BASIC OP-AMPS

• Comparators
•Summing amplifier
•Integrator & Differentiators

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Summary

Comparators
A comparator is a specialized nonlinear op-amp circuit that
compares two input voltages and produces an output state that
indicates which one is greater. Comparators are designed to be
fast and frequently have other capabilities to optimize the
comparison function.
Comparator
An example of a comparator Differentiator
– C
application is shown. The Retriggerable
circuit detects a power failure one-shot
+ R
in order to take an action to Vin
save data. As long as the
comparator senses Vin, the
output will be a dc level.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
 Summary

Comparator with Hysteresis

Sometimes the input signal to a comparator may vary due

to noise superimposed on the input. The result can be an
unstable output. To avoid this, hysteresis can be used.
Hysteresis is incorporated by
adding regenerative (positive) VUTP
feedback, which creates two
Vin 0 t
switching points: the upper
trigger point (UTP) and the V LTP
lower trgger point (LTP). After +Vout (max)
one trigger point is crossed, it
becomes inactive and the other –Vout(max)
one becomes active.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
 Summary

Comparator with Hysteresis

A comparator with hysteresis is also called a Schmitt trigger. The
trigger points are found by applying the voltage-divider rule:
R2 R2
VUTP 
R1  R2
 Vout (max)  and VLTP 
R1  R2
 Vout (max ) 

What are the trigger points for the circuit Vin –

if the maximum output is ±13 V? Vout
+ R1
47 k
R2 10 k
VUTP 
R1  R2
 Vout ( max )  
47 k + 10 k
 +13 V 
R2
10 k
= 2.28 V
By symmetry, the lower trigger point = 2.28 V.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
 Summary

Output Bounding

Some applications require a limit to the output of the

comparator (such as a digital circuit). The output can be
limited by using one or two zener diodes in the feedback
circuit.
The circuit shown here is bounded as a positive value equal to
the zener breakdown voltage.

Vin Ri
– +VZ
0V
0
–0.7 V
+

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Summary

Comparator Applications VREF

Op-amp
R comparators
Vin
Simultaneous or flash analog-to-digital (analog)
–
+

converters use 2n-1 comparators to R

+
convert an analog input to a digital –

value for processing. Flash ADCs are a R

+
Priority
encoder
(7)
series of comparators, each with a –
(6)
(5) D2
slightly different reference voltage. R
+ (4) D1 Binary
– (3) D0 output
The priority encoder produces an (2)
R (1)
output equal to the highest value input. +
–
(0)

R
In IC flash converters, the priority +
–
Enable
input

encoder usually includes a latch that R

+
holds the converter data constant for a –

period of time after the conversion. R

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Summary

Summing Amplifier with Unity Gain

A summing amplifier has two or more inputs; normally all inputs have
unity gain. The output is proportional to the negative of the algebraic sum
of the inputs.
VOUT = -(VIN1 + VIN2 + VIN3 +…+ VINn )

What is VOUT if the input voltages are +5.0 V, 3.5 V and +4.2 V and all
resistors = 10 k?
Rf
R1
VIN1
10 k
VOUT = (VIN1 + VIN2 + VIN3) R2
VIN2 –
= (+5.0 V  3.5 V + 4.2 V) VIN3
R3 VOUT
+
= 5.7 V
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
 Summary

Summing Amplifier with Gain Greater Than Unity

• When Rf > RIN, the amplifier has a gain of Rf /RIN , where R is the value
of each equal value input resistor.

VOUT = -( Rf / RIN )(VIN1 + VIN2 + VIN3 +…+ VINn )

Determine the output voltage for the summing amplifier in Figure below.

VOUT = ( Rf / RIN ) (VIN1 + VIN2 )

= 10kΩ/1kΩ)(0.2 V  0.5 V)
= 7 V
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
 Summary

Averaging Amplifier
An averaging amplifier is basically a summing amplifier with the gain
set to Rf /R = 1/n (n is the number of inputs). The output is the negative
average of the inputs.

What is VOUT if the input voltages are +5.0 V, 3.5 V and +4.2 V? Assume
R1 = R2 = R3 = 10 k and Rf = 3.3 k?
Rf
R1
VIN1
3.3 k
R2
VIN2 –
VOUT = ⅓(VIN1 + VIN2 + VIN3) R3 VOUT
VIN3
= ⅓(+5.0 V  3.5 V + 4.2 V) +

= 1.9 V
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
 Summary

Scaling Adder
A scaling adder has two or more inputs with each input having a different
gain. The output represents the negative scaled sum of the inputs.

Assume you need to sum the inputs from three microphones. The first two
microphones require a gain of 2, but the third microphone requires a gain
of 3. What are the values of the
Rf
input R’s if Rf = 10 k? R1
VIN1
10 k
R2
Rf VIN2 –
10 k
R1  R2     5.0 k R3 VOUT
Av1 2 VIN3
+
Rf 10 k
R3     3.3 k
Av 3 3
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
 Summary

Scaling Adder
An application of a scaling adder is the D/A converter circuit shown
here. The resistors are inversely proportional to the binary column
weights. Because of the precision required of resistors, the method is
useful only for small DACs.

+V 8R

20 Rf
4R

21
–
2R
VOUT
2
2
+
R

23

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Summary

Determine the output voltage of the DAC in Figure (a). The sequence of
four-digit binary codes represented by waveforms in Figure (b) are applied
to the inputs. A high level is a binary 1, and low level is binary 0. The least
significant binary digit is D0.

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
Summary

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
Summary

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
Summary

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Summary

R/2R Ladder DAC

A more widely used method for D/A conversion is the R/2R ladder. The
gain for D3 is 1. Each successive input has a gain that is half of previous
one. The output represents a weighted sum of all of the inputs (similar to
the scaling adder).

