TOPIC 5

SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICES (AMPLIFIERS)

(Also know as Operational Amplifier: Op-amp)

DR. B. GASHI
THE 3 STAGES IN MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
 THE NEED FOR SIGNAL AMPLIFICATION –
AN OVERVIEW OF SOME SENSORS

SENSOR OUTPUT WHEATSTONE WHEATSTONE AMPLIFICATION ANALOGUE TO 3RD STAGE

BRIDGE BRIDGE + DIGITAL
OUTPUT FILTERING CONVERSION
THERMOCOUPLE VOLTAGE
(mV) NO VOLTAGE
(mV) YES YES TRANSMIT
STORE
DISPLAY
FOR COMPUTER
PROCESSING

STRAIN
GAUGE
RESISTANCE
(Ω) YES VOLTAGE
(mV) YES YES TRANSMIT
STORE
DISPLAY
FOR COMPUTER
PROCESSING
STRAIN GAUGE QUARTER BRIDGE VOLTAGE AMPLIFIER CONCEPT

A strain gauge with a gauge

When strain ε = 0 ,
factor k = 2.5 is connected to
the bridge produces V2 = 0
a quarter bridge.

Say the bridge supply

voltage is V1 = 3.0 V
Say the strain changes to This strain produces a
ε = 340 µ voltage output
V2 = 0.64 mV

THE SOLUTION
V2 = 0.64 mV will have
Amplify the voltage output V2 using a ‘difference amplifier’
to be amplified before
it can be converted to
digital signal for
computer processing

We can design the amplifier

to give the output Vout we
want. i.e. From mV to V.
 OP-AMPS; WHAT CAN THEY DO ?
• Op-amps are electronic chips capable of amplifying electrical signals
from low level to a high level.
• Moreover amplifiers are not solely used to amplify the signal, but also
capable of doing a lot more!

In a nutshell amplifiers can be used to do the following:

Mathematical operation:
• Increase low level signals, from mV to V.
• Add signals, V1+V2+V3+... = V total
Can't cover all these in this module
• Differentiate signals, dy/dt
• Integrate signals, Will only cover the most important parts
for Mechanical engineering
• Invert signal, from + ve to – ve

Convert signals:
• Convert signals from analogue to digital (ADC) or from digital to analogue
(DAC)
• Filter signals to remove noise, i.e.. smooth the signals
 AN INTRODUCTION TO OP-AMPS
• A triangle is used as the universal POWER SUPPLY
symbol for an op-amp. • Op-amps can be powered as follows:
• V+ is know as non-inverting input - single supply (Vs+)
• V- is know as inverting input
- dual supply (Vs+ and Vs-)

AN IMPORTANT NOTE
• Vout is limited by the voltage supply
of the amplifier (Vs+ and Vs-)
Op-amp operates linearly when the input and
output signals are within the device’s input EXAMPLE
and output ranges, respectively. If voltage supply of op-amp is
Vs+=5 V and Vs-=0 the max Vout < Vs+,
The supply voltages used to power that is Vout can’t be higher than the
the op-amp (Vs+ and Vs–) define these ranges supply voltage!
 OP-AMPS IN THE CHIP
• Op-amps are integrated into electronic chips.
• They look like any other chips we see in instrumentation and electronic
devices
• They come in various configuration and can have more than one op-
amp in a chip.

Here is an op-amp chip

THE CHIP THE PINS

Schematic diagram (of a chip???)

Triangle is an Op-amp/amplifier
There are two inputs in an amplifier:

Inverting input - used when you want to convert a signal to positive (-- = +)

Non-inverting input - used when you want to keep the sign/signal positive
SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICES WITH AMPLIFIERS
Temperature sensor signal
processing device with
integrated amplifier

https://www.measurementsystems.co.uk/
docs/mc/USB_TEMP_TC_series_data.pdf

http://www.kyowa-ei.com/eng/technical/acquisition/conditioners.html
WHEATSTONE BRIDGE AMPLIFIER CONCEPT

Vs+ voltage
supply

Vout = 1 V
V2 = 0.1 V

Vs- voltage
supply
 AMPLIFIER PINS (PORTS)
positive voltage supply (Vs+)

non-inverting input (Vp) voltage output

- positive, or
inverting input (Vn)
- negative

negative voltage supply (Vs-)

IMPORTANT NOTE!
throughout the lecture I
don’t show the Vs+ and Vs-
any more BUT its always
there!
 5 pins in an amplifier:

Explain each pin

 AMPLIFIER CHARACTERISTICS
i1 = 0

i1 = 0, i2 = 0
Amplifier has a high impedance/high resistance
Therefore does not allow current to flow in

i2 = 0

Vp – Vn ≅ 0 Input
stage
on LHS
Output
stage
on RHS

What do we mean by ideal

1. open-loop - nothing is connected to the amplifier
2. To make sure i1 & i2 = 0
3. Becoz we want to receive the signal
 INVERTING OP-AMP
• In order to amplify the input signal (Vin), the op-amp needs few (but not many)
external resistors; R1, R2
• These resistors allow us to set the Gain (A), so the signal (voltage, Vout) can be
amplified to a desired level.

