Notes_3

Thiagarajar College of Engineering

Department of CSE

22CS220 Electronics and Digital Circuits

Inverting and non Inverting Amplifier

An operational amplifier (op-amp) feedback loop is a key aspect of using operational amplifiers in
electronic circuits. Op-amps are versatile and widely used analog devices that amplify voltage signals.
The feedback loop is employed to control the amplifier's performance, stability, and other
characteristics.

There are two main types of feedback loops: positive feedback and negative feedback. In the context of
op-amps, negative feedback is more commonly used.

Negative Feedback

Negative feedback is a mechanism where the output of a system is fed back to the input in such
a way that it opposes or reduces any deviation from the desired condition.

Positive feedback

Positive feedback is a mechanism where the output of a system is fed back to the input in a way
that enhances or amplifies any deviation from the desired condition.

Types of Negative Feedback:

Voltage Feedback:

In voltage feedback, a portion of the output voltage is fed back to the inverting input.

Current Feedback

In current feedback, a portion of the output current is fed back to the inverting input.

The negative feedback has several advantages:

 Stability: Negative feedback tends to stabilize the op-amp circuit, making it less sensitive to
variations in component characteristics and temperature.
 Accuracy: It improves the accuracy of the amplifier by reducing distortion and nonlinearities.
 Increased Bandwidth: Negative feedback can increase the bandwidth of the amplifier.
 Reduced Output Impedance: The output impedance of the amplifier is effectively reduced.
Applications of op-amp

Operational amplifiers (op-amps) find extensive use in a wide range of electronic applications
due to their versatility, high input impedance, low output impedance, and ability to amplify
signals. Here are some common applications of op-amps:

Inverting Amplifiers:

Inverting amplifiers use negative feedback to invert and amplify an input signal. They are
commonly used in audio amplifiers, signal conditioning, and instrumentation applications.

Non-Inverting Amplifiers:

Non-inverting amplifiers provide positive gain without inverting the input signal. They are used
in audio amplification, voltage followers, and applications where signal phase preservation is
critical.

Voltage Followers (Unity Gain Amplifiers):

A voltage follower configuration has a gain of approximately 1, providing high input impedance
and low output impedance. Voltage followers are used to buffer signals and minimize loading
effects on the source.
Summing Amplifiers:

Summing amplifiers combine multiple input signals with adjustable weights. They are employed
in audio mixers, signal processing, and mathematical operations.
Differential Amplifiers:

Differential amplifiers amplify the voltage difference between two input signals. They are crucial
in applications such as instrumentation amplifiers for measuring small differential signals, such
as in bridge sensor circuits.
Integrators and Differentiators:

Op-amps can be configured as integrators or differentiators to perform mathematical

operations. Integrators integrate the input signal over time, while differentiators provide the
rate of change of the input signal. These configurations are used in signal processing and
filtering.
Active Filters:

Op-amps are extensively used in active filter circuits, including low-pass, high-pass, band-pass,
and band-reject filters. Active filters offer precise control over filter characteristics and are
commonly employed in audio and communication systems.
Comparator Circuits:

Op-amps can be used as comparators to compare two input signals. Comparator circuits are
commonly employed in applications such as voltage level detection and digital-to-analog
converter (DAC) applications.
Voltage Regulators:

Op-amps are utilized in voltage regulator circuits to maintain a stable output voltage. They
provide feedback control to adjust the output and compensate for variations in the input
voltage or load.
Oscillators:

Op-amps play a role in oscillator circuits, generating periodic waveforms. Examples include
audio oscillators and waveform generators used in test equipment.
Logarithmic and Antilogarithmic Amplifiers:

Logarithmic and antilogarithmic amplifiers are designed to perform logarithmic and

antilogarithmic operations, respectively. They find applications in audio compression/expansion
systems and other nonlinear applications.

Precision Rectifiers:

Op-amps are used in precision rectifier circuits to convert AC signals to DC signals with low
distortion.
Voltage-to-Current and Current-to-Voltage Converters:

Op-amps can be configured as voltage-to-current converters (transimpedance amplifiers) or

current-to-voltage converters for interfacing between voltage and current domains.
Instrumentation Amplifiers:

Instrumentation amplifiers, built using op-amps, are designed for precise and accurate
amplification of small differential signals. They are commonly used in measurement and sensor
applications.
Active Bridge Circuits:

Op-amps are employed in active bridge circuits for signal conditioning and measurement in
bridge sensor applications.
These applications highlight the versatility of operational amplifiers across various domains,
including analog signal processing, instrumentation, communication, and control systems. The
specific configuration chosen depends on the requirements of the application and the desired
functionality of the circuit.
 Inverting and non inverting amplifiers

Inverting and non-inverting are two basic configurations for operational amplifier (op-
amp) circuits. These configurations define how the input signal is connected to the op-
amp inputs and determine the amplification characteristics of the circuit.

1. Inverting Op-Amp Configuration:

In the inverting configuration, the input signal is connected to the inverting (-) input of the op-
amp. The feedback is applied from the output to the inverting input through a resistor (often
referred to as the feedback resistor).

Circuit Configuration:

Input: Connected to the inverting (-) input.

Feedback: Connected from the output to the inverting input through a resistor.

Virtual Ground Point

In electronics, a virtual ground refers to a node within a circuit that behaves like a reference
point similar to the actual ground (often connected to the earth), but it's not directly connected
to it. This concept is particularly useful in analyzing and designing circuits using operational
amplifiers (op-amps).

Gain derivation refer class notes

2.Non-Inverting Op-Amp Configuration:

In the non-inverting configuration, the input signal is connected to the non-inverting (+) input of
the op-amp. The feedback is applied from the output to the inverting input through a resistor
network.
Circuit Configuration:

Input: Connected to the non-inverting (+) input.

Feedback: Connected from the output to the inverting input through a resistor network.

Gain equation refer class notes