Unit 3

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instrumentation amplifier 

An instrumentation amplifier is one kind of IC (integrated circuit), mainly


used for amplifying a signal. This amplifier comes under the family of the
differential amplifier because it increases the disparity among two inputs. The
main function of this amplifier is to diminish surplus noise that is chosen by the
circuit. The capacity to refuse noise is familiar to every IC pins which are
known as the CMRR (common-mode rejection ratio). The instrumentation
amplifier IC is an essential component in the designing of the circuit due to its
characteristics like high CMRR, open-loop gain is high, low drift as well as low
DC offset, etc.
An instrumentation amplifier is used to amplify very low-level signals, rejecting noise and interference
signals. Examples can be heartbeats, blood pressure, temperature, earthquakes and so on.
Therefore, the essential characteristics of a good instrumentation amplifier are as follows.
•Inputs to the instrumentation amplifiers will have very low signal energy. Therefore the
instrumentation amplifier should have high gain and should be accurate.
•The gain should be easily adjustable using a single control.
•It must have High Input Impedance and Low Output Impedance to prevent loading.
•The Instrumentation amplifier should have High CMRR since the transducer output will usually contain
common mode signals such as noise when transmitted over long wires.
•It must also have a High Slew Rate to handle sharp rise times of events and provide a maximum
undistorted output voltage swing.
Instrumentation Amplifier using Op Amp
The instrumentation amplifier using op-amp circuit is shown below. The op-amps 1 &
2 are non-inverting amplifiers and op-amp 3 is a difference amplifier. These three op-
amps together, form an instrumentation amplifier. Instrumentation amplifier’s final
output Vout is the amplified difference of the input signals applied to the input
terminals of op-amp 3.Let the outputs of op-amp 1 and op-amp 2 be Vo1 and Vo2
respectively.
Then, Vout = (R3/R2)(Vo1-Vo2)
Look at the input stage of the instrumentation amplifier as shown in the figure below.
The instrumentation amplifier derivation is discussed below.
The potential at node A is the input voltage V1. Hence the potential at node B is also
V1, from the virtual short concept. Thus, the potential at node G is also V1.

The potential at node D is the input voltage V2. Hence the potential at
node C is also V2, from the virtual short. Thus, the potential at node H is
also V2.

Input Stage of the Instrumentation


Amplifier
The working of the instrumentation amplifier is, Ideally the current to the input stage op-amps is zero.
Therefore the current I through the resistors R1, Rgain, and R1 remain the same.
Applying Ohm’s law between nodes E and F,
I = (Vo1-Vo2)/(R1+Rgain+R1) ……………………….(1)
I = (Vo1-Vo2)/(2R1+Rgain)
Since no current is flowing to the input of the op-amps 1 & 2, the current I between the nodes G and H
can be given as,
I = (VG-VH) / Rgain = (V1-V2) / Rgain……………………….(2)
Equating equations 1 and 2,
(Vo1-Vo2)/(2R1+Rgain) = (V1-V2)/Rgain
(Vo1-Vo2) = (2R1+Rgain)(V1-V2)/Rgain ……………………….(3)
The output of the difference amplifier is given as,
Vout = (R3/R2) (Vo1-Vo2)
Therefore, (Vo1 – Vo2) = (R2/R3)Vout
Substituting (Vo1 – Vo2) value in equation 3, we get
(R2/R3)Vout = (2R1+Rgain)(V1-V2)/Rgain
i.e. Vout = (R3/R2){(2R1+Rgain)/Rgain}(V1-V2)
This above equation gives the output voltage of an instrumentation amplifier.
The overall gain of the amplifier is given by the term (R3/R2){(2R1+Rgain)/Rgain}.
The overall voltage gain of an instrumentation amplifier can be controlled by adjusting
the value of resistor Rgain.
The common mode signal attenuation for the instrumentation amplifier is provided by the
difference amplifier.

Advantages of Instrumentation Amplifier


The advantages of the instrumentation amplifier include the following.
•The gain of a three op-amp instrumentation amplifier circuit can be easily varied by
adjusting the value of only one resistor Rgain.
•The gain of the amplifier depends only on the external resistors used.
•The input impedance is very high due to the emitter follower configurations of
amplifiers 1 and 2
•The output impedance of the instrumentation amplifier is very low due to the
difference amplifier3.
•The CMRR of the op-amp 3 is very high and almost all of the common mode signal
will be rejected.
Applications of Instrumentation Amplifier
The applications of the instrumentation amplifier include the following.
•These amplifiers mainly involve where the accuracy of high differential gain is required, strength must be
preserved in noisy surroundings, as well as where huge common-mode signals are there. Some of the
applications are
•Instrumentation amplifiers are used in data acquisition from small o/p transducers like thermocouples, strain
gauges, measurements of Wheatstone bridge, etc.
•These amplifiers are used in navigation, medical, radar, etc.
•These amplifiers are used to enhance the S/N ratio (signal to noise) in audio applications like audio signals with
low amplitude.
•These amplifiers are used for imaging as well as video data acquisition in the conditioning of high-speed signal.
•These amplifiers are used in RF cable systems for amplification of the high-frequency signal.
LM324 IC Pin Configuration and Its Applications
The operational amplifier LM324 IC can work like a normal comparator, and it comprises four
independent op-amps internally. This IC has designed with low-power, bandwidth and high stability
for operating with single power supply over extensive voltage ranges. The range of operating
voltages of this IC includes 3.0 V for low and 32 V for high. The range of common mode input
mainly comprises the negative voltage supply, thus removing the requirement of outside biasing
components in several applications. The range of output voltage also comprises the negative
voltage supply. This article discusses an overview of LM324 IC comparator.
What is an LM324 IC Comparator?
The LM324 IC consists of 14-pins with four independent op-amps in one package. These
electronic voltage amplifiers are available in high gain with differential input as well as a single
output. The voltage difference among the input terminals of the IC is very less than the output
voltage. These comparators operate with a single power supply and need of dual supply is
removed. These ICs can be utilized as comparators, oscillators, amplifiers, rectifiers, etc. By using
this IC several applications can be implemented very easily.
LM324 IC Pin Configuration
The pin configuration of the IC LM324 is shown below, and the function of each pin of this IC
is discussed below.

•Pin1 (OUTPUT1): O/p of the 1st comparator


•Pin2 (INPUT1-): Inverting i/p of the 1st comparator
•Pin3 (INPUT1+): Non-inverting i/p of the 1st comparator
•Pin4 (VCC): Positive supply voltage
•Pin5 (INPUT2+): Non-inverting i/p of the 2nd comparator
•Pin6 (INPUT2-): Inverting i/p of the 2nd comparator
•Pin7 (OUTPUT2-): O/p of the 2nd comparator
•Pin8 (OUTPUT3): O/p of the 3rd comparator
•Pin9 (INPUT3-): Inverting i/p of the 3rd comparator
•Pin10 (INPUT3+): Non-inverting i/p of the 3rd comparator
•Pin11 (GND, VEE): Ground or negative supply voltage
•Pin12 (INPUT4+): Non-inverting i/p of the 4th comparator
•Pin13 (INPUT4-): Inverting i/p of the 4th comparator
•Pin14 (OUTPUT4): O/p of the 4th comparator
LM324 IC Applications
The applications of IC LM324 include the following.

•Generally, this comparator is employed in the robot-like line following

•By using this IC, the conventional op-amp applications can be implemented very
simply.

•This IC can be used as oscillators, rectifiers, amplifiers, comparators etc.


DC VOLTMETER

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