Applications of Closed-loop Op-amp or Op-amp with

Feedback

I. Linear Applications

1.1 Summing, Scaling and Averaging Amplifiers

This section covers the inverting, noninverting and differential configurations in
applications such as summing, scaling, and averaging amplifiers.

1.1.1 Inverting configuration

Figure 1 shows the inverting configuration with three inputs 𝑉𝑎 , 𝑉𝑏 , and 𝑉𝑐 . Depending
on the relationship between the feedback resistor 𝑅𝐹 and the input resistors 𝑅𝑎 , 𝑅𝑏 ,
and 𝑅𝑐 , the circuit can be used as a summing amplifier, a scaling amplifier, or an
averaging amplifier. The circuit’s function can be verified by examining the expression
for output voltage, 𝑉𝑜 , which is obtained from KCL applied at node ‘𝑉2’.

Figure 1

From Figure 1, applying KCL at node ‘𝑉2 ’.

𝐼𝑎 + 𝐼𝑏 + 𝐼𝑐 = 𝐼𝐵 + 𝐼𝐹
Since 𝑅𝑖 of an op-amp is ideally infinity, therefore 𝐼𝐵 = 0𝐴
𝑉𝑎 − 𝑉2 𝑉𝑏 − 𝑉2 𝑉𝑐 − 𝑉2 𝑉2 − 𝑉𝑜
+ + =
𝑅𝑎 𝑅𝑏 𝑅𝑐 𝑅𝐹
Since 𝐴 of an op-amp is ideally infinity, hence from virtual ground concept (𝑉2 ≅ 0𝑉)
we have,

𝑉𝑎 𝑉𝑏 𝑉𝑐 𝑉𝑜
+ + =−
𝑅𝑎 𝑅𝑏 𝑅𝑐 𝑅𝐹
𝑅𝐹 𝑅𝐹 𝑅𝐹
𝑉𝑜 = − ( 𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑏 + 𝑉) (1)
𝑅𝑎 𝑅𝑏 𝑅𝑐 𝑐

1.1.1(a) Summing Amplifier

To design summing amplifier or adder circuit using inverting configuration of op-amp,

the resistors values are set as follows 𝑅𝑎 = 𝑅𝑏 = 𝑅𝑐 = 𝑅. The equation modified as
𝑅𝐹
𝑉𝑜 = − (𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑏 + 𝑉𝑐 )
𝑅

This means that the output voltage is equal to the negative sum of all the inputs times
the gain of the circuit 𝑅𝐹 ⁄𝑅 ; hence the circuit is called a summing amplifier. When the
gain of the circuit is 1, that is, 𝑅𝑎 = 𝑅𝑏 = 𝑅𝑐 = 𝑅𝐹 , the output voltage is equal to the
negative sum of all input voltages. Thus

𝑉𝑜 = −(𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑏 + 𝑉𝑐 )

1.1.1(b) Scaling or Weighted Amplifier

If each input voltage is amplified by a different factor, in other words, weighted

differently at the output, the circuit in Figure 1 is then called a scaling or weighted
amplifier. This condition can be accomplished if 𝑅𝑎 , 𝑅𝑏 , and 𝑅𝑐 are different in value.
Thus, the out voltage of scaling amplifier, from Eq(1), is
𝑅𝐹 𝑅𝐹 𝑅𝐹
𝑉𝑜 = − ( 𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑏 + 𝑉)
𝑅𝑎 𝑅𝑏 𝑅𝑐 𝑐
Where
𝑅𝐹 𝑅𝐹 𝑅𝐹
≠ ≠
𝑅𝑎 𝑅𝑏 𝑅𝑐

1.1.1(c) Averaging Amplifier

The circuit of Figure 1 can be used as an averaging circuit, in which the output voltage
is equal to the average of all the input voltages. This is accomplished by using all
resistors of equal value, 𝑅𝑎 = 𝑅𝑏 = 𝑅𝑐 = 𝑅. In addition, the gain by which each input
is amplified must be equal to 1 over the number of inputs; that is
 𝑅𝐹 1
=
𝑅 𝑛
where 𝑛 is the number of inputs.

Thus, if there are three inputs as in Figure 1, we want

𝑅𝐹 1
=
𝑅 3
Consequently, from Eq(1), we have
𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑏 + 𝑉𝑐
𝑉𝑜 = − ( )
3
1.1.2 Noninverting configuration

If input voltage sources and resistors are connected to the noninverting terminal as
show in Figure 2, the circuit can be used either as summing or averaging amplifier
through selection of appropriate values of resistors.

