BME-202 Biomedical Electronics

EXPERIMENT 02

OBJECTIVE

To experimentally determine the gain of an inverting and non-amplifier and viewing the scope
traces of an output voltage for different input using National Instrumentation Elvis II.

EQUIPMENTS

 Personal Computer (PC).

 NI Elvis II Board.
 Connecting Leads.

THEORY
Inverting amplifiers
Inverting amplifiers are used when it is required to amplify a signal and change its polarity, or
when several analog signals are to be added together. The phase of an inverting amplifier’s
output signal is 180° shifted to the input signal. Inverting amplifier’s circuit diagram is shown in
Fig. 2.1.

Fig. 1 Circuit diagram of an inverting amplifier

The input signal Vin is applied to op-amp’s inverting input (“-“ input) via the resistor R 1 ; part of
the output signal is also applied to the inverting input via the feedback resistor Rfb .
If we apply a positive voltage Vin to the circuit’s input, op-amp’s input voltage V q will be
positive, and the potential at the output will start to decline (since the input voltage is applied to
the inverting input). Due to op-amp’s high gain, Vq must be close to zero so that the potentials at
op-amp’s inputs will be equal.
Assume the op-amp is ideal (op-amp’s input resistance R in = ¥), hence there is no current flow
into the op-amp’s input. Then, in accordance with Kirchhoff’s current law.
I R 1=I fb

The potential at point A on the circuit is almost equal to the ground potential (as a rule, V q is
very small).

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V¿ −V out
Therefore I R 1= and I fb = , Hence
R1 Rfb

V ¿ −V out
=
R1 Rfb

V out −R fb
Gain= =
V¿ R1

The minus sign in the right part of the expression means that the output is inverted. Thus, the
circuit’s gain only depends on the external circuit parameters and does not depend on the gain
of the op-amp. Usually the value of R 1 is high, so that the amplifier would not affect the output
of the input signal source, and R fb should be large enough not to overload the op-amp output.

Since V q =0, the circuit’s input resistance R¿ =R1.

Noninverting amplifiers
Noninverting amplifiers are used when it is required to amplify a signal without changing its
polarity. The phase of a noninverting amplifier’s output signal is the same as the input signal.
Noninverting amplifier’s circuit diagram is shown in Figure. 1

Figure . Non-inverting Amplifier

The input signal Vin is applied to op-amp’s noninverting input (“+” input); part of the output
signal is applied to the inverting input via the divider formed by resistors Rfb and R1.
If we apply a positive voltage in V in to the circuit’s input, op-amp’s input voltage V q will be
positive, and the potential at the output will start to increase (since the input voltage is applied to
the noninverting input). Due to op-amp’s high gain, Vq must be approaching zero so that the
potentials at op-amp’s inputs will be equal.
Assume the op-amp is ideal (R in = infinite), hence there is no current flow into the op-amp’s
input. Then, in accordance with Kirchhoff’s current law
I R1 =I f b

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The potential at the inverting input must be equal to the potential at the noninverting input,
therefore

V¿ ( V out – V ¿ )
I R1 = ∧I f b=
R1 Rfb

Hence,

( V out – V ¿ ) R f b
=
V¿ R1

V out Rfb
Gain= =1+
V¿ R1

Thus, the circuit’s gain only depends on the external circuit parameters and does not depend on
the gain of the op-amp.

LAB ACTIVITY 1 (Inverting Amplifier using Op-amp Board)

For selected R1 and R fb , while varying the input voltage in the -9.5 to 9.5V range, measure the
input and output voltages of an inverting amplifier (Fig. 1).
Calculate the theoretical value of the amplifier’s gain as
−Rfb
Gainth =
R1

Calculate the experimental value of gain in linear range as:

V out
Gainexp=
V¿

Calculate measurement error as

Apply different types of signals from the arbitrary waveform generator to the input of an
inverting amplifier and watch the difference between the input and output signals on the scope.

Assignment Options
Choose the parameters of used components and all the required settings from Table 1 in
accordance with the assigned option.

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Table 1: Assignment Options

Preparations

1. Make sure that the NI ELVIS workstation is ON (workstation power switch is in the
position I
2. Set the prototyping board power switch on the NI ELVIS workstation into position O
(OFF).
3. Perform the op-amp balancing.
Step by Step Instruction
1. In the labs menu double click on the lab name: Inverting amplifier.

Fig. 2: Schematic of Inverting Amplifier

2. Make the required connections on the board in accordance with the schematic (Fig. 2),
choosing the components and instruments settings in accordance with the assigned
option (Table 1).
3. In value fields of the components on the lab circuit diagram enter the values matching
the resistors used on the board.
4. Set the prototyping board power switch on the NI ELVIS workstation into position I
(ON). The Power LED on the board and power indicator LED on NI ELVIS will turn
ON.
5. Click on the Start/Stop button on the lab control panel.
6. Change the voltage from zero to -9.5V, in one-volt steps, and click Record after each
change. When the amplifier enters the saturation mode (input voltage change does not

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affect the output voltage), the steepness of the curve will change abruptly. For more
accurate representation of measured results in this range it is recommended to bring the
voltage back to the range just before saturation, then take up a few measurements,
changing the voltage in finer steps.
7. Click on the schematic selection arrow and make the required connections on the board
in accordance with the schematic #2 (Fig. 3), using resistors with the same values.

