MRW said:
Hello. Is it true that all split or dual supply opamps can be operated
in single supply mode, but the inverse is not true?
All opamps can be operated by any combination of supplies
that does not exceed their maximum voltage ratings, but add
up to enough voltage to make their input and output stages
function.
Rail-to-rail opamps tend to have lower maximum voltage
ratings, but also lower minimum voltage ratings. Their
claim to fame is having both input and output stages that
can deal with signal swings that fall anywhere between the
supply rails.
So called single supply opamps generally have lower minimum
voltage requirements than dual supply opamps and also input
and output stages that function very close to the negative
supply rail.
So called dual supply (anything not called rail-to-rail or
single supply) generally have higher maximum voltage
ratings, but need 1.5 to 4 volts between the input and
output voltage swings and the supply rails for their inputs
and outputs to function properly. A few JFET input opamps
have input stages that function all the way to the positive
supply rail.
But any opamp has no way of 'knowing' whether it is being
supplied by a single supply, with the inputs somehow biased
between those two rails, or by two supplies in series, with
the inputs somehow biased between the two supply rails.