Figure 2 shows the noninverting configuration with three inputs 𝑉𝑎 , 𝑉𝑏 , and 𝑉𝑐 .

Depending on the relationship between the feedback resistor 𝑅𝐹 and the input resistors
𝑅𝑎 , 𝑅𝑏 , and 𝑅𝑐 , the circuit can be used as a summing amplifier or an averaging
amplifier. The circuit’s function can be verified by examining the expression for output
voltage, 𝑉𝑜 , which is obtained from KCL applied at node ‘𝑉1’ and ‘𝑉2’.

Figure 2

From Figure 2, applying KCL at node ‘𝑉1 ’.

𝐼𝑎 + 𝐼𝑏 + 𝐼𝑐 + 𝐼𝐵1 = 0

Since 𝑅𝑖 of an op-amp are ideally infinity, ∴ 𝐼𝐵1 = 0 𝐴. Therefore,

𝑉1 − 𝑉𝑎 𝑉1 − 𝑉𝑏 𝑉1 − 𝑉𝑐
+ + =0
𝑅𝑎 𝑅𝑏 𝑅𝑐
𝑉1 𝑉1 𝑉1 𝑉𝑎 𝑉𝑏 𝑉𝑐
+ + = + +
𝑅𝑎 𝑅𝑏 𝑅𝑐 𝑅𝑎 𝑅𝑏 𝑅𝑐
1 1 1 𝑉𝑎 𝑉𝑏 𝑉𝑐
[ + + ] 𝑉1 = + +
𝑅𝑎 𝑅𝑏 𝑅𝑐 𝑅𝑎 𝑅𝑏 𝑅𝑐

In Figure 2, assuming 𝑅𝑎 = 𝑅𝑏 = 𝑅𝑐 = 𝑅
 3 1
[ ] 𝑉1 = [𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑏 + 𝑉𝑐 ]
𝑅 𝑅
1
𝑉1 = [𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑏 + 𝑉𝑐 ]
3

Similarly, applying KCL at node ‘𝑉2’ in Figure 2.

𝐼1 + 𝐼𝐹 + 𝐼𝐵2 = 0

Since 𝑅𝑖 of an op-amp are ideally infinity, 𝐼𝐵2 = 0 𝐴 . Therefore,

𝐼1 + 𝐼𝐹 = 0
𝑉2 𝑉2 − 𝑉𝑜
+ =0
𝑅1 𝑅𝐹
𝑉2 𝑉2 𝑉𝑜
+ =
𝑅1 𝑅𝐹 𝑅𝐹
1 1 𝑉𝑜
[ + ] 𝑉2 =
𝑅1 𝑅𝐹 𝑅𝐹
𝑅1 + 𝑅𝐹 𝑉𝑜
[ ] 𝑉2 =
𝑅1 𝑅𝐹 𝑅𝐹
𝑉𝑜 𝑅1 𝑅𝐹 𝑅1
𝑉2 = [ ] = 𝑉𝑜 [ ]
𝑅𝐹 𝑅1 + 𝑅𝐹 𝑅1 + 𝑅𝐹
𝑅1
𝑉2 = 𝑉𝑜 [ ]
𝑅1 + 𝑅𝐹

Since 𝐴 of an op-amp are ideally infinity, hence 𝑉1 = 𝑉2 from basic op-amp equation.

1 𝑅1
[𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑏 + 𝑉𝑐 ] = 𝑉𝑜 [ ]
3 𝑅1 + 𝑅𝐹

1 𝑅1 + 𝑅𝐹
𝑉𝑜 = [𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑏 + 𝑉𝑐 ] [ ]
3 𝑅1

1 𝑅𝐹
𝑉𝑜 = [𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑏 + 𝑉𝑐 ] [1 + ] (2)
3 𝑅1

1.2.1(a) Averaging Amplifier

Equation (2) show that the output voltage is equal to the average of all input voltages
times the gain of the circuit (1 + 𝑅𝐹 ⁄𝑅1 ), hence the name averaging amplifier.
Depending on the application requirement, the gain (1 + 𝑅𝐹 ⁄𝑅1 ) can be set to a secific
value, it can never be 1.

