Amplifiers Product Selector Guide Software Instructions & Tips

General Instructions and Tips:

 Getting Started:

Click on the "Selguide" icon on your desktop. After a few seconds, Selguide should appear full-screen.

 Searching Basics:

To start a search, click on the "Search" button on the menu bar in the upper left hand corner.

NOTE: Please pay particular attention to the entry specifications - particularly the difference between "Typicals" and "Maximums". Be careful comparing front-page datasheet numbers to what is listed in the Selguide entries. Be aware that Datasheet front pages generally contain a mix of "Typicals" that look better than the actual limits contained in the datasheet specification tables or graphs.

You will then be presented with a window containing several tabs and entry boxes.

Select the type of device you wish to search for (Op Amp, Comparator or Buffer) with the pull-down box in the upper "Component Type" frame.

Click on the various tabs to select the various properties to include in your search.

Important! Filling in a field or checking a box will narrow down the search to the property(s) you have selected under all the tabs.

Note that the "Items Found" number (in lower-left corner of search box) will change as you make your selections. Numeric fields will display the range of available values in the box just below the entry boxes. These are updated in *real-time* as you enter your parameters (which is why there is a "lag" after entering data). If "Items Found" changes to zero, try modifying your search range.

To remove unwanted entries in numeric fields, be sure to use the corresponding "clear" button instead of simply deleting the entry.

If you wish to recall your previous search results list, click on the bottom "Search Results" branch in the left-hand directory tree.

To start a new search, click the "New Search" button. This will reset all the fields to their defaults.

 Selected Field Properties:

Most fields are fairly self-explanatory - but a few fields need some explanation:

 Temperature Range:

In general, the temperature ranges are defined as follows:

Military: -55 to +125°C
Industrial -40 to +85°C (some variation, check datasheet)
Commercial 0 to +70°C
Automotive -40 to +125°C (some variation, check datasheet)

If you wish to eliminate the "expensive" military devices, just uncheck the Military box.

If you are looking for a "Commercial" range device, we recommend that you leave all boxes checked. Most of our devices are Industrial temp range and unchecking Industrial will completely eliminate them, even though they cover the Commercial temp range.

 Supply Current:

This entry is PER AMPLIFIER!!! Singles, Duals and Quads will have almost identical entries. The actual "Dual" supply current per package will be approximately *twice* the listed number and the actual "Quad" package current will be almost four times the listed number.

If you are looking for a "Quad" device that consumes less than 1mA per package, then you should enter 0.25 in the Supply Current box.

 Supply Voltage:

This is the expected supply voltages on Vcc (V+) and Vee (V-).

For example, a "Dual", or "Split", supply of +5V and -5V would be entered as:

V- -5 V
V+ +5 V

(Selguide will look for a device with a >= 10V supply rating)

A "Single" supply of +5V would be entered as:

V- 0 Volts
V+ +5 Volts

(Selguide will look for a device with a >= 5V supply rating)

**Be sure to include negative sign!!**

 Input CMVR (Common Mode Voltage Range):

** The supply voltage field MUST be filled in first!!! **

Enter the expected minimum and maximum input voltages.

For example, with a "Dual" supply of +/-5V and an expected input signal of -1V to +3V:

Min -1 V
Max +3 V

For example, with a "Single" supply +5V and an expected input signal range of +0.1V to +4.2V:

Min +0.1 Volts
Max +4.2 Volts

In most cases, the input range entries will be within the range of the supply voltage entries. But it is possible to exceed the supply voltage range.

For example, with a "Single" supply +5V and an expected input signal range of -0.1V to +5.1V:

Min -0.1
Max +5.1

(This pretty much narrows the search down to only "Rail to Rail" input devices)

 Output Range:

Similar to the Input CMVR entries above.

Except for a few open collector Comparators, the output entries cannot exceed the supply voltage entries.

NOTE: The database numbers are for "lightest" loads for their particular device family (Standard, Low Power, High Speed, etc). Loading the output will decrease overall output swing on any device. Be sure to check the datasheet output Sinking and Sourcing curves.

 Viewing Results:

Once you are satisfied with your search entries, and the "Devices Found" number is not zero, click the "Show Results" button.

You will be presented with a split screen with two lower empty boxes. These "boxes" are where the device information will appear. Scroll through the list of found devices in the upper frame. Right-clicking on a part number will display it's properties in the lower-right window. Left-clicking on a part number will display it's properties in the lower-left window. These two windows allow you to quickly compare two devices side-by-side with a left or right click of the mouse.

In the properties boxes, there are links to allow you to access our web site for more information. You must have a live Internet connection and a Web browser installed on your machine to view the web pages Click the "View Product Information live from Web" to view the web page for the selected device. There you will find the datasheet, application notes, spice models, latest pricing, ordering and stock information, as well as as well as the ability to order samples on selected parts. Samples could be on your desk within a few days!

 Tips:

• Make sure your search makes sense!
  • Are you looking for a quad device in a SC-70 or SOT-23 package?
  • Are you looking for a 100MHz amplifier with 10uA supply current?
  • Are you looking for Military temp range parts in plastic packages?
• Keep an eye on the "Parts Found" and "Minimum & Maximum" displays.
• Use the left and right display panes to compare devices. Right or Left clicking on the part number will send the data to the corresponding window.

 Clarifications:

• "<=" means "Less than or equal to".
• ">=" means "Greater than or equal to".
• "nV/Sqrt(Hz)" means "Nanovolts per Square Root Hertz", the standard 1Hz BW normalized noise measurement (PSD).
• "Temp Max" means "The Maximum value over the specified operating temperature range".
• "Max" When referring to a temperature range (ie: Vos Max), means the Maximum value at 25'C.
• "tPHL" is propagation time for a high-to-low output transition. Same as "Prop Delay" in most cases.
• "tPLH" is propagation time for a low-to-high output transition.
• "Standard SOT pinout" refers to the more popular SOT pinout where pin 2 is V- and pin 5 is V+.
• "LMC7101 SOT pinout" is where the supply pins are reversed from the above (2 = V+, 5 = V-).
• "LMV321/331" SOT pinout is completely different - see the LMV321 datasheet for reference.