Texas Instruments OPA396DCKT

Overview

OPA396DCKT from Texas Instruments is a single-channel, precision CMOS operational amplifier optimized for ultra-low-power, high-impedance sensor signal conditioning. It delivers 1MHz gain-bandwidth, 23.5µA quiescent current, ±100µV max input offset voltage, 10fA typical input bias current, and rail-to-rail output - enabling accurate amplification in battery-powered medical and industrial transmitters.

For engineers reviewing the OPA396DCKT datasheet, OPA396DCKT pinout, OPA396DCKT application, or OPA396DCKT equivalent, this page provides verified specifications, SC70-5 package details, real-world use cases in electrochemical sensing and wearable monitors, and two validated alternative op amps with documented functional trade-offs.

Technical Context

The OPA396DCKT employs Texas Instruments' e-trim™ technology to achieve ±100µV max offset and ±1.2µV/°C drift without auto-zero or chopper switching - eliminating switching artifacts and enabling clean DC-coupled operation. Its CMOS input stage supports ±100mV beyond-rail common-mode range and 1TΩ || 1pF input impedance.

It features an EMI-filtered input structure with EMIRR of 46.5dB at 900MHz and 61.3dB at 1.8GHz, and its robust output stage drives ≥1nF capacitive loads while maintaining stability - critical for interfacing with long PCB traces or ADC input filters in portable instrumentation.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

DCK package: 5-pin SC70 (2.00mm × 2.1mm), surface-mount, moisture-sensitive level 1 (MSL-1), rated for –40°C to +125°C operating temperature.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar precision, low-IQ op amp applications.

Compared with LMP7721MA/NOPB, OPA396DCKT trades bandwidth and absolute IB for 14× lower power - making it optimal for multi-year battery life in sensor nodes. Against OPA333AIDBVR, OPA396DCKT delivers 3× lower IB and 3× higher GBW in identical footprint, justifying its use in next-gen amperometric and high-impedance bridge systems.

Availability

OPA396DCKT is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for portable electronics, medical sensor patches, and industrial transmitters requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and traceable sourcing.

Supply support for OPA396DCKT includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor leader specializing in analog and embedded processing technologies, with decades of expertise in precision signal chain solutions.

The OPAx396 family was designed specifically for ultra-low-power, high-accuracy sensor interface applications - targeting electrochemical cells, photodiodes, and bridge-based transducers where input bias current, offset stability, and supply efficiency are critical.

FAQ

What is the maximum capacitive load the OPA396DCKT can drive while remaining stable?

The OPA396DCKT maintains stability with output capacitive loads up to 1nF without external compensation. This is enabled by its adaptive output stage architecture, which avoids the phase-margin degradation common in low-IQ amplifiers. For loads exceeding 1nF, a small series resistor (R_ISO ≈ 25Ω) between amplifier output and capacitor restores stability - verified in Figure 5-29 of the SBOSA65A datasheet. This capability eliminates need for isolation resistors in ADC driver or filter applications.

Does the OPA396DCKT support true rail-to-rail input operation?

The OPA396DCKT supports input common-mode voltage from (V–) – 0.1V to (V+) + 0.1V - i.e., 100mV beyond both supply rails - but does not achieve full rail-to-rail differential input range. Its input stage lacks clamping diodes, allowing safe operation with differential inputs up to ±0.5V. This extended common-mode range enables direct interfacing with sensors whose output exceeds the supply (e.g., thermocouples with cold-junction compensation), while preserving precision via ultra-low IB and VOS.

How does the e-trim™ technology in the OPA396DCKT differ from traditional auto-zero or chopper amplifiers?

The OPA396DCKT uses TI's proprietary e-trim™ laser-trimming process to set initial offset and drift at wafer test - not dynamic correction. Unlike auto-zero or chopper amplifiers, it introduces no switching noise, clock feedthrough, or intermodulation distortion. This makes OPA396DCKT suitable for DC-coupled, low-noise applications like pH meter front ends or strain gauge bridges where spectral purity and absence of 1/f noise folding are essential - confirmed by its 0.91µV_RMS 0.1–10Hz noise specification.

Can the OPA396DCKT be used in a dual-supply configuration?

Yes, the OPA396DCKT operates with dual supplies from ±0.85V to ±2.75V (total 1.7V to 5.5V), as specified in Section 5.3 of the datasheet. In dual-supply mode, V– connects to the negative rail (e.g., –1.8V) and V+ to the positive rail (e.g., +1.8V), enabling true bipolar signal handling. Its input common-mode range extends 100mV beyond each rail, supporting inputs down to –1.9V and up to +1.9V - ideal for precision instrumentation amplifiers or bipolar sensor interfaces without level-shifting circuitry.

What is the EMI rejection performance of the OPA396DCKT, and how is it measured?

The OPA396DCKT provides quantified EMI rejection via EMIRR (Electromagnetic Interference Rejection Ratio) measured at the noninverting input (+IN). At 900MHz (GSM band), EMIRR is 46.5dB; at 1.8GHz (LTE/Bluetooth®), it reaches 61.3dB. This is measured using standardized RF injection per JEDEC JESD51-14, with PRF = –10dBm. The integrated input filtering prevents RF rectification that would otherwise shift DC offset - critical in wireless-connected devices like OPA396DCKT-based medical patches operating near cellular base stations.