The Gain (A) is set by the ratio of resistors

R2 / R1

GAIN A
Vin goes to Vn as we
invert the signal
hence the name
inverting op-amp

Need to close the circuit to work

So we ground Vp as it is not in use
 INVERTING OP-AMP
• In order to amplify the input signal (Vin), the op-amp needs few (but not many)
external resistors; R1, R2
• These resistors allow us to set the Gain (A), so the signal (voltage, Vout) can be
amplified to a desired level.

The Gain (A) is set by the ratio of resistors

R2 / R1 R2 is feedback resistor

GAIN A

THE MATH IS SIMPLE

 INVERTING OP-AMP
• In order to amplify the input signal (Vin), the op-amp needs few (but not many)
external resistors; R1, R2
• These resistors allow us to set the Gain (A), so the signal (voltage, Vout) can be
amplified to a desired level.

The Gain (A) is set by the ratio of resistors

R2 / R1 R2 is feedback resistor

GAIN A

NEGATIVE (INVERTED) GAIN A

THE MATH IS SIMPLE

 INVERTING OP-AMP
• In order to amplify the input signal (Vin), the op-amp needs few (but not many)
external resistors; R1, R2
• These resistors allow us to set the Gain (A), so the signal (voltage, Vout) can be
amplified to a desired level.

The Gain (A) is set by the ratio of resistors EXAMPLES

R2 / R1 R2 is feedback resistor • If R2 = 10 kΩ and R1 = 10 kΩ
The gain is: R2/R1 = 10 / 10 = 1
No amplification!

• If R2 = 100 kΩ and R1 = 10 kΩ
The gain is: R2/R1 = 100 / 10 = 10
GAIN A Amplification = 10

NEGATIVE (INVERTED) GAIN A

THE MATH IS SIMPLE

INVERTING OP-AMP; THE MATH!

GAIN A
 INVERTING OP-AMP; THE MATH!

yields 𝑉𝑉𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 − 𝑉𝑉𝑁𝑁 𝑉𝑉𝑁𝑁 − 𝑉𝑉𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂

𝐼𝐼1 = 𝐼𝐼2 =
𝑅𝑅1 𝑅𝑅2
GAIN A

𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝑉𝑉𝑁𝑁 = 𝑉𝑉𝑃𝑃 = 0, 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 − 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎:

𝑉𝑉𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝑉𝑉𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 yields 𝑅𝑅2

= − 𝑉𝑉𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 = − 𝑉𝑉𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼
𝑅𝑅1 𝑅𝑅2 𝑅𝑅1

𝑉𝑉𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 𝑅𝑅2
The voltage gain is, A = = −
𝑉𝑉𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝑅𝑅1
 INVERTING OP-AMPS - EXAMPLE
A sinusoidal signal Vin with amplitude 1 is connected to the inverting
input Vn (-) of an amplifier as shown in the sketch below.
Resistor values are: R1 = 10 kΩ, R2 = 100 kΩ.

Q: Which of the responses A, B or C will be obtained for the Vout ?

R2=100 kΩ

R1=10 kΩ GAIN A
 INVERTING OP-AMPS - EXAMPLE
A sinusoidal signal Vin with amplitude 1 is connected to the inverting
input Vn (-) of an amplifier as shown in the sketch below.
Resistor values are: R1 = 10 kΩ, R2 = 100 kΩ.

Q: Which of the responses A, B or C will be obtained for the Vout ?

R2=100 kΩ

R1=10 kΩ GAIN A

ANSWER IS ‘A’
OP-AMP APPLICATION ON GOOGLE PLAY
INVERTING OP-AMP EXAMPLE
 NON-INVERTING OP-AMPS
• The non-Inverting amplifier, amplifies the signal without inverting it.
• The signal VIN is feed into the non-inverting input Vp (+).
• The Gain (A) is set by the ratio R2/R1

GAIN A

Voltage gain for a non-inverting op-amp is given by:

Now we connect Vin to Vp as
this is a non-inverting op-amps

We must ground Vn & R1 as they

are not being used and have a closed
loop

V gain is the part in the bracket!

