Front end of an operational amplifier

The front end of an operational amplifier having an improved controlled slew rate and high gain current output capabilities. The amplifier includes a slew enhancement or large signal stage connected in parallel to a normal front end or small signal stage. The small signal stage supplies a transconductance output which is approximately linearly related to the input until its slew rate limit. The slew enhancement stage is designed to provide slew current when the small signal stage reaches its slew rate limit, thereby providing an increased output current response to an increasing differential input voltage beyond the slew rate of the small signal stage. Two pair of differential amplifiers are used in both a large and small signal stage as well as an improved output stage comprising of current mirrors.