the
A motor with a locked rotor looks like an inductance in series output clamps to the supplies in power limit, as above. With
with a resistance, for purposes of determining driver dissipa- resistive loads, the output voltage drops in limit. Behavior
tion. With slow-response servos, the maximum signal ampli- with more complex RCL loads is between these extremes.
tude at frequencies where motor inductance is significant Secondary thermal limit is activated should the case tem-
can be so small that motor inductance does not have to be perature exceed 150˚C. This thermal limit shuts down the IC
taken into account. If this is the case, the motor can be completely (open output) until the case temperature drops to
treated as a simple, resistive load as long as the rotor speed about 145˚C. Recovery may take several seconds.
is low enough that the back emf is small by comparison to
the supply voltage of the driver transistor. POWER SUPPLIES
A permanent-magnet motor can build up a back emf that is Power op amps do not require regulated supplies. However,
equal to the output swing of the op amp driving it. Reversing the worst-case output power is determined by the low-line
this motor from full speed requires the output drive transistor supply voltage in the ripple trough. The worst-case power
to operate, initially, along a loadline based upon the motor dissipation is established by the average supply voltage with
resistance and total supply voltage. Worst case, this loadline high-line conditions. The loss in power output that can be
will have to be within the continuous dissipation rating of the guaranteed is the square of the ratio of these two voltages.
drive transistor; but system dynamics may permit taking ad-
Relatively simple off-line switching power supplies can pro-
vantage of the higher pulse ratings. Motor inductance can
vide voltage conversion, line isolation and 5-percent regula-
cause added stress if system response is fast.
tion while reducing size and weight.
Shunt- and series-wound motors can generate back emf’s
The regulation against ripple and line variations can provide
that are considerably more than the total supply voltage, re-
a substantial increase in the power output that can be guar-

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 Application Information (Continued) pound. Experience has shown that these rubber washers
deteriorate and must be replaced should the IC be dis-
anteed under worst-case conditions. In addition, switching mounted.
power supplies can convert low-voltage power sources such “Isostrate” insulating pads for four-lead TO-3 packages are
as automotive batteries up to regulated, dual, high-voltage available from Power Devices, Inc. Thermal grease is not re-
supplies optimized for powering power op amps. quired, and the insulators should not be reused.

HEAT SINKING
A semiconductor manufacturer has no control over heat sink
Definition of Terms
design. Temperature rating can only be based upon case Input offset voltage: The absolute value of the voltage be-
temperature as measured at the center of the package bot- tween the input terminals with the output voltage and current
tom. With power pulses of longer duration than 100 ms, case at zero.
temperature is almost entirely dependent on heat sink de- Input bias current: The absolute value of the average of the
sign and the mounting of the IC to the heat sink. two input currents with the output voltage and current at
zero.
Input offset current: The absolute value of the difference in
the two input currents with the output voltage and current at
zero.
Common-mode rejection: The ratio of the input voltage
range to the change in offset voltage between the extremes.
Supply-voltage rejection: The ratio of the specified
supply-voltage change to the change in offset voltage be-
tween the extremes.
Output saturation threshold: The output swing limit for a
specified input drive beyond that required for zero output. It
is measured with respect to the supply to which the output is
swinging.
Large signal voltage gain: The ratio of the output voltage
swing to the differential input voltage required to drive the
DS008704-28
output from zero to either swing limit. The output swing limit
The design of heat sink is beyond the scope of this work. is the supply voltage less a specified quasi-saturation volt-
Convection-cooled heat sinks are available commercially, age. A pulse of short enough duration to minimize thermal ef-
and their manufacturers should be consulted for ratings. The fects is used as a measurement signal.
preceding figure is a rough guide for temperature rise as a Thermal gradient feedback: The input offset voltage
function of fin area (both sides) available for convection cool- change caused by thermal gradients generated by heating of
ing. the output transistors, but not the package. This effect is de-
Proper mounting of the IC is required to minimize the thermal layed by several milliseconds and results in increased gain
drop between the package and the heat sink. The heat sink error below 100 Hz.
must also have enough metal under the package to conduct Output-current limit: The output current with a fixed output
heat from the center of the package bottom to the fins with- voltage and a large input overdrive. The limiting current
out excessive temperature drop. drops with time once the protection circuitry is activated.
A thermal grease such as Wakefield type 120 or Thermalloy Power dissipation rating: The power that can be dissi-
Thermacote should be used when mounting the package to pated for a specified time interval without activating the pro-
the heat sink. Without this compound, thermal resistance will tection circuitry. For time intervals in excess of 100 ms, dis-
be no better than 0.5˚C/W, and probably much worse. With sipation capability is determined by heat sinking of the IC
the compound, thermal resistance will be 0.2˚C/W or less, package rather than by the IC itself.
assuming under 0.005 inch combined flatness runout for the Thermal resistance: The peak, junction-temperature rise,
package and heat sink. Proper torquing of the mounting per unit of internal power dissipation, above the case tem-
bolts is important. Four to six inch-pounds is recommended. perature as measured at the center of the package bottom.
Should it be necessary to isolate V− from the heat sink, an The dc thermal resistance applies when one output transis-
insulating washer is required. Hard washers like berylium ox- tor is operating continuously. The ac thermal resistance ap-
ide, anodized aluminum and mica require the use of thermal plies with the output transistors conducting alternately at a
compound on both faces. Two-mil mica washers are most high enough frequency that the peak capability of neither
common, giving about 0.4˚C/W interface resistance with the transistor is exceeded.
compound. Silicone-rubber washers are also available. A Supply current: The current required from the power
0.5˚C/W thermal resistance is claimed without thermal com- source to operate the amplifier with the output voltage and
current at zero.

www.national.com 12
Equivalent Schematic (excluding active protection circuitry)

DS008704-29

13 www.national.com
LM12CL 80W Operational Amplifier
Physical Dimensions inches (millimeters) unless otherwise noted

4-Lead TO-3 Steel Package (K)

Order Number LM12CLK
NS Package Number K04A

LIFE SUPPORT POLICY

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COUNSEL OF NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION. As used herein:
1. Life support devices or systems are devices or 2. A critical component is any component of a life
systems which, (a) are intended for surgical implant support device or system whose failure to perform
into the body, or (b) support or sustain life, and can be reasonably expected to cause the failure of
whose failure to perform when properly used in the life support device or system, or to affect its
accordance with instructions for use provided in the safety or effectiveness.
labeling, can be reasonably expected to result in a
significant injury to the user.
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