Fig. 3: Inverting Amplifier on NI ELVIS

9. In value fields of the components on the lab circuit diagram enter the values matching the
resistors used on the board.
10. Click on the Start/Stop button on the lab control panel, then click on the New session
icon.
11. Change the voltage from zero to 9.5V, in one-volt steps, and click Record after each
change. When the amplifier enters the saturation mode (input voltage change does not
affect the output voltage), the steepness of the curve will change abruptly. For more
accurate representation of measured results in this range it is recommended to bring the
voltage back to a range just before saturation, then take up a few measurements, changing
the voltage in finer steps.
12. Come back to circuit diagram #1 and make the required connections on the board in
accordance with the schematic (Fig. 2), using resistors R1 and R2 values from another
assignment option (Table 1).
13. In value fields of the components on the lab circuit diagram enter the values matching the
resistors used on the board.
14. Click Start/Stop, then click on the New session icon and repeat the steps # 7 – 11 above.
15. Click on the Excel icon to open the file with the obtained data and save it.
16. Turn OFF the board power: set the prototyping board power switch on the NI ELVIS
workstation into position O (OFF) and close the lab.

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 BME-202 Biomedical Electronics

Calculation
1. Open the saved data file in MS Excel.

2. Calculate the theoretical values of inverting amplifier’s gain using formula

3. Calculate the experimental values of inverting amplifier’s gain.

[-E (V)] Source
Circuit diagram

Observations
In the Excel file, copy the data from the Experimental worksheet into the Calculations
worksheet, fill in the calculation results into corresponding columns and save the file.

Setting Measurement Calculation

N R1 R2 V1 V2 Gaintheo Gainexp % Error
[Ω] [Ω] [V] [V] [%]
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Calculation

Graph and Interpretation

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 BME-202 Biomedical Electronics

[+E (V)] Source

Circuit diagram

Observations
In the Excel file, copy the data from the Experimental worksheet into the Calculations
worksheet, fill in the calculation results into corresponding columns and save the file.

Setting Measurement Calculation

N R1 R2 V1 V2 Gaintheo Gainexp % Error
[Ω] [Ω] [V] [V] [%]
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Calculation
Graph and Interpretation

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BME-202 Biomedical Electronics

LAB ACTIVITY 2 (Non-Inverting Amplifier using Op-amp Board)

Assignment Options
Choose the parameters of used components and all the required settings from Table 1 in
accordance with the assigned option.
Preparations
1. Make sure that the NI ELVIS workstation is ON (workstation power switch is in the position
I)
2. Set the OPAMP BOARD POWER switch on the NI ELVIS workstation into position O
(OFF).
3. Perform the op-amp balancing

Step by Step Instructions

1. In the labs menu double click on the lab name: 2. Noninverting amplifier.
2. Make the required connections on the board in accordance with the schematic #1 (Figure.
4), choosing the components and instruments settings in accordance with the assigned
option
(Table 1).
3. In value fields of the components on the lab circuit diagram enter the values matching the
Resistors used on the board.
4. Set the Op-amp Board switch on the NI ELVIS workstation into position I (ON). The
Power LED on the board and power indicator LED on NI ELVIS will turn
ON.
5. Click on the Start/Stop button on the lab control panel.

6.
Figure 4. Non-inverting Amplifier on NI ELVIS

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 BME-202 Biomedical Electronics

7. Open the Graph plotter window and set it up for the display of the amplifier’s output
voltage
(V2) vs. the input voltage (V1):
 In the plotter window drag the V1 DC (V) variable from the variables list into the
X axis field.
 Drag the V2 DC (V) variable from the variables list into the Y-axis field.
8. Change the voltage, and click Record after each change. When the amplifier enters the
saturation mode (input voltage change does not affect the output voltage), the steepness
of the curve will change abruptly. For more accurate representation of measured results in
this range it is recommended to bring the voltage back to a range just before saturation,
then take up a few measurements, changing the voltage in finer steps.
9. Click on the Excel icon to open the file with the obtained data and save it.
10. Turn OFF the board power: set the OPAMP BOARD POWER switch on the NI ELVIS
workstation into position O (OFF) and close the lab.
Calculation
1. Open the saved data file in MS Excel.

2. Calculate the theoretical values of inverting amplifier’s gain using formula

3. Calculate the experimental values of inverting amplifier’s gain.

[-E (V)] Source
Circuit diagram

Observations
In the Excel file, copy the data from the Experimental worksheet into the Calculations
worksheet, fill in the calculation results into corresponding columns and save the file.

Setting Measurement Calculation

N R1 R2 V1 V2 Gaintheo Gainexp % Error
[Ω] [Ω] [V] [V] [%]
1
2
3
4
5

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 BME-202 Biomedical Electronics

6
7
8
9
Calculation
Graph and Interpretation

[+E (V)] Source

Circuit diagram

Observations
In the Excel file, copy the data from the Experimental worksheet into the Calculations
worksheet, fill in the calculation results into corresponding columns and save the file.

Setting Measurement Calculation

N R1 R2 V1 V2 Gaintheo Gainexp % Error
[Ω] [Ω] [V] [V] [%]
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Calculation
Graph and Interpretation

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BME-202 Biomedical Electronics

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Post Lab Tasks

Question 01
What will be an inverting amplifier’s gain if R1 =3k and Rfb =9k?

Rfb

R1 _
Vin
Vout
+

Question 02
What will be the phase difference between the input and output voltages of an inverting amplifier
for a sine wave signal applied to the input?

Question 03
What will be a noninverting amplifier’s gain (below figure) if R1 =3k and Rfb =9k?

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