2/13/2011 Analysis of the Inverting Amplifier lecture 1/12
Analysis of the
Inverting Amplifier
Consider an inverting amplifier:
i2 R2
+ v2 −
i1 R1
id v-
vin -
+ v1 − i- =0 vout
oc
ideal
v+
+
Note that we use here the new notation v + = v2 and v − = v1 .
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
2/13/2011 Analysis of the Inverting Amplifier lecture 2/12
Pay attention to your TA!
Now what is the open-circuit voltage gain of this inverting amplifier?
Let’s start the analysis by writing down all that we know. First, the op-amp
equation:
vout
oc
= Aop (v + − v − )
Since the non-inverting terminal is grounded (i.e., v+ =0):
vout
oc
= −Aop v −
i2 R2
+ v2 −
i1 R1
v-
vin -
+ v1 − i- =0 vout
oc
ideal
v+
+
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
2/13/2011 Analysis of the Inverting Amplifier lecture 3/12
First some KCL…
Now let’s apply our circuit knowledge to the remainder of the amplifier circuit.
For example, we can use KCL to determine that:
i1 = i− + i2
However, we know that the input current i- of an ideal op-amp is zero, as the
input resistance is infinitely large.
Thus, we reach the conclusion that: i1 = i2
i2 R2
+ v2 −
i1 R1
v-
vin -
+ v1 − i- =0 vout
oc
ideal
v+
+
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
2/13/2011 Analysis of the Inverting Amplifier lecture 4/12
And then some Ohm’s law…
Likewise, we know from Ohm’s Law:
v1
i1 =
R1
and also that:
v2
i2 =
R2
And so combining:
v1 v 2
=
R1 R2
i2 R2
+ v2 −
i1 R1
v-
vin -
+ v1 − i- =0 vout
oc
ideal
v+
+
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
2/13/2011 Analysis of the Inverting Amplifier lecture 5/12
Followed by KVL…
Finally, from KCL we can conclude:
vin − v1 = v − ⇒ v1 = vin − v −
In other “words”, we start at a potential of vin volts (with respect to ground), we
drop a potential of v1 volts, and now we are at a potential of v − volts (with
respect to ground).
i2 R2
+ v2 −
i1 R1
v-
vin -
+ v1 − i- =0 vout
oc
ideal
v+
+
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
2/13/2011 Analysis of the Inverting Amplifier lecture 6/12
And yet another KVL…
Likewise, we start at a potential of of v − volts (with respect to ground), we drop
a potential of v2 volts, and now we are at a potential of vout
oc
volts (with respect
to ground).
v − − v2 = vout
oc
⇒ v2 = v − − vout
oc
i2 R2
+ v2 −
i1 R1
v-
vin -
+ v1 − i- =0 vout
oc
ideal
v+
+
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
2/13/2011 Analysis of the Inverting Amplifier lecture 7/12
The feed-back equation
Combining these last three equations, we find:
vin − v − v − − vout
oc
=
R1 R2
Now rearranging, we get what is known as the feed-back equation:
R2 vin + R1 vout
oc
v− =
R1 + R2
Note the feed-back equation relates v − in terms of output vout
oc
.
i2 R2
+ v2 −
i1 R1
v-
vin -
+ v1 − i- =0 vout
oc
ideal
v+
+
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
2/13/2011 Analysis of the Inverting Amplifier lecture 8/12
The feed-forward equation
We can combine this feed-back equation with the op-amp equation:
vout
oc
= −v − Aop
This op-amp equation is likewise referred to as the feed-forward equation.
Note this equation relates the output vout
oc
in terms of v − .
We can combine the feed-back and feed-forward equations to determine an
expression involving only input voltage vin and output voltage vout
oc
:
R2 vin + R1 vout
oc
vout
oc
=−
R1 + R2 Aop
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
2/13/2011 Analysis of the Inverting Amplifier lecture 9/12
…and the open-circuit voltage gain appears!
Rearranging this expression, we can determine the output voltage vout
oc
in terms
of input voltage vin :
⎛ −Aop R2 ⎞
vout
oc
=⎜ ⎟⎟ vin
⎝( 1 2)
⎜ R + R + A R
op 1 ⎠
and thus the open-circuit voltage gain of the inverting amplifier is:
vout
oc ⎛ −Aop R2 ⎞
Avo = =⎜ ⎟
vin ⎜⎝ (R1 + R2 ) + Aop R1 ⎟⎠
Recall that the voltage gain A of an ideal op-amp is very large—approaching
infinity.
Thus the open-circuit voltage gain of the inverting amplifier is:
⎛ −Aop R2 ⎞
Avo = lim ⎜ ⎟
Aop →∞ ⎜ ( R + R ) + A R ⎟
⎝ 1 2 op 1 ⎠
−R
= 2
R1
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
2/13/2011 Analysis of the Inverting Amplifier lecture 10/12
Summarizing
Summarizing, we find that for the inverting amplifier:
−R2
Avo =
R1
⎛ −R2 ⎞
vout
oc
=⎜ ⎟vin
R
⎝ 1 ⎠
i2 R2
+ v2 −
i1 R1
v-
vin -
+ v1 − i- =0 vout
oc
ideal
v+
+
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
2/13/2011 Analysis of the Inverting Amplifier lecture 11/12
The non-inverting terminal
is at ground potential
One last thing. Let’s use this final result to determine the value of v-, the
voltage at the inverting terminal of the op-amp.
Recall:
R2 vin + R1 vout
oc
v− =
R1 + R2
Inserting the equation:
⎛ −R2 ⎞
vout
oc
=⎜ ⎟vin
⎝ R1 ⎠
we find:
R2 vi + R1 ⎛⎜ −R2 ⎞v
⎝ R1 ⎟⎠ in
v− =
R1 + R2
R v − R2 vin
= 2 in
R1 + R2
=0
The voltage at the inverting terminal of the op-amp is zero!
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
2/13/2011 Analysis of the Inverting Amplifier lecture 12/12
The logic behind the virtual short
Thus, since the non-inverting terminal is grounded (v2 = 0), we find that:
v− = v+ and ∴ v+ − v− = 0
Recall that this should not surprise us.
We know that if op-amp gain Aop is infinitely large, its output vout
oc
will also be
infinitely large (can you say saturation?), unless v+ - v- is infinitely small.
We find that the actual value of v+ - v- to be:
vout
oc
−R2
v + −v − = = v
Aop Aop R1 in
a number which approaches zero as Aop → ∞ !
Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS
