
668 Part 2 Analog Electronics
9.9 SUMMARY
• In this chapter, we considered the ideal operational amplifier (op-amp) and var-
ious op-amp applications. The op-amp is a three-terminal device (three signal
terminals) that ideally amplifies only the difference between two input signals.
The op-amp, then, is a high-gain differential amplifier.
• The ideal op-amp model has infinite input impedance (zero input bias currents),
infinite open-loop differential voltage gain (zero voltage between the two input
terminals), and zero output impedance.
• Two basic op-amp circuits are the inverting amplifier and the noninverting am-
plifier. For an ideal op-amp, the voltage gain of these circuits is just a function of
the ratio of resistors.
• Other amplifier configurations considered were the summing amplifier, voltage
follower, current-to-voltage converter, and voltage-to-current converter.
• A versatile circuit is the instrumentation amplifier. The input resistance is essen-
tially infinite and the amplifier gain can be varied by changing a single resistor
value.
• If a capacitor is included as a feedback element, the output voltage is the integral of
the input voltage. If a capacitor is included as an input element, the output voltage
is the derivative of the input voltage. Nonlinear feedback elements, such as diodes
or transistors, produce nonlinear transfer functions such as a logarithmic function.
• As an application, an electronic thermometer in conjunction with an instrumen-
tation amplifier was designed to yield a given amplification.
CHECKPOINT
After studying this chapter, the reader should have the ability to:
✓ Describe the characteristics of an ideal op-amp.
✓ Analyze various op-amp circuits using the ideal op-amp model.
✓ Analyze various op-amp circuits, taking into account the finite gain of the op-amp.
–
+
–
+
Instrumentation
amplifier
R
REF
R
4
V
+
R
3
R
V
O
V
O1
V
O2
V
AT
R
5 R
3.60 V
+
+
–
–
A = –129.55
Figure 9.49 The output voltage
V
AT
applied to an instrumentation amplifier, an offset
voltage generated by a Zener diode and a noninverting amplifier, and the final output
voltage obtained from a summing amplifier
nea80644_ch09_619-686.qxd 6/19/09 3:59 PM Page 668 pmath DATA-DISK:Desktop Folder:19/6/2009:MHDQ134-09 Folder:MHDQ134-09