An advantage of the Inputs

R/2R ladder is that D0 D1 D2 D3

only two values of R1 R3 R5 R7 Rf = 2 R

resistors are required R2

2R
R4
2R
R6
2R
R8
2R

to implement the –
2R R R R Vout
circuit. +

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Summary
R/2R Ladder DAC

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Summary
R/2R Ladder DAC

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Summary
R/2R Ladder DAC

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Summary
R/2R Ladder DAC

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Summary

The Integrator C

R
The ideal integrator is an inverting amplifier Vin –
Vout
that has a capacitor in the feedback path. The
+
output voltage is proportional to the negative Ideal
integral (running sum) of the input voltage. Integrator

Op-amp integrating circuits must have Rf

extremely low dc offset and bias currents,
because small errors are equivalent to a dc C

input. The ideal integrator tends to accumulate

R
these errors, which moves the output toward Vin –

saturation. The practical integrator Vout

+
overcomes these errors– the simplest method Practical
is to add a relatively large feedback resistor. Integrator

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Summary

The Integrator
If a constant level is the input, the current is constant. The capacitor
charges from a constant current and produces a ramp. The slope of the
output is given by the equation: Vout Vin

t Ri C

Sketch the output wave: Rf

+2.0 V
220 k
Vin 0V t (ms)
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 C
2.0 V

Vout V 2V Ri 0.1mF
  in   2 V/ms Vin –
t RiC 10 k  0.1 μF  10 k Vout
+1.0 V
+
Vout 0V t (ms)
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
1.0 V
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
 Summary

The Integrator
The result from the previous example can be confirmed with Multisim.

This is the portion

shown on the Rf
previous slide.
220 k
C

Ri 0.1mF
Vin –
10 k Vout
+

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Summary

R
The Differentiator
C
Vin
The ideal differentiator is an inverting –
Vout
amplifier that has a capacitor in the input path. +
The output voltage is proportional to the Ideal
negative rate of change of the input voltage. Differentiator

The small reactance of C at high frequencies Rf

means an ideal differentiator circuit has very
high gain for high-frequency noise. To R in C
Vin –
compensate for this, a small series resistor is Vout
often added to the input. This practical +

differentiator has reduced high frequency Rc

gain and is less prone to noise. Practical

Differentiator

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Summary

The Differentiator
V
The output voltage is given by Vout    C  R f C
 t 
+1.0 V

Sketch the output wave: Vin 0V t (ms)

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
1.0 V
V 
Vout    C  R f C Rf
 t 
10 k
 1 V  R in C
   10 k  0.1 μF   2 V Vin –
 0.5 ms  220  0.1mF Vout

+2.0 V +
Rc
Vout 0V t (ms) 10 k
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
2.0 V

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Selected Key Terms

Hysteresis Characteristics of a circuit in which two different

trigger levels produce an offset or lag in the
switching action.
Schmitt trigger A comparator with built-in hysteresis.
Bounding The process of limiting the output range of an
amplifier or other circuit.
Integrator A circuit that produces an output that approximates
the area under the curve of the input function.
Differentiator A circuit that produces an output that approximates
the instantaneous rate of change of the input
function.
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved
 Quiz

1. The signal that you would expect at the output of the

comparator (red arrow) is a
a. series of alternating positive and negative triggers
b. sine wave Comparator Differentiator
– C

c. square wave Retriggerable

one-shot
+ R

d. dc level Vin

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Quiz

2. Hysteresis is incorporated in a comparator by adding

a. a capacitor in series with the input
b. capacitors from the power supply to ground
c. a small resistor in series with the input
d. positive feedback

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Quiz

3. To find the trigger points for a Schmitt trigger, you can

a. divide the saturation voltage by two
b. apply Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law
c. apply the voltage-divider rule
d. calculate the rate of change of the input

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Quiz

4. A comparator output can be limited (bounded) by

a. reversing the power supply voltages
b. putting a zener diode in a feedback path
c. decreasing the input resistance
d. connecting the inverting input to ground

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Quiz

5. Assume all resistors in the circuit shown here have the

same value. The circuit is a
a. summing amplifier R1
Rf
VIN1
b. averaging amplifier R2
VIN2 –
R3 VOUT
c. scaling adder VIN3
+

d. none of the above

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Quiz

6. Assume all resistors in the circuit shown here have

different values. The circuit is a
a. summing amplifier R1
Rf
VIN1
b. averaging amplifier R2
VIN2 –
R3 VOUT
c. scaling adder VIN3
+

d. none of the above

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Quiz

7. The circuit shown is a

Inputs

a. A/D converter D0 D1 D2 D3

R1 R3 R5 R7 Rf = 2 R
2R 2R 2R 2R
b. R/2R ladder R2 R4 R6 R8
–
2R R R R Vout
c. both of the above +

d. none of the above

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Quiz

8. A practical integrator has a feedback resistor in parallel

with C. The purpose of this resistor is to
a. avoid noise Rf

b. increase the gain C

R
c. both of the above Vin –
Vout

d. none of the above +

Practical
Integrator

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Quiz

9. A certain circuit has the input and output signals shown.

The circuit is
a. a differentiator
b. an integrator
c. a scaling amplifier
d. none of the above
+1.0 V +2.0 V
Vin 0V t (ms) Vout 0V t (ms)
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
1.0 V 2.0 V

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Quiz

10. A differentiator circuit produces an output that is

proportional to the negative of the
a. sum of the inputs
b. rate of change of the input
c. area under the curve of the input
d. none of the above

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved
 Quiz

Answers:
1. c 6. c
2. d 7. b
3. c 8. d
4. b 9. a
5. a 10. b

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved