Mobile Studio Activity #4

Adam Steinberger

Introduction

Operational Amplifiers (Op Amps) are a particular type of linear electronic device that
amplify input signals through the use of negative feedback loops. When Op Amps are
connected to capacitors in negative feedback loops, the input signals can either be integrated
or differentiated. This is a direct result of the definitions of current through a capacitor
𝑑𝑣𝑐 𝑡 1 𝑡
𝑖𝑐 𝑡 = 𝐶 and voltage across a capacitor 𝑣𝑐 𝑡 = 𝑣𝑐 0 + 𝐶 0 𝑐
𝑖 𝑥 𝑑𝑥, which hold true
𝑑𝑡

for Kirchhoff’s Laws of Current and Voltage. In this lab, Inverting Integrators and Inverting
Differentiators are used to manipulate triangle wave signals.

Procedure

The protoboard at right was designed for this lab.

The output from the first Op Amp in the IC chip connects to
a 100kΩ resistor in parallel with a 0.01μF capacitor, which
connects to the negative input forming a negative feedback
loop. Connecting the negative input to a 10kΩ resistor and
then to the source voltage causes the Op Amp to act as an
Inverting Integrator. For the other Op Amp circuit, the
negative feedback loop only contains a 1kΩ resistor. However, the negative input is connected
to a 0.01μF capacitor and then to the voltage source. This produces an Inverting Differentiator.
By connecting both negative inputs to the wave function generator via Mobile Studio Desktop,
it is possible to produce a source voltage in the form of a triangle wave of 1Vp-p at 2kHz.

Analysis

Readings were taken from Mobile Studio Desktop of the integrated and differentiated
signals over a period of 500μs. A screenshot of the resulting graph (see page 3) was taken,
indicating peak to peak values for both time and voltage for both output signals. A simulation of
the circuit was then designed using PSPICE, and a graph (see page 4) of the simulated output

Page 1
 Mobile Studio Activity #4
Adam Steinberger

signals was created to verify the results from the Mobile Studio readings. The two sets of data
are identical. A simplified expression for the source voltage was used to simplify analysis,
assuming that it is understood that the frequencies of all signals are identical and that the
values change signs every half a period. Integrating and differentiating the source voltage
±4000𝑡 produces output signals of ±2 × 107 𝑡 2 and ±40𝑚𝑉 respectively. Inspection of the data
suggests that these output signals are correct because the integral of a sloped line is a quadratic
and the derivative of a sloped line is a horizontal line. Both equations for output signals are
identical to the experimental data from the procedure and the data from simulation. Slight
differences between all three sets of data are due to small imperfections in the materials used,
static electricity in the air, power consumption by the electrical components in the circuit, and
analytical simplification.

Conclusion

Using capacitors in Op Amp circuits can produce circuits that will integrate and/or
differentiate signals.

Page 2
 Mobile Studio Activity #4
Adam Steinberger

Data

VS

V1

V2

𝑣𝑠 𝑡 = 2𝑓𝑡 = ±4000𝑡

Inverting Integrator Inverting Differentiator

𝑡
1
𝑣1 𝑡 = − 𝑣 (𝑠) 𝑑𝑠 𝑑𝑣𝑠 (𝑡)
𝑅𝐶 0 𝑠 𝑣2 𝑡 = −𝑅𝐶
𝑡 𝑑𝑡
1
𝑣1 𝑡 = − ±4000𝑠 𝑑𝑠 𝑑
10𝑘Ω (.01𝜇𝐹) 0 𝑣2 𝑡 = − 1𝑘Ω (.01𝜇𝐹) ±4000𝑡
𝑑𝑡
𝑣1 𝑡 = −104 ±2000𝑡 2
𝑣2 𝑡 = ±40𝑚𝑉
𝑣 𝑡 = ±2 × 107 𝑡 2
𝑣1 ±0.125𝑚𝑠 = ±312.5𝑚𝑉

Mobile Studio Data

Page 3
 Mobile Studio Activity #4
Adam Steinberger

PSPICE Simulation Plot

800mV

600mV

(5.6281ms, 331.184mV)
400mV

(7.2503ms, 41.175mV)

200mV

0V

-200mV

(7.5003ms, -41.208mV)
-400mV

(5.8641ms, -293.965mV)
-600mV
5.0ms 5.5ms 6.0ms 6.5ms 7.0ms 7.5ms 8.0ms 8.5ms 9.0ms 9.5ms 10.0ms
V(R4:1) V(R3:2) V(R1:1)
Time

Page 4