TLV2241CD - 1uA Micropower Rail-to-Rail Op Amp, 8-SOIC | Texas Instruments
MPN: TLV2241CD ✓ ActiveTLV2241CD Overview
An operational amplifier (op amp) is the fundamental active building block of analog and mixed-signal electronics: a differential-input, high-gain amplifier with feedback that is routinely used to buffer, amplify, filter, level-shift, or drive a signal. Within the signal-chain hierarchy, an op amp sits above comparators and buffers and below application-level blocks such as sensor front ends, audio paths, and line drivers. The TLV2241 belongs to the micropower, low-frequency segment of that hierarchy, where battery budget matters more than bandwidth.
Key features of the TLV2241CD include rail-to-rail input and output stages, so the amplifier operates across nearly the full supply rail and can sense or swing signals close to 0 V and VCC. Its 5.5 kHz gain bandwidth product makes it suitable for slow analog signals, sensor conditioning loops, and low-frequency filters, while 1 uA of supply current per channel enables long battery life. The 2.5 V minimum supply supports coin cells and low-voltage regulated rails, and the 12 V maximum supply covers standard industrial and automotive-style auxiliary rails.
The device is internally trimmed and specified for micropower operation, which means its noise and offset behavior are matched to very small signal amplitudes rather than to full-scale millivolt-level precision. The 8-pin SOIC package is a standard surface-mount footprint that is easy to hand-solder, compatible with automated pick-and-place, and widely supported by PCB assembly houses. Because the same die is offered in multiple temperature and orderable-code variants, the same SOIC-8 land pattern can be reused across a whole product family.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor and IoT nodes, portable medical and wellness monitoring devices, low-frequency filter stages in audio and bio-signal front ends, microcontroller ADC and DAC driver buffers, precision current-sensing buffers in industrial instrumentation, and general-purpose level shifting between 3.3 V and 5 V logic rails.
One design consideration dominates: a 5.5 kHz gain bandwidth product is low by design. Use this amplifier for signals well below 1 kHz, and choose a higher-bandwidth micropower amplifier if the signal chain must pass fast edges or wideband noise. Because supply current is only 1 uA per channel, output drive current and capacitive-load handling are also limited, so heavy loads should be buffered by a separate stage.
This page consolidates the manufacturer product information, package and pin details, drop-in upgrade paths within the same SOIC-8 footprint, and practical layout guidance that a raw datasheet download does not present in one place.
Drop-in alternatives for TLV2241CD — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
TLV2241ID
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TLV2241IP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TLV2241CDG4
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TLV2241IDG4
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TLV2241IPG4
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TLV2241CD Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Number of Channels | 1 |
| Amplifier Type | Single general-purpose operational amplifier |
| Rail-to-Rail | Rail-to-rail input and output |
| Gain Bandwidth Product | 5.5 kHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 12 V |
| Maximum Supply Voltage | 12 V |
| Supply Current per Channel | 1 uA |
| Power Consumption Class | Micropower |
| Supply Type | Single supply |
| Unity Gain Bandwidth | 5.5 kHz |
| Package | 8-SOIC (SOIC-8) |
| Number of Pins | 8 |
| Mounting Type | Surface mount |
| RoHS Status | unknown |
TLV2241CD Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | OUT — Output |
| Pin 2 | IN- — Inverting input |
| Pin 3 | IN+ — Non-inverting input |
| Pin 4 | V- — Negative supply (ground) |
| Pin 5 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 6 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 7 | V+ — Positive supply |
| Pin 8 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
TLV2241CD is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Low-Power Bio-Signal and Medical Front End, Precision Current-Sense Buffering, Audio and Communication Low-Level Amplification, Microcontroller ADC and DAC Interface Buffering, Industrial Level Shifting and Signal Conditioning.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The TLV2241CD suits always-on sensing nodes because it draws only 1 uA per channel while providing rail-to-rail input sensing across a 2.5 V to 12 V supply. Place it directly in front of a microcontroller ADC to buffer a thermistor, potentiometer, or resistive divider that sits near the supply rail, so the full 0 to 3.3 V sensor span is captured instead of being clipped by a non-rail-to-rail input stage. The 8-SOIC package keeps the footprint small and reflow-friendly for a mixed-signal node that must survive cost-sensitive volume production. The practical limit is speed: at a 5.5 kHz gain bandwidth product, the amplifier suits slow thermal, humidity, and pressure signals rather than fast event detection, and a higher-bandwidth part is needed for sampled waveforms above roughly 1 kHz.