 NON-INVERTING OP-AMPS; THE MATH
• The non-Inverting amplifier, amplifies the signal without inverting it.
• The signal VIN is feed into the non-inverting input Vp (+).
• The Gain (A) is set by the ratio R2/R1

GAIN A
 NON-INVERTING OP-AMPS; THE MATH
• The non-Inverting amplifier, amplifies the signal without inverting it.
• The signal VIN is feed into the non-inverting input Vp (+).
• The Gain (A) is set by the ratio R2/R1
Applying KCL to node 1:
yields 0 − 𝑉𝑉𝑁𝑁 𝑉𝑉𝑁𝑁 − 𝑉𝑉𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂
𝐼𝐼1 = 𝐼𝐼2 =
𝑅𝑅1 𝑅𝑅2

GAIN A 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝑉𝑉𝑁𝑁 = 𝑉𝑉𝑃𝑃 = 𝑉𝑉𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 − 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎:

− 𝑉𝑉𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝑉𝑉𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 − 𝑉𝑉𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 yields 𝑅𝑅2

= 𝑉𝑉𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 = 1 + 𝑉𝑉𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼
𝑅𝑅1 𝑅𝑅2 𝑅𝑅1

𝑉𝑉𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 𝑅𝑅2
The voltage gain is, A = =1+
𝑉𝑉𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝑅𝑅1
 NON-INVERTING OP-AMP - EXAMPLE
A sinusoidal signal Vin with amplitude 1 is connected to the non-inverting
input Vp (+) of an amplifier as shown in the sketch below.
Resistor values are: R1 = 1 kΩ, R2 = 4 kΩ.

Q: Which of the responses A, B or C will be obtained for the Vout ?

R2 = 4 kΩ

R1= 1 kΩ GAIN A
 NON-INVERTING OP-AMP - EXAMPLE
A sinusoidal signal Vin with amplitude 1 is connected to the non-inverting
input Vp (+) of an amplifier as shown in the sketch below.
Resistor values are: R1 = 1 kΩ, R2 = 4 kΩ.

Q: Which of the responses A, B or C will be obtained for the Vout ?

ANSWER IS ‘B’

R2 = 4 kΩ

R1= 1 kΩ GAIN A
 THE DIFFERENCE OP-AMP
• The differential amplifier circuit amplifies the difference of V+ and V-
• The gain can be adjusted by setting resistor values R3 and R4.

GAIN A

Now we have an op-amp with 4 external resistors

 THE DIFFERENCE OP-AMP; THE MATH
• The differential amplifier circuit amplifies the difference of V+ and V-
• The gain can be adjusted by setting resistor values R3 and R4.

GAIN A
 THE DIFFERENCE OP-AMP
• The difference amplifier circuit amplifies the difference of V+ and V-
• The gain can be adjusted by setting resistor values R3 and R4.

GAIN A Applying KCL to node 2:

𝑉𝑉2 − 𝑉𝑉𝑛𝑛 𝑉𝑉𝑛𝑛 − 𝑉𝑉𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂

=
𝑅𝑅3 𝑅𝑅4

𝑅𝑅4 𝑅𝑅4
𝑉𝑉𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 = + 1 𝑉𝑉𝑛𝑛 − 𝑉𝑉2
Applying KCL to node 1: 𝑅𝑅3 𝑅𝑅3
The difference op-amp must have the property;
𝑉𝑉1 − 𝑉𝑉𝑝𝑝 𝑉𝑉𝑝𝑝 − 0
= Vp=Vn and Vout=0, when V1=V2. This satisfies the
𝑅𝑅1 𝑅𝑅2 following:
𝑅𝑅2 𝑅𝑅1 𝑅𝑅3 𝑅𝑅4
𝑉𝑉𝑝𝑝 = 𝑉𝑉
𝑅𝑅1 + 𝑅𝑅2 1
=
𝑅𝑅2 𝑅𝑅4 𝑉𝑉𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 = (𝑉𝑉1 −𝑉𝑉2 )
𝑅𝑅3
R3 & R4 determine the voltage gain as they are connected to the V out (called the feedback loop)
 THE DIFFERENCE OP-AMP; EXAMPLE
A strain gauge with a gauge factor k = 2.5 is connected to a quarter bridge.
• The strain changes to ε = 340 µ
• The bridge supply voltage is V1 = 3.0 V

a) Calculate the bridge output V2

b) Calculate the amplified voltage Vout for the circuit below, when:
R1 = R2 = R3 = 1 kΩ
R4 = 100 kΩ
 REVIEW OF OP-AMPS
NON-INVERTING OP-AMP DIFFERENCE OP-AMP

INVERTING OP-AMP
 THE DIFFERENTIATOR OP-AMP
• The differentiator amplifier differentiates the input signal.
• The differentiator amplifier has a capacitor placed before the input
terminal and a resistor as a feedback.

C
 THE DIFFERENTIATOR OP-AMP - EXAMPLE
• Assume the input signal into the differentiator is a sinusoidal voltage given by
the following:

What is the V out ?

