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Unit IV Log Amplifier

AC-ECE-MITS-Dr. R KIRAN KUMAR

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kiran kumar
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119 views23 pages

Unit IV Log Amplifier

AC-ECE-MITS-Dr. R KIRAN KUMAR

Uploaded by

kiran kumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UNIT - 4

Applications of Operational Amplifiers


Logarithmic Amplifier

NOTE:
• Logarithmic Amplifier is also known as log Amplifier
Logarithmic Amplifier

• A logarithmic (log) amplifier is a circuit that produces an output voltage


that is proportional to the logarithm of the input voltage.

• The basic log amplifier can be obtained by using either a diode or a transistor in
the feedback path of an op-amp
Logarithmic amplifier using a diode
Circuit details
• The figure shows the circuit diagram
of basic logarithmic amplifier using
a diode.

• The input voltage Vin is connected


to the inverting input terminal
through the resistor R.

• The non-inverting input terminal of


the op-amp is connected to ground.

Figure: Basic log amplifier using a diode • Diode D is connected between the
output terminal and the inverting
terminal.
Derivation of expression for the output voltage
• The node B is grounded. So,
VB = 0
• Op-amp is ideal. So, voltage gain is
infinite. Because of the infinite
voltage gain, the potential at point A
is the same as that at point B.

• Since VB = 0, we have
Figure: Basic log amplifier using a diode

• Thus inverting terminal A is at


virtual ground.
Consider the resistor R

• I is the current flowing through the


resistor R due to the input voltage
Vin. The current I is given by

• Since VA  0, I can be written as

Figure: Basic log amplifier using a diode


Consider the diode, D

• The p-n junction diode equation is given by

Figure: Basic log amplifier using a diode


where
I0 is known as the reverse saturation current
(leakage current)

Figure: I-V of a p-n junction diode


• For a forward biased condition, the
term

• So, ‘1’ can be neglected in the equation (1).

• The corresponding diode current is the


forward current, If. Therefore, If is
given by

Figure: Basic log amplifier using a diode


• From the feedback loop of the op-amp, the
voltage VF across diode can be obtained from
the relation
VF

• VA= 0. So, above equation can be written as

• Substituting the value of VF in equation 2, we get,

Figure: Basic log amplifier using a diode


• The op-amp is ideal. Input current of an ideal
op-amp is zero. So, the current flowing through
R1 is equal to the current flowing through diode.
VF • Equating the two equations, we get

• Rearranging, we have

• Applying natural logarithm on both sides,


Figure: Basic log amplifier using a diode

NOTE: ln is the logarithm to the base e.


Important observations
Observation-1:
• The output voltage is proportional to the natural logarithm of the
input voltage Vin when IOR = 1V.

Observation-2:
• The negative sign indicates that there is a 180 phase shift between
the input and the output.
Logarithmic amplifier using a BJT
Circuit details

•The basic log amplifier can be • The figure shows the circuit diagram
obtained by using a transistor in the of a basic logarithmic amplifier
feedback path.
using a transistor.

• The input voltage Vin is connected


to the inverting input terminal
through the resistor R.

• The non-inverting input terminal of


the op-amp is connected to ground.

• Grounded base transistor is placed


in the feedback path.

Figure: Basic log amplifier using a transistor


Derivation of expression for the output voltage
• The node B is grounded. So,
VB = 0
• Op-amp is ideal. So, voltage gain is
infinite. Because of the infinite
voltage gain, the potential at point A
is the same as that at point B.

• Since VB = 0, we have

Figure: Basic log amplifier using a BJT

• Thus inverting terminal A is at


virtual ground.
Consider the resistor R

• I is the current flowing through the


resistor R due to the input voltage
Vin. The current I is given by

• Since VA  0, I can be written as

Figure: Basic log amplifier using a BJT


Consider the BJT
• IC is the collector current flowing through
the BJT.
• The equation for the collector current
in a BJT can be written as

where VBE  Base-emitter voltage

Figure: Basic log amplifier using a BJT


• From the feedback loop of the op-amp, the
C E voltage across the transistor is

• Since VA = 0. The above relation can be


written as

• Voltage across a BJT can be written as (see BJT


schematic figure )

• Here, VCB = 0. Hence, the above relation


becomes
VBE VCB VCE  VBE (4)
VCE • Comparing equations (3) and (4), we can write
• So collector current IC can be written as

• Input current of an ideal op-amp is zero. So, the


current flowing through R1 is equal to the
current flowing through diode. I.e.,

• Equating the two equations, we get


• Rearranging, we have

• Applying natural logarithm on both sides, we get

• This equation is similar to the equation in the case of diode.


Important observations
Observation-1:
• The output voltage is proportional to the natural logarithm of the
input voltage Vin when IOR = 1V.

Observation-2:
• The negative sign indicates that there is a 180 phase shift between
the input and the output.
Disadvantages of Basic Log Amplifier
• The output voltage of a log amplifier is given by

[1] The reverse saturation current IO for the diode changes with temperature.
Similarly the emitter saturation current varies significantly with temperature.

• Therefore, the output voltage VO of a basic log amplifier is temperature


dependent. In other words, it is sensitive to temperature changes.

• Both temperature effects can be reduced by using a modified circuit.


Applications of log amplifier

• Log amplifiers can be used for data compression

• Log amplifiers can be used for multiplication and division of signals.

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