Example Section for the Instrumentation amplifier Lab 1: Instrumentation Amplifier

Theory and objective An instrumentation amplifier is a two stage amplifier consisting non inverting buffers and a differential amplifier combined in a single circuit with the benefit of both noninverting buffers (high input resistance). Amplifiers of stage 1 are connected as noninverting buffers to provide high impedance and excellent common mode rejection ratio. Stage two is a differential amp and removes common mode signals by subs traction while further amplify the desired difference signal. Using the gain formulas for the noninverting configuration and differential equations for stage 2 the system gain can be derived. By applying knowledge of feedback systems the bandwidth of the instrumentation amplifier may be projected. The resulting amplifier will be characterized for it gain and bandwidth. Significant Equations GBP = fun = 2 MHz = Avol x f3dB = f3dB x Kx Knon = RF/RI +1 Kinv = -RF/RI

Kdiffamp = RF/RI (v1-v2) Differential amplifier Analysis schematic

 RF1 K 1 = 1 + RI1

RF 2 K 2 = RI 2

RF1 RF 2 Vo = (Vi + K1 K 2 Vi K1 K 2 ) = 1 + (Vi + Vi ) RI1 RI 2

Using the gain formula for the non inverting configuration for amplifiers K1 we have
RF1 vo1 = vi11 + RI 1 RF1 vo2 = vi 2 RI 2

The input to amplifier K2 is obtained from two sources 1) after a voltage division from RF2 and Ri2 at the non-inverting input and hence (You DO NOT need this much detail, just final equations -- results.)
RF 2 RF1 RF 2 (Vi + ) Vi 2 + = Vi + K1 = 1 + RI 2 + RF 2 RI1 RI 2 + RF 2

RF 2 RF1 RF 2 RF 2 Vo 2 + = Vi + K1 K 2 = 1 + 1 + (Vi + ) RI 2 + RF 2 RI 1 RI 2 + RF 2 RI 2

and 2) the inverting input

RF1 RF 2 Vo 2 = (Vi + K1 K 2 ) = 1 + (Vi ) RI1 RI 2

Using the super position for the output of K2 we have

Vo = Vo 2+ + Vo 2 = (Vi + K1 K 2 + Vi K1 K 2 )

The final output voltage

is given as a sum of and simplifies to

RF1 RF 2 Vo = 1 + (Vi + Vi ) RI 1 RI 2

Analysis OR Implementation with expectations/limits The objective is to configure the instrument amplifier achieve and total amplification of 200, 20 for stage 1 and 5 for stage 2. The select the values of RF1 and RI1 will be 9.5 Kohm and 1 Kohm and RF2 and RI2 to be 5 Kohm and 1 Kohm respectively. Required parts: RF2 = 5K ohms, RI2 = 1 K ohms RF1 = 9.5 K, RI1 = 1 K ohms TK074 Opamp with +/-15V supplies K1 = 21; K2 = 5, Ktotal = K1 x K2 From the data sheet Max output +/- Vsupply or +/-15 in this case GBP = fun = 2 MHz = Avol x f3dB = f3dBfb x Kx Kx = K2+1 in the inverting case and K1 in the non inverting case. Input: <+/-12Vp/ 200 = 60 mVp, select 20mVrms Expected Bandwidth Stage 1 fun/Knon = 2 MHz/ 21 90 KHz Stage 2 fun/(Kinv+1) = 2 MHz/ 6 333 KHz Instrumentation amplifier bandwidth will be limited stage 2 at 90KHz. Output peak to peak Vopp < +/12 V

With a total amplifier gain of 200 the differential voltage < +/- 60 mV. Select 10 mVrms Data Table. Instrumentation amplifier data
Col1 vin vo =10mVrms(KHz) Gain Col2 vin vo =10mVrms(MHz) Gain

0.1 0.2 0.5 0.8 1 2 5 8 10 20 50 80 100

0.2 0.5 0.8 1 2 5 8 10 20 50 80 100

Conclusions assuming all goes well Concepts learned bullets are acceptable Measured gain is 195 and 3 dbB with a bandwidth of 85 KHz and were within expected results. 10% resistors will only guarantee a gain accuracy of no better than +/- 14% with 2 stages in cascade this becomes no better than 20%. Cascade amplifiers gains are a product of the two gains. Bandwidth of a first order opamp system is approximately, f3dB = fun/K of the low bandwidth stage. The bandwidth of two stages in cascade will be no better than the lowest bandwidth stage. The expected result is 90KHz and a measured value of 85 KHz places it well with the expected value.

Simulations as needed AC simulation schematic

AC simulation result

Comment It is important that the low frequency point be show consistent behavior with the 3dB point, 40.422-37.399 = 3dB. The expected 3 dB frequency is 143 KHz (3MHz/21).The simulation shows a 3dB frequency of 135KHz. (This discrepancy can be attributed to the fact that the slope of the roll of is greater than -20dB/dec since we have two cascaded first order system blocks .) Simulation looks sound! The simulated small signal AC gain is 40.422dB = 104.97 and the minus 3dB frequency is 135.388 KHz. This cutoff is consistent projections using the GBP of stage 1, 3.0MHz/21.

Transient simulation Transient simulations carried out show the amplifier full scale gain of 105.

Figure 1. Transient simulation @ 1 KHz (within the 3dB bandwidth)

The resistor divider network has been used to create a differential signal of 100mV. In figure 1 this is denoted by curves vin_1 and vin_2. The differential signal to the instrumentation amplifier is (vin_1 vin_2) = 546.933mV - 447.491mV = 99.442mV. The output is denoted by the curve vout and its amplitude is measured to be 10.492V. Thus, the total gain of the circuit can be calculated as
Av = 10.492 = 105.508 ( 546.933 447.491)103

Concept learned small signal gain and large signal gains are equal at lower frequencies.

Figure 2. Transient simulation @1KHz with input differential amplitude of 200mV.

Figure 2 shows that if the differential input to the instrumentation amplifier is increased to 200mV, the high gain of the amplifier causes the output to rail out. This can be seen in vout, which gets clipped on both the high and low side.

Concept learned physical amplifiers signal swings are always less than the power supply rails.

Figure 3. Transient simulation @ 3dB frequency and input differential equal to 100mV.

The input frequency has been changed to 135.9 KHz to observe the -3dB gain under large signal conditions. Simulated gain in this set up is
Av = 7.3287 = 73.32 ( 549.644 449.70 )103

Expected 3dB gain = 105*0.707 = 74.23. The error is most likely due to slew rate limiting of the opamp. Large signal gain of an opamp circuit is never or rarely equal to small signal gain across all frequencies. Concept learned physical amplifier large signal gain is always less at the highest frequency of operation that the small signal gain.

Test Plan - including schematics and data tables

Test plan for Instrumentation amplifier. The expected gain is 105 with a 3dB bandwidth > 90 KHz. The maximum output must be less than +/-15. This requires the input to be less than +/150mV. 1) Apply a +/-50mV to +/- 75mV and measure the magnitude and phase plot from 50Hz to 10 MHz. 2) Apply a +/-200mV at 1KHz to confirm clipping at +/-15v 3) Apply a +/-200mV at the 3dB frequency and expect to observe +/-200x 105 x 0.707 = +/-10.5V 4) Determine that the small signal 3dB frequency is identical to the large signal 3dB frequency. Apply +/- 10 mV and +/- 200 mV and determine the measured gain.

Freq Sim (KHz) Mag 0.05 0.080 0.100 0.200

Sim Phase

Measured Measured Mag Phase

8000 10000