EE 336 Lab Report # 10

Operational Amplifier

Magdalena Simic Ravi B Gondaliya

Performed on March 29, 2012 Submitted on April 5, 2012

Iman A. Hashemi Section 02

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach, FL 32114

I.

Introduction

This lab was intended to analyze the function and setup of an operational amplifier (op-amp). Various circuit configurations were used to explore how this component can involve open loop gain, closed loop gain, as well as a desired output voltage. This lab also studied the relationship between input voltages and resistance in addition to input and output waveforms when there is a capacitor introduced to the feedback path of the op-amp. An oscilloscope, oscillator, LCR measurement device, and digital multi-meter (DMM) were all used as test equipment during this experiment. Overall, the experiment successfully demonstrated the fundamental analysis of the topics introduced.

Figure 1: Operation Amplifier Schematic An operational amplifier is known as a DC-couple high gain electronic voltage amplifier. Typically, it will have a differential input and a single-ended output. It is capable of producing a voltage that is much higher in magnitude than the potential difference at the input section of the component. The output can be controlled by either a negative or positive feedback. When there is a negative feedback, the magnitude of the output gain can be determined. A positive feedback is able to control gain and signal oscillation. Depending on circuit configuration, the device can either operate as an open loop or as a closed loop. If a feedback signal coming back to either of the differential inputs does not exist, then the opamp is considered to be operating in an open loop. Such a configuration is then able to produce an output voltage that is differential input voltage multiplied by the total gain of the amplifier. Since it is an open-loop configuration, the gain will most likely go to infinity. It is for this reason that the output voltage in this case would equal to the input voltage magnitude:

When the op-amp is configured to be a closed loop circuit, an entirely different operation will occur. A closed loop op-amp can be considered a control system containing an active feedback loop. This feedback loop is able to regulate the amplification of the input signal. In this lab, a negative feedback path is introduced from the output to the input. The ratio that is then formed between the input and output can be expressed as a transfer function. The magnitude of this transfer function can then be known as the gain of the circuit, a measure of the circuits ability to increase the power or amplitude of signal from its input source to output source.

Figure 2: Op-amp Circuit with Feedback Loop II. Result Analysis and Discussion

In this experiment, the oscillator was first calibrated to generate 1KHz sine waves at 1V pk-pk. A circuit was then assembled as seen below to begin the op-amp circuit analysis.

Figure 3: Op-amp Circuit 1 After measuring the output signal with the oscilloscope, the following output curve versus time was recorded as seen in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Open Loop Sine Input The max output voltage was measured to be 30V. This max value indicates that the op-amp is operating with an open loop circuit configuration and will therefore have a gain value of A=1. This can be proven by using the following equation: ) ) ) ) )) )) ))

The final analysis of circuit 1 involved changing each battery voltage from +15V to +20V. When this occurred, the pk-pk voltage amplitude increased to 40V. This was to be expected as seen previously in the equation above. The second part of the experiment involved assembling a closed loop gain circuit as seen below in Figure 5.

Figure 5: Op-amp Close Loop Circuit 2

Upon inspection of the oscilloscope output display, an inverted signal was clearly present. This holds evidence as to why the circuit 2 configuration is classified as an inverting operational

amplifier. The second part of the circuit 2 analysis involved calibrating each battery to provide an output of +20V while increasing the input voltage from the signal generator from 1V to 2V, 3V, and 4V. It was then clearly observed that higher output signal amplitude resulted from higher function generator voltage. The battery values were then changed back to the initial +15V setting. The 100K resistor was then replaced by a 270KKactual) resistor component. From the following equation, a gain value of -26.9 was determined.

Component Theoretical Actual % Difference R1 10 k 10.01 k 0.01 % R2 100 k 106.4 k 6.20% R3 270 k 269 k 0.37% Capacitor 10 nF 10.26 nF 2.57% Table 1: Theoretical and Measured Values for the Components Used in the Circuits A second probe was then connected to Channel 2 of the oscilloscope and placed across the input source as seen in Figure 6

Figure 6: Op-amp Close Loop Circuit 2 with Double Probes By using the phase angle measurement option of the oscilloscope, a phase angle difference of 178.7 degrees was measured between the Channel 1 and Channel 2 input and output sine waves. This was visually confirmed by using the position features to overlap the two channels.

The final part of the experimental analysis involved assembling an integrating amplifier circuit as seen below in Figure 7. The capacitor was measured by using the LCR device to have an actual capacitance of 10.26nF and an internal resistance of 60.5.

Figure 7: Op-amp Integrating Amplifier Circuit 3

The function generator was first switched from generating a sine wave to instead generate a square wave. A very different output signal waveform was displayed on the oscilloscope as seen below in Figure 8.

Figure 8: Square Wave Input A second oscilloscope probe was then attached to the Channel 2 input and put across the input source of the circuit. A phase angle difference between the two channels of 80 degrees was measured. In addition to this analysis, the result of touching the two nodes of the capacitor to fingers of the operator resulted in a skewed output voltage and waveform. This was caused by a combination of the human bodys EKG frequency entering the probe as well as the fingers adding a resistance value to the feedback. II. Conclusion

IV.

Statement

This experiment was efficient in demonstrating the properties of an operational amplifier. The teaching assistant provided all the necessary assistance when asked.