0.1.

OP-AMPS AS AC AMPLIFIERS

0.1 OP-Amps as AC Amplifiers

Capacitor-Coupled Voltage Follower

Vs
The circuit diagram of a Capacitor-Coupled Vi = × R1
R1 − jXC1
Voltage Follower is as as shown in Figure 1. The
The impedance of the coupling capacitor at C1 at
input is applied through a capacitor C1 and output
lower cutoff frequency f1 is usually determined as
is taken from a capacitor C2 . The non-inverting
one-tenth of the resistance in series with them.
input terminal is grounded via a resistor R1 . The
resistor is required to pass bias current to the Zin
XC1 =
amplifier noninverting input terminal. 10
R1
C1 IB + VCC XC1 =
3 C 10
+ 7
2
1
6
Vi 2πf1 C1 = R1
R1 2 _ 4 10
Vs IB RL 1
- VEE VL C1 =
2πf1 R101

The output voltage voltage VL across the load

Figure 1: Capacitor coupled voltage follower. RL is
The circuit impedance is as shown in Figure 2
Design steps. VO VO
VL = × RL = p 2 × RL
RL − jXC2 2
RL + XC2
• Estimate the values of R1 C1 and C2 .
At resonance condition XC2 = RL Then
• Higher values of resistor R1 is chosen to
minimize circuit power dissipation. VO VO
VL = p 2 × RL = √ = 0.707VO
2RL 2
• The smallest capacitor values are used to
minimize the physical size and low cost. VL = (VO − 3)dB
The circuit input impedance is The circuit 3dB frequency (f1 ) occurs when
XC2 = RL . Therefore, C2 is calculated from
Zin = R1 kZ 0 i
1
0
C2 =
• where Z i = Z i (1 + M β) is the input 2πfL RL
impedance at the op-amp non-inverting —————————
input terminal. Design a capacitor-coupled voltage follower
using a 741 operational amplifier. The lower cutoff
• Z 0 i  R1 therefore Zin = R1 . And the value
frequency for the circuit is to be 50 Hz and the load
resistor R1 is
resistance is RL = 3.9kΩ.
0.1VBE Solution:
R1 =
IB(max) 0.1VBE 0.1 × 0.7
R1(max) = = = 140kΩ
IB(max) 500nA
• Load resistor RL  R1 and C2  C1 .
Chose nearest standard resistor as 120kΩ
X C1 XC2
1 1
C1 = R1

= 120kΩ

= 0.27µF
Vs Zin Vi VO RL VL
2πf1 10
2π × 50 10

1 1
Input Side Output Side C2 = = = 0.82µF
2πfL RL 2π × 50 × 3.9kΩ
Figure 2: Input and output Impedance —————–

Dr. Manjunatha P Professor Dept of ECE, JNN College of Engineering, Shivamogga 1

0.1. OP-AMPS AS AC AMPLIFIERS

Redesign a capacitor-coupled voltage follower The above equation shows that this circuit indeed
using a LF 353 operational amplifier. The lower has very high input impedance. For example, with
cutoff frequency for the circuit is to be 50 Hz and an open loop gain of 200000 and a 47 kΩ resistor
the load resistance is RL = 3.9kΩ. for R1 , the circuit input impedance would be

R1(max) = 1M Ω Zin = (1 + M )R1 = 200000 × 47kΩ = 9.4 × 106

Chose nearest standard resistor as 120kΩ
Design steps.
1 1
C1 = R1

= 6 Ω
= 0.032µF • Estimate the values of R1 , R2 , C1 , C2 and C3 .
2πf1 10 2π × 50 1×10
10

• R1 and R2 are estimated as a single resistance

1 1
C2 = = = 0.82µF 0.1VBE
2πfL RL 2π × 50 × 3.9kΩ R1 + R2 = R1(max) =
IB(max)
————————-
R1(max)
High Zin Capacitor-Coupled Voltage Fol- R1 = R2 =
2
lower
R1
The circuit diagram of a High Capacitor-Coupled XC1 = XC2 = at f1
10
Voltage Follower is as shown in Figure 3. In this
circuit input impedance of the capacitor-coupled 1
C1 = C2 = R1


voltage follower is increased. 2πf1 10
Capacitor C2 couples the circuit output voltage
1
to the junction of resistors R1 and R2. C2 behaves C3 =
as an ac short circuit so that it is developed across 2πf1 RL
R1
Q2. Modify the circuit in Example 1
C1 + VCC
3 C3 to make it a high input impedance voltage
+ 7 6 follower. Also, determine the minimum
I1
V1 2 _ 4 theoretical input impedance of the circuit.
R1
Vs C2 RL
- VEE Vo Solution:

R2 VO R1 + R2 = R1(max) = 140 kΩ

140 kΩ
R1 + R2 = = 70 kΩ
2
Figure 3: High Zin Capacitor-Coupled Voltage 1 1
Follower C2 = R1
= = 0.5µF
2π × f1 10 2 × π × 50 68k
10

V1 = VS − VO = VS − M V1 C1 = C2 = 0.5µF

V1 (1 + M ) = Vs 1 1
C3 = = = 0.82µF
2π × f1 RL 2 × π × 50 × 3.9kΩ
Vs
V1 =
(1 + M )
V1 Vs Zin = (1 + M )R1
i1 = =
R1 (1 + M )R1 From the data sheet of 741 Min = 50, 000
Input resistance Zin is
Zin = (1 + 50, 000)68 kΩ = 3400 M Ω
Vs Vs
Zin = = Vs
= (1 + M )R1
i1 (1+M )R1 ——————————–

Dr. Manjunatha P Professor Dept of ECE, JNN College of Engineering, Shivamogga 2

0.1. OP-AMPS AS AC AMPLIFIERS

Capacitor-Coupled Non-Inverting Amplifier Q2. The noninverting amplifier designed

to be a capacitor coupled at input and
The circuit diagram of a Capacitor-Coupled
output. THe load resistance is 2.2 kΩ
Voltage Non-Inverting Amplifier is as as shown in
and lower cut-off frequency is to be 120 Hz.
Figure 4. The input is applied through a capacitor
Make the necessary modification to give the
C1 and output taken from a capacitor C2 . The non-
highest input impedance and determine the
inverting input terminal is grounded via a resistor
required capacitor values.
R1 . The resistor is required to pass bias current to
Solution:
the amplifier noninverting input terminal.
0.1VBE 0.1 × 0.7
C1 + VCC R1 = = = 140 kΩ
3 7 C2 IB(max) 500nA
+ 6
μA741
Vi R1 2 _ 1 1
IB 4 C1 = R1
= = 0.11µF
IB
- VEE R2 VO
RL 2π × f1 10 2 × π × 120 120k
10

1 1
C2 = = = 0.6µF
R3 2π × f1 RL 2 × π × 50 × 2.2kΩ
—————————

Figure 4: Capacitor-Coupled Non-Inverting Am-

High Zin Capacitor Coupled Non-Inverting
plifier
Amplifier
Design steps.
The circuit diagram of capacitor coupled non-
• Estimate the values of R1 , R2 , C1 and C2 inverting amplifier is as shown in Figure5. The
input impedance of the circuit is improved by this
• R1 is estimated by modified circuit.
C1 + VCC
0.1VBE 3 7 C3
R1 = + 6
IB(max) μA741
Vs
R1 2 _
4
R1 = R2 kR3 RL
C2 - VEE VO

R1 R2
XC1 = R3
10
1
2πf1 C1 = R1
10
1
C1 = R1


2πf1 10
Figure 5: High Zin Capacitor Coupled Non-
Inverting Amplifier
The feed back voltage is applied to the input
XC2 = RL via R2 , C2 and R3 . The feedback factor β of the
circuit is
2πf1 C2 = RL R3
1 β=
C2 = R2 + R3
2πf1 RL Substituting this quantity into the analysis gives
Zin = (1 + M β) × R1
R2 The determination of values of resistors R2 , and R3
Av = for the high ZIn circuit is as follows
R2 + R3
I3 = 100Ib(max) R1 + R3 = R2
Vs R1 ' R2 For the highest input impedance
R3 =
I3 The voltage gain is

