Chapter-15

More Op-Amp Circuits

Basic Instrumentation Amplifier

Input 1 + R3 R5
1
Gain Set _

R1 _
Output
R2 3
+
Gain Set _
R4
2
Input 2 + R6

Fig: Basic Instrumentation Amplifier

Fig: The instrumentation amplifier with the external gain setting resistor RG. Differential and
Common-mode signal are indicated.
Op-amp 1 & 2 are noninverting configuration.
Op-amp 3 is a unity gain differential amplifier.
For op-amp 1,
Input signal Vin1 on its noninverting (+) input,

R1
Av = 1+
RG

Input signal Vin2 on its inverting (-) input,

R1
Av = -
RG

Total output voltage of op-amp 1,

R1 R1
Vout1 = 1+ V V +V
RG in1 RG in2 cm

For op-amp 2,

Input signal Vin1 on its inverting (-) input,

R2
Av = -
RG

Input signal Vin2 on its noninverting (+) input,

R2
Av = 1+
RG

Total output voltage of op-amp 2,

R2 R2
Vout2 = 1+ V V +V
RG in2 RG in1 cm

The differential input voltage of op-amp 3,

R2 R2 R1 R1
Vout2 Vout1 1+ V V +V 1+ V V +V
RG in2 RG in1 cm RG in1 RG in2 cm

R2 R1 R2 R1
1+ V 1+ V +V Vcm
RG RG in2 RG RG in1 cm

For R1 = R2 = R

2R 2R 2R
Vout2 - Vout1 = 1+ V 1 V 1+ Vin2 Vin1
RG in2 RG in1 RG

Op-amp 3 is unity gain ( R3 = R4 = R5 = R6)

2R
Vout = 1 [ Vout2 Vout1] = 1+ Vin2 Vin1
RG

Vout 2R 2R
=1+ ----> Acl =1+ ,
Vin2 -Vin1 RG RG

2R
RG =
Acl -1

RG = external gain setting resistor

2

Application of basic instrumentation amplifier

to measure small differential signal voltages that are superimposed on a common-mode

voltage often much larger than the signal voltage.
applications include situations where a quantity is sensed by a remote device, such as a
temperature- or pressure-sensitive transducer
the resulting small electrical signal is sent over a long line subject to electrical noise that
produces common-mode voltages in the line.
at the end of the line must amplify the small signal from the remote sensor and reject the
large common-mode voltage.

AD 521 Instrumentation Amplifier

+V Rscale
Rs
Rscale +V
8 sense
10 8
+Input 1 10
13 1
2 12 +Input 13 12
Rgain AD521 7 Output 2
14 7
Rgain 11 RG AD521 Output
3 49 Reference
14 11
- Input 5 6 4
3
compensation - Input common
5 6
Offset trim
Offset trim potentiometer
-V Offset trim -V

AD521 instrumentation amplifier AD521 with gain-setting resistor and output offset
adjustment

Rs
Av =
RG

Rs = scaling resistor
RG = gain setting resistor

To set the amplifiers bandwidth to a desired value, the compensation input (pin 9) can be used.

Rs
+V
8
10
1
+Input 13 12
2 7
RG AD521 Output
14
9
3
- Input 5 11

-V common

1
Cx =
100fc

Bandwidth, BW = fc (Hz), Cx in (F)

Isolation Amplifier

Fig: Simplified block diagram of a typical isolation amplifier

Fig: The 3656KG Isolation amplifier (transformer-coupled isolation amplifier)

The gain of the input stage is

Rf1
Av1 = +1
Ri1
The gain of the output stage is
Rf2
Av2 = +1
Ri2
The total amplifier gain is the product of the gains of the input and output stages.
Av(tot) = Av1Av2

Operational Transconductance Amplifiers (OTAs)

IBIAS

Inputs Output

Fig: Symbol for an operational Transconductance amplifier (OTA)

Transconductance (gm)
Iout
gm = =KIBIAS (K16)
Vin

Basic OTA Circuits

Av = gm RL

+V V 0.7
IBIAS =
RBIAS

Fig: An OTA as an inverting amplifier with a fixed voltage gain.

+V - -V -0.7
IBIAS =
RBIAS

+ - -V -0.7
IBIAS =
RBIAS

Specific OTAs

NC 1 8 NC

Inverting _ 7 +V
2
input
CA3080
Noninverting
3 + 6 Output
input

-V 4 5 I BIAS

Two OTA Applications

Fig: The OTA as an amplitude modulator

V 0.7
IBIAS =
RBIAS

Fig: The OTA as a Schmitt trigger and basic operation of the OTA Schmitt trigger.

Log and Antilog Amplifiers

I in IF
Vin
R1 + VF -
_

Op-Amp Vout

A basic log amplifier using a diode as diode (pn junction) characteristic curve
the feedback element
qVF
IF IR e kT

kT Vin
qVF Vout =- ln
ln IF ln IR e kT q R1 IR
qVF kT
ln IF ln IR ln e kT where =25 mV at 25
q
qVF
ln IF ln IR ln e kT Vin
Vout = -0.025V ln
I qVF R1 IR
ln F = e kT
IR

kT IF
VF = ln IR = reverse leakage current
q IR
q = Charge
From Fig; Vout = - VF k = constant
Vin T = temperature
Iin =IF = VF = diode forward voltage
R1

Log Amplifier with a BJT

I in IC
Vin qVBE
R1 - IC IEBO e kT
+ V BE
_ Vin
Vout = - 0.025V ln
IEBO R1
Op-Amp Vout

Antilog Amplifier with a BJT

Iin I C +Rf -
Vin + qVBE
V IC IEBO e kT
BE
-
_ Vin
Vout = -Rf IEBO antilog( )
25mV
Op-Amp Vout

Vout = - RfIC
qVBE
IC IEBO e kT

qVBE
Vout = -Rf IEBO e kT

qVin
Vout = -Rf IEBO e kT (because Vin=VBE)

Vin
Vout = -Rf IEBO antilog( )
kT

Vin Since kT/q is approximately 25 mV

Vout = -Rf IEBO antilog( )
25mV
Signal Compression with Logarithmic Amplifiers

Fig: The basic concept of signal compression with a logarithmic amplifier.

Converters and Other Op-Amp Circuits

(1) Constant-Current Source

(2) Current-to-Voltage Converter
(3) Voltage-to-Current Converter
(4) Peak Detector

Constant-Current Source Current-to-Voltage Converter

Ri 0V IL = Ii
Ii RL
_
Vin 0A
Op-Amp Vout

Voltage-to-Current Converter Peak Detector