Recommended
Low-Power Bio-Signal and Medical Front End
Portable wellness and diagnostic devices often need signal conditioning that adds microamps rather than milliamps of load, and the TLV2241CD's 1 uA per channel supply current keeps total sensor-node power in the microwatt range. Its rail-to-rail input stage accepts electrode or bridge outputs referenced to the analog ground of the device without a separate level-shift stage, and the low 5.5 kHz bandwidth naturally rejects high-frequency motion and mains-related interference around slow ECG, EMG, or PPG envelopes. Use it in low-pass filter and buffer positions preceding an ADC. Because the amplifier is intended for low-bandwidth bio-signals, pair it with matching low-leakage input protection and confirm the noise and offset figures in the manufacturer data sheet against the smallest signal you must resolve.
Recommended
Precision Current-Sense Buffering
In power-supply and industrial instrumentation designs, the TLV2241CD buffers the small differential voltage across a low-ohm shunt resistor before it reaches an ADC or comparator. Because the amplifier operates from as little as 2.5 V while remaining rail-to-rail at the input, a millivolt-level shunt signal can be amplified without losing common-mode headroom, and the 1 uA supply current adds negligible error to the shunt measurement budget. The 5.5 kHz gain bandwidth product is sufficient for current loops and slow DC measurement paths but not for fast over-current detection, where a dedicated comparator is preferable. Note that offset and input bias current values are not listed on the distributor summary page; pull them from the electrical characteristics table of the manufacturer data sheet before setting the gain, because they set the resolution limit of the measurement.
Recommended
Audio and Communication Low-Level Amplification
The TLV2241CD is a practical choice for low-frequency audio and intercom paths where the emphasis is on low power rather than wideband fidelity. It can drive a microphone preamp stage, buffer a line-level source, or serve as the active element in a first-order or second-order low-pass filter ahead of a codec. The 5.5 kHz gain bandwidth product covers voice-band signals up to roughly 3 kHz and does not pass ultrasonic or high-fidelity wideband content, so it should not be substituted into a full-range audio path. Its rail-to-rail output also allows the output to swing near the supply rails on a low-voltage 3.3 V or 5 V analog rail, which increases usable output swing compared with a non-rail-to-rail amplifier of the same supply current.
Recommended
Microcontroller ADC and DAC Interface Buffering
The TLV2241CD is often placed directly between a microcontroller's analog pins and a sensor or actuator, because the built-in sample-and-hold input of an ADC needs a low-impedance drive to settle accurately within the acquisition window. With 5.5 kHz of gain bandwidth product and rail-to-rail output, the amplifier can source and sink small currents to the ADC input while consuming only 1 uA of supply current itself, which preserves the low-power profile of the microcontroller design. It also works as a level shifter between 3.3 V and 5 V domains because its output swings rail-to-rail. Keep in mind that the amplifier cannot drive the ADC sample-and-hold capacitor during the acquisition phase if the sampling rate is high, so for faster sampling rates add a dedicated acquisition buffer instead of stretching this part beyond its drive capability.
