L14 Operational Amplifiers

On-line / book Clifford et al. pp. 365-370

At the end of this lecture, you should be able to

explain why we need to amplify signals
calculate the output from an op-amp

explain what negative feedback means

explain how to use an op-amp as a buffer for a sensor

What will we cover?

System with something important to
measure / control

A to D
converter

Sensor (strain, temperature, pH,

position, velocity etc.)

Microprocessor. Digital
logic. DSP. Logging.
Control calculations

http://www.omega.co.uk/ppt/pptsc_lg.asp?ref=ICSS-NHX&Nav=tema06
http://www.omega.com/literature/transactions/volume3/strain.html

D to A
converter

Cable. Noise.
Good wiring choice
= less noise

Buffer (Opamps)

Buffer / signal
processing (Opamps)

Actuator, e.g. heater, motor,

chemical feed unit, fuel injector
etc. High power / 3 phase

Amplifying signals?
Sensor (strain, temperature,
pH, position, velocity etc.)

Cable. Noise.
Good wiring choice
= less noise

1 mV input?
50 mV input?

Buffer / signal
processing
(Opamps)

A to D
converter

1 V output?
5 V output?

What is Gain ? Its how much the input voltage is multiplied by at the output
http://www.omega.co.uk/ppt/pptsc_lg.asp?ref=ICSS-NHX&Nav=tema06
http://www.omega.com/literature/transactions/volume3/strain.html

'Operational Amplifiers'
Analog operational amplifiers are one of the key building
blocks of practically all electronic systems. They convert and
condition real-word analog information into signals that can
be read and understood by digital systems.
2001/2 world market for opamps was $2 billion. Nearly 4
billion opamps
also see http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_8/1.html
ws/item/0,1735,906,00.html

http://www.national.com/ne

'Operational Amplifiers'

http://www.national.com/company/pressroom/gallery/oa.html

Differential Op-amp

Input to the opamp

Power for the opamp

V+

V-

+Vs

Output of the opamp

Vout= A (V+-V-)

-Vs

Input has a very high impedance. Almost no current

flows into or out of V+ and V Output voltage = A x (V+ - V-)
Any current from the output comes from +Vs and -Vs
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Examples?

Problems?
Need to buy lots of different amplifiers.. 10x,
50x, 100x, 273x etc...
What if theyre not accurate out of the box?
We might want 0.1% accuracy e.g.
How can we buy a single type of amplifier and
change the circuit to change the gain?

Negative Feedback
Used in nearly all control systems
Brain

Where we want
our hand to be

Nerves &
muscles

Signal
from brain

Hand position

Where is our
hand really?
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Negative Feedback
Used in nearly all control systems
Controller
Desired
value

Signal to
actuator

Actuator

Actual value

Feedback

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Feedback
Biology, Civil eng., Chem Eng - temperature
regulation (-ve)
Mechanical engineering - engine control (-ve)
Chemical engineering - reaction control (-ve)
[reactions by themselves might be
exothermic]
Climate science - ice cap albedo (+ve)
Economy - confidence (+ve)
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Examples
Draw ve feedback circuit, A=100,000 (105)
We ask for 5 V. Initially starts to go for full
output, but on the way it hits the right answer.
V+ = 5 V ; Vout=4.99995 ; V-=4.99995
V+ - V- = 5x10-5; Vout =(V+ - V-) x A = 5 V
Works as long as theres no delay. Otherwise it
overshoots, then the other way, and oscillates,
like control system with gain thats too high.

Differential Op-amp

Input to the opamp

Power for the opamp

V+

V-

+Vs

Vout

-Vs

(1) V- = Vout [theyre wired together]

(2) Vout = A (V+ - V-) [Op-amp gain rule]
(1) (2) Vout = A (V+ - Vout)
Vout (A+1) = A V+
Vout / V+ = A/(A+1) : Gain ~ 1 (a buffer)

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Summary

Differential op-amps are very common in

electrical things
They produce an output voltage proportional to
the difference of their two input voltages
They work on analog signals, often to interface
them with microprocessors
Feedback is used to control many processes
including op-amp circuits
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_8/2.html
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_3/chpt_8/3.html
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