AC amplifiers with ultra-low corner frequency by using bootstrapping

Abstract

A novel architecture for an AC (i.e. high-pass) amplifier is proposed allowing a drastic reduction of the cutoff frequency to the sub-Hertz range. It builds upon the classic AC configuration with a high gain amplifier and a parallel RC circuit in the feedback loop, by increasing the feedback resistance through bootstrapping. Resistance multiplying factors higher than four orders of magnitude are easily achievable. The basic principle can be applied to several practical implementations, though in this letter it is demonstrate with measurement results of an op-amp based discrete implementation.