Recommended
Industrial Level Shifting and Signal Conditioning
In 24 V and 12 V industrial control boards, the TLV2241CD is useful for conditioning or level-shifting low-level logic and sensor signals down to a 3.3 V or 5 V microcontroller domain. Its 2.5 V to 12 V supply capability allows it to sit on a 12 V auxiliary rail, while the rail-to-rail input accepts a signal that swings close to the ground reference of the control board. Because the device draws 1 uA per channel, adding several conditioning channels to a controller board has almost no effect on the standby power budget, which matters in panel designs that must pass EMC and brown-out testing at low quiescent loads. Keep the layout short and place a 0.1 uF bypass capacitor at the supply pin; for long sensor wiring, add input protection rather than relying on the amplifier's internal clamps.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for TLV2241CD — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | TLV2241ID | TLV2241IP | TLV2241CDG4 | TLV2241IDG4 | TLV2241IPG4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments |
| Package | SOIC-8 (8-SOIC) | SOIC-8 (8-SOIC) - same | SOIC-8 (8-SOIC) - same | SOIC-8 (8-SOIC) - same | SOIC-8 (8-SOIC) - same | SOIC-8 (8-SOIC) - same |
| Number of Channels | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Gain Bandwidth Product | 5.5 kHz | 5.5 kHz | 5.5 kHz | 5.5 kHz | 5.5 kHz | 5.5 kHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 12 V | 2.5 V to 12 V | 2.5 V to 12 V | 2.5 V to 12 V | 2.5 V to 12 V | 2.5 V to 12 V |
| Supply Current per Channel | 1 uA | 1 uA | 1 uA | 1 uA | 1 uA | 1 uA |
| Rail-to-Rail | Input and output | Input and output | Input and output | Input and output | Input and output | Input and output |
| Temperature Grade | C grade (commercial) | I grade (industrial) | P grade | C grade (commercial) | I grade (industrial) | P grade |
| Lead-Free Designation | Standard | Standard | Standard | G4 lead-free | G4 lead-free | G4 lead-free |
Key Differentiators
- Extremely low supply current in a rail-to-rail amplifier (vs TLV2402ID)
- Identical electrical performance across orderable codes (vs TLV2241CDG4)
- Direct upgrade path to a wider temperature grade (vs TLV2241CD)
- Lower minimum supply than general-purpose alternatives (vs ICL7621BCPA)
Design Notes
The TLV2241CD draws 1 uA per channel, so the amplifier itself is usually not the limit on board power - leakage in the feedback network and in the surrounding sensor divider often dominates. Use high-value feedback resistors (1 MOhm to 10 MOhm) where bias current permits, because a 1 MOhm resistor with a 100 pA bias current produces roughly 100 uV of offset that can swamp a micropower stage's resolution. Place a 0.1 uF ceramic bypass capacitor at the V+ pin and add a 1 uF to 10 uF bulk capacitor close to the supply entry point to keep the rail stable when the source is a coin cell with high internal resistance.
Keep the SOIC-8 footprint free of long copper pours on the input pins: pin 2 (IN-) and pin 3 (IN+) are sensitive to leakage and stray capacitance because the circuit operates at microamp currents and kilohertz bandwidth. Route the feedback network (R1/R2) directly between pins 1 and 2 with no vias, and connect the bypass capacitor on pin 7 to the ground reference with a short, direct path rather than through the general ground plane return. If the input comes from a long cable, guard the input trace with a grounded trace driven by the same source impedance to reduce surface leakage.
The most common design error with the TLV2241 is expecting amplifier bandwidth in a signal that needs it: at a 5.5 kHz gain bandwidth product, a gain of 100 leaves only about 55 Hz of closed-loop bandwidth, and closed-loop gain must be limited to keep the signal inside that passband. The second common error is expecting the 1 uA supply current to translate into strong output drive - with such low quiescent current the output stage cannot source heavy loads, so use the amplifier as a buffer for high-impedance sources rather than as a power driver. Verify the maximum output swing and capacitive load stability from the electrical characteristics and typical performance curves in the manufacturer data sheet before finalizing the stage.
Because the amplifier operates at microamp bias currents, input-referred offset drift over temperature can dominate the error budget in a precision application. Keep the device away from local heat sources and airflow gradients, and if the application spans a wide ambient range, prefer an industrial-grade orderable code such as the TLV2241ID, which uses the same 8-SOIC footprint and the same 5.5 kHz bandwidth and 1 uA supply current but is specified for a wider temperature range. Any upgrade or second-source change should be validated against the electrical characteristics table rather than assumed equivalent.
Compliance Information
The TLV2241 family is offered with G4 lead-free orderable codes (for example TLV2241CDG4). RoHS, REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals declarations were not confirmed in the product information pages reviewed, so they are recorded as unknown rather than assumed.