1.2.1(b) Summing Amplifier

Form Equation (2) it is observed that if the gain (1 + 𝑅𝐹 ⁄𝑅1 ) is equal to the number of
the inputs, the output voltage becomes equal to the sum of all the input voltages. That
is, if (1 + 𝑅𝐹 ⁄𝑅1 ) = 3 then
𝑉𝑜 = [𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑏 + 𝑉𝑐 ]
The gain (1 + 𝑅𝐹 ⁄𝑅1 ) will be equal to 3 when
𝑅𝐹 = 2𝑅1
Then form Eq(2)
1 𝑅1 + 2𝑅1
𝑉𝑜 = [𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑏 + 𝑉𝑐 ] [ ]
3 𝑅1
1
𝑉𝑜 = [𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑏 + 𝑉𝑐 ][3]
3
𝑉𝑜 = [𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑏 + 𝑉𝑐 ]
1.1.3 Subtractor

A basic differential amplifier can be used as a subtractor as shown in Figure 3. In this

figure, input signals can be scaled to the desired values by selecting appropriate
values for the external resistors; when this is done, the circuit is referred to as scaling
amplifier. However, in Figure 3, all external resistors are equal in value, so the gain of
the amplifier is equal to 1.

From Figure 3, applying KCL at node ‘𝑣1 ’.

𝐼𝑏 + 𝐼1 + 𝐼𝐵1 = 0
Since 𝑅𝑖 of an op-amp are ideally infinity, 𝐼𝐵1 = 0 𝐴. Therefore,
𝐼𝑏 + 𝐼1 = 0
𝑣1 − 𝑉𝑏 𝑣1
+ =0
𝑅 𝑅
1 1 𝑉𝑏
[ + ] 𝑣1 =
𝑅 𝑅 𝑅
1
𝑣1 = [𝑉𝑏 ]
2

Figure 3

Similarly, applying KCL at node ‘𝑣2 ’ in Figure 3.

𝐼𝑎 + 𝐼𝐹 + 𝐼𝐵2 = 0
Since 𝑅𝑖 of an op-amp are ideally infinity, 𝐼𝐵2 = 0 𝐴 . Therefore,
𝐼𝑎 + 𝐼𝐹 = 0

𝑣2 − 𝑉𝑎 𝑣2 − 𝑉𝑜
+ =0
𝑅 𝑅
 𝑣2 𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑜
2 =
𝑅 𝑅
𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑜
𝑣2 =
2
Since 𝐴 of an op-amp are ideally infinity, hence 𝑣1 = 𝑣2 , from basic op-amp equation.

𝑉𝑏 𝑉𝑎 + 𝑉𝑜
=
2 2
𝑉𝑏 𝑉𝑎 𝑉𝑜
− =
2 2 2
𝑉𝑜 = 𝑉𝑏 − 𝑉𝑎
1.1.4 Integrator

A circuit in which the output voltage waveform is the integral of the input voltage
waveform is the integrator or the integration amplifier, shown in Figure 4. Such a
circuit is obtained by using a basic amplifier inverting amplifier configuration if the
feedback resistor 𝑅𝐹 is replaced by a capacitor 𝐶𝐹 .

Figure 4: Basic Integrator Circuit

The expression for the output voltage 𝑣𝑜 can be obtained by writing Kirchhoff’s current
equation at node ‘𝑣2 ’.
𝑖1 = 𝑖𝐹 + 𝐼𝐵

Since 𝐼𝐵 is negligibly small (as 𝑅𝑖 = ∞),

𝑖1 ≅ 𝑖𝐹

We know that the relationship between current through and voltage across the
capacitor is
𝑑𝑣𝑐
𝑖𝑐 = 𝐶
𝑑𝑡

Therefore,
𝑣𝑖𝑛 − 𝑣2 𝑑𝑣𝑐
= 𝐶𝐹
𝑅1 𝑑𝑡
𝑣𝑖𝑛 − 𝑣2 𝑑(𝑣2 − 𝑣𝑜 )
= 𝐶𝐹
𝑅1 𝑑𝑡
From virtual ground concept 𝑣2 ≅ 𝑜. Therefore,
𝑣𝑖𝑛 𝑑(−𝑣𝑜 )
= 𝐶𝐹
𝑅1 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑣𝑜 𝑣𝑖𝑛
=−
𝑑𝑡 𝐶𝐹 𝑅1

The output is obtained by integrating both sides with respect to time:

𝑡 𝑡
𝑑𝑣𝑜 𝑣𝑖𝑛
∫ 𝑑𝑡 = − ∫ 𝑑𝑡
0 𝑑𝑡 0 𝐶𝐹 𝑅1
𝑡
1
𝑣𝑜 = − ∫ 𝑣 𝑑𝑡 + 𝐶
𝐶𝐹 𝑅1 0 𝑖𝑛

Where C is the integration constant and is proportional to the value of the output
voltage 𝑣𝑜 at time 𝑡 = 0 seconds.