Differentiating the input signal gives Vout: Think of the relationship between
displacement, velocity and acceleration?
 THE INTEGRATOR OP-AMP
• The integrator amplifier, integrates the input signal.
• The integrator amplifier has a resistor placed before the input terminal
and a capacitor as a feedback.

C
 THE INTEGRATOR OP-AMP - EXAMPLE
• Assume the input signal into the op-amp is a sinusoidal voltage, given
by the following:

Integrating the input signal gives Vout:

 REVIEW OF OP-AMPS
NON-INVERTING OP-AMP DIFFERENTIAL OP-AMP

DIFFERENTIATOR OP-AMP
INVERTING OP-AMP

INTEGRATOR OP-AMP C
 THE SUMMING OP-AMP
• The op-amp can perform addition of signals; V1+V2+V3+…
• a summing amplifier can combine several inputs and produce an
output that is the sum of the inputs.

You can also determine the voltage gain for each input - v gain = Rf/R1-3 * V1-3 ???
 THE SUMMING OP-AMP; THE MATH
• The op-amp can perform addition of signals; V1+V2+V3+…
• a summing amplifier can combine several inputs and produce an
output that is the sum of the inputs.
 THE SUMMING OP-AMP; THE MATH
• The op-amp can perform addition of signals; V1+V2+V3+…
• a summing amplifier can combine several inputs and produce an
output that is the sum of the inputs.
Applying KCL to node a:

𝑖𝑖 = 𝑖𝑖1 + 𝑖𝑖2 + 𝑖𝑖3

𝑣𝑣1 − 𝑣𝑣𝑎𝑎 𝑣𝑣2 − 𝑣𝑣𝑎𝑎
𝑖𝑖1 = 𝑖𝑖2 =
𝑅𝑅1 𝑅𝑅2
𝑣𝑣3 − 𝑣𝑣𝑎𝑎 𝑣𝑣𝑎𝑎 − 0
The line is telling us v1-3 --> Vo is grounded??? 𝑖𝑖3 = 𝑖𝑖 =
𝑅𝑅3 𝑅𝑅𝑓𝑓
by noting that va = 0, we get:

𝑅𝑅𝑓𝑓 𝑅𝑅𝑓𝑓 𝑅𝑅𝑓𝑓

𝑉𝑉0 = − 𝑣𝑣1 + 𝑣𝑣2 + 𝑣𝑣3
𝑅𝑅1 𝑅𝑅2 𝑅𝑅3
 THE INSTRUMENTATION OP-AMP
• Instrumentation amplifier (IA) combined 3 op-amp + 7 resistors in one
package (chip!)
• the IA is considered as most useful for precision measurement and
process control and widespread use in measurement systems
 THE INSTRUMENTATION OP-AMP
• Instrumentation amplifier (IA) combined 3 op-amp + 7 resistors in one package (chip!)
• the IA is considered as most useful for precision measurement and process control and
widespread use in measurement systems
 THE INSTRUMENTATION OP-AMP
• Instrumentation amplifier (IA) combined 3 op-amp + 7 resistors in one package (chip!)
• the IA is considered as most useful for precision measurement and process control and
widespread use in measurement systems
• Below is the AD623 instrumentation op-amp by ANALOG DEVICES

https://www.analog.com/media/en/
technical-documentation/data-
sheets/ad623.pdf
 THE INSTRUMENTATION OP-AMP; THE MATH
• Instrumentation amplifier (IA) combined 3 op-amp + 7 resistors in one package (chip!)
• the IA is considered as most useful for precision measurement and process control and
widespread use in measurement systems

𝑣𝑣0 = 𝐴𝐴(𝑣𝑣2 − 𝑣𝑣1 )

2𝑅𝑅
𝐴𝐴 = 1 +
𝑅𝑅𝐺𝐺
STRAIN GAUGE FORCE TRANSDUCER SYSTEM WITH AMPLIFIERS
- CASE STUDY -
 TOPIC SUMMARY
In this lecture I covered an introduction to the amplifiers and amplification
concept as a 2nd stage devices and their use in instrumentation and control
applications.

I achieved this as follows:

• Amplifier working principle; what is it, what can it do, how is it constructed,
the pins in amplifier and their function.
• The different ways the amplifier can be configured and setup to achieve the
desired outcome. In particular I covered the following configuration: the
inverting amplifier, the non-inverting amplifier, the difference amplifier, the
integrator amplifier, the differentiator amplifier, the summing amplifier and
the instrumentation amplifier.
• I showed how to derive the formulae expressing the relationship between
input voltage signal and the amplified output signal.
• I showed examples using an amplifier in Wheatstone bridge circuits.
• I showed real amplifier chips and present case studies where amplifiers are
implemented.