Instrumentation Amplifier – Op-Amp Implementation

Objective:

To amplify the difference between two input signals.

Schematic:

+ R2 R3
10u
V1 1k 1k
VOFF = 0
VAMPL = 0 - R1
FREQ = 1k 1k

0 Output

V
o
-
Rgain
1k
+
U3

R1
- 1k
R2 R3

1k 1k
+
10u
V2
VOFF = 0
VAMPL = 0
FREQ = 1k

0 0

Explanation:

The instrumentation amplifier is a specific type of differential amplifier which employs three
operational amplifiers (op-amp for short). That is, the output voltage is determined by the product of the
difference between the input signals, V1 and V2, and a gain constant dependent on the resistors, R1, R2,
R3, and Rgain.

Derivation:

Here we derive the formula for this amplifier. The “golden” rules of ideal op-amps will be used in
the proof.

Rule 1: Input Currents = 0

Rule 2: V+ = V-
KCL @ node 1:

V 2−V 1 V 2−V o 2
+ =0
Rgain R1

R1 R1
V o 2= ( R gain ) ( )
+1 V 2− V
R gain 1

KCL @ node 2:

V 1−V 2 V 1−V o 1
+ =0
Rgain R1

R1 R1
V o 1= ( R gain ) ( )
+1 V 1− V
R gain 2

KCL @ node 3:

V A V A −V o 2
+ =0
R3 R2

R3
V A= ( )
V
R3 + R 2 o 2

KCL @ node 4:

V A−V o 1 V A−V o
+ =0
R2 R3

R3 R3
V o= ( ) ( )
R2
+1 V A− V
R2 o 1

Substitute VA and Vo1:

R3 R3 R R1 R1
V o=
( )(( R2
+1
) ) ( )((
R 3+ R 2
V o2 − 3
R2 R gain ) ( ) )
+ 1 V 1− V
R gain 2

Substitute Vo2:
 R3 R3 R1 R1 R R1 R1
V o=
( )((
R2
+1
R 3+ R 2 )(( R gain ) ( ) )) ( )((
+ 1 V 2−
R gain
V1 − 3
R2 R gain ) ( ) )
+1 V 1− V
R gain 2

R3 R1 R R1 R3 R1 R R1
V o =( V 2 )
(( )(( ) ( )( ))) ( )(( )(
R2 R gain
+1 + 3
R2 R gain
− V1
R2 R gain ) ( )( ))
+1 − 3
R2 R gain

R3 R1 R1
V o =( V 2−V 1 ) (( )((
R2 ) ( )))
R gain
+1 +
R gain

Vo R 3 2 R1
Adiff = = (
V 2−V 1 R 2 R gain
+1 )
Conclusion:

This amplifier is a popular choice among differential amplifiers because of its high input
impedance, made possible by the input buffer stages. Using this configuration, it is easy to obtain a high
gain and high CMRR while still having accurate results.
Differential amplifiers are a good tool for measuring sensor voltages in biomedical applications.
Often times, an oscillating signal might be riding on a DC shift (as opposed to the t-axis or “ground”) in
which case the instrumentation amplifier can ignore the shift and center its output on ground. The circuit
will still behave normally, assuming the output signal does not operate beyond the bounds of saturation.

References:

Wikipedia