ROHM today announced the availability of a CMOS op-amp featuring the lowest noise in the industry optimized for industrial applications requiring high-accuracy sensing, such as accelerometers used in sonar systems, and optical sensors that handle ultra-small signals.

In recent years, in addition to IoT devices, sensors are being adopted in a variety of applications from portables and vehicle systems to industrial equipment, to improve functionality and provide advanced control. Used to detect and convert various environmental and physical changes into signals, sensors demand high accuracy, but at the same time peripheral sensor circuitry is trending towards lower voltages to achieve greater power savings.

Op-amps are configured at the rear stage to amplify the analog sensor output, but because sensor signals are so weak it is necessary to implement noise countermeasures to ensure high-accuracy transmission. In response, ROHM developed a high noise tolerant op-amp for the automotive market utilizing a vertically integrated production system that leverages original analog design technologies and processes. ROHM has introduced an op-amp that delivers the industry’s best performance against external noise optimized for consumer devices and industrial equipment.

The LMR1802G-LB, developed utilizing ROHM’s analog technology covering circuit design, processes, and layout, reduces input equivalent noise voltage density by half (2.9nV/√Hz at 1kHz, 7.8nV/√Hz at 10Hz) compared to conventional products, significantly improving the detection performance of sensor signals. In addition, best-in-class phase margin (68°) and capacitive load tolerance (500pF) provide excellent stability (difficult to oscillate, easy to handle). This enables accurate amplification of voltages in the order of µV, ensuring support for industrial and consumer applications requiring high-precision sensing.