The above equation indicates that the output voltage is directly proportional to the
negative integral of the input voltage and inversely proportional to the time constant
𝐶𝐹 𝑅1 . For example, if the input is a sine wave, the output will be a cosine wave; or if
the input is a square wave, the output will be a triangular wave, as shown in Figure
5(a) and Figure 5(b), respectively.

Figure 5
Limitations of basic Integrator:
i. One comes from the fact that the output voltage of the op-amp cannot exceed the
supply voltage. The output of the integrator is inversely proportional to the time
constant 𝜏 = 𝐶𝐹 𝑅1 . The larger the time constant 𝜏, the longer it takes to saturate
the integrator.
ii. The second limitation is a consequence of the offset voltage present even for zero
input. It may be only a few millivolts, but it it gets integrated over time it eventually
drives the op-amp output to saturation.
To prevent these limitations that is to improve the stability and low-frequency roll-off
problems, a resistor 𝑅𝐹 is connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor. This circuit
is known as a practical integrator circuit as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Practical Integrator Circuit

1.1.5 Differentiator

Figure 7 shows the differentiator or differentiation amplifier. As its name implies, the
circuit performs the mathematical operation of differentiation; that is the output
waveform is the derivative of the input waveform. The differentiator may be
constructed from a basic inverting amplifier if an input resistor 𝑅1 is replace by a
capacitor 𝐶1 .

Figure 7: Basic Differentiator Circuit

The expression for the output voltage can be found from Kirchoff’s current equation
written at node “𝑣2 ” as follows
𝑖𝐶 = 𝑖𝐹 + 𝐼𝐵

Since 𝐼𝐵 is negligibly small (as 𝑅𝑖 = ∞),

𝑖 𝐶 ≅ 𝑖𝐹

We know that the relationship between current through and voltage across the
capacitor is

𝑑𝑣𝑐
𝑖𝑐 = 𝐶
𝑑𝑡
Therefore,

𝑑𝑣𝑐 𝑣2 − 𝑣𝑜
𝐶1 =
𝑑𝑡 𝑅𝐹
Substituting the capacitor voltage, we get

𝑑(𝑣𝑖𝑛 − 𝑣2 ) 𝑣2 − 𝑣𝑜
𝐶1 =
𝑑𝑡 𝑅𝐹

From virtual ground concept 𝑣2 ≅ 𝑜. Therefore,

𝑑(𝑣𝑖𝑛 ) 𝑣𝑜
𝐶1 =−
𝑑𝑡 𝑅𝐹
or
𝑑𝑣𝑖𝑛
𝑣𝑜 = −𝑅𝐹 𝐶1
𝑑𝑡

Thus, the output 𝑣𝑜 is equal to 𝑅𝐹 𝐶1 times the negative instantaneous rate of change
of the input voltage 𝑣𝑖𝑛 with time. Since the differentiator performs the reverse of the
integrator’s function, a cosine wave input will produce a sine wave output, or a
triangular input will produce a square wave output, or a square input will produce a
spike (impulse wave) output, as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8
Limitations of basic differentiator:
i. The gain of the circuit (𝑅𝐹 𝐶1 ) increases with increases with increase in frequency.
That is as frequency increases gain becomes unstable which in-turn makes circuit
unstable.
ii. The input impedance 𝑋𝐶1 decreases with increase in frequency, which makes the
circuit very susceptible to high-frequency noise.

Both the stability and high-frequency noise problems can be corrected by the addition
of resistor 𝑅1 in series with the input capacitor 𝐶1 and feedback capacitor 𝐶𝐹 in parallel
with the feedback resistor 𝑅𝐹 . This circuit is known as a practical differentiator circuit
as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9: Practical Differentiator