An IC Operational Transconductance Amplifier (OTA) With Power Capability

In 1969, the first triple operational transconductance amplifier or OTA was introduced. The wide acceptance of this new circuit concept prompted the development of the single, highly linear operational transconductance amplifier, the CA3080. Because of its extremely linear transconductance characteristics with respect to amplifier bias current, the CA3080 gained wide acceptance as a gain control block. The CA3094 improved on the performance of the CA3080 through the addition of a pair of transistors; these transistors extended the current carrying capability to 300mA, peak. This new device, the CA3094, is useful in an extremely broad range of circuits in consumer and industrial applications; this paper describes only a few of the many consumer applications.