Dr. Manjunatha P Professor Dept of ECE, JNN College of Engineering, Shivamogga 3

0.1. OP-AMPS AS AC AMPLIFIERS

Using LF 353 BIFET opamp design a high Zin

R2 + R3 − jXC2 capacitor coupled noninverting amplifier to have
Av =
R3 − jXC2 a low cutoff frequency of 200 Hz. The input
If XC2  (R2 + R3 ) and output voltages are to be 15 mV and 3 V
respectively, and the minimum load resistance is
R2 + R3 12 kΩ.
Av = p 2 2
R3 + XC2
Solution:
When XC2 = R3 Feedback resistor R2 = 1M Ω for LF 353
BIFET opamp
R2 + R3 1
Av = ×√ VO 3
R3 2 Av = = = 200
Vi 15mV
At, XC2 = R3 Av is 3 dB below the normal mid-
frequency gain is R2 + R3 R2
Av = =1+
R3 R3
R2 + R3 R2 1M Ω
Av = R3 = = = 5kΩ
R3 Av − 1 200 − 1
R1 = R2 − R3 = 1Ω − 5kΩ ' 1Ω
Design Steps
1 1
C2 = = = 0.17µF
• For BIFET LF353 2πf1 R3 2π × 200 × 4.7kΩ
1 1
R2 = 1M Ω C3 = RL

=
= 0.66µF
2πf1 10 2π × 200 12kΩ
10

• Voltage gain is related as C1 = 1000pF

Vo R2 + R3 ———————-
Av = =
Vi R3
Capacitor-Coupled Inverting Amplifier
• Resistors R1 and R3 are determined as for
A capacitor-coupled inverting amplifier is as shown
bipolar op-amp
in Figure 6. The bias current to the op-amp
0.1VBE inverting input terminal is supplied via resistor
R1 + R3 = Rmax = R2 . The non inverting input terminal is directly
IB(max)
grounded without any resistor.
For BIFET LF353 R 2

R1 + R3 = 1M Ω
IB
C1 R1 + VCC
R1 + R3 = R2 3
- 7 C2
6
Vi μA741
• Capacitor C2 at f1 is 2
4
IB + RL
XC2 = R3 - VEE VO
1
C2 =
2πf1 R3

• The capacitor C3 is equal to one-tenth of the Figure 6: Capacitor-Coupled Inverting Amplifier

minimum resistance in series with capacitor
Design Steps
C3 .
RL • The resistor values are determined as for
XC3 = a direct-coupled inverting amplifier circuit.
10
1 Ib(max) = 500nA
C3 =
2πf1 R10L I1 = 100 × Ib(max) = 50µA

Dr. Manjunatha P Professor Dept of ECE, JNN College of Engineering, Shivamogga 4

0.1. OP-AMPS AS AC AMPLIFIERS

Vi
R1 = 1 R2
I1 Av = √ ×
R2 2 R1
Av =
R1 Or Av is 3dB below the normal voltage gain
• The capacitor C1 is equal to one-tenth of of R2/R1. The upper cutoff frequency f2 of the
the minimum resistance R1 in series with circuit is
capacitor C1 . Xcf = R2
R1 1
XC1 = Cf =
10 2πf2 R2
1
C1 =
2πf1 R1 Capacitor-Coupled Difference Amplifier
10
XC2 = RL • The capacitor-coupled difference amplifier
1 circuit is as shown in Figure 8.
C2 =
2πf1 RL
• When R1 = R2 = R3 = R4 the output
Setting The Upper Cutoff Frequency
voltage of the amplifier is
In most of the practical situations very low
frequency signals are to be amplified and unwanted V0 = V1 − V2
high frequency noise voltages are to be removed.
The circuit voltage gain should be made to fall • The capacitors can be determined by the
off just above highest desired signal. To achieve following method
this a capacitor Cf is connected in parallel with
feedback resistor R2 . The detailed circuit diagram XC1 = R1 /10
is as shown in Figure 7. 1
Cf C1 =
2πf1 R101
XC2 = (R3 + R4)/10
R2
1
C2 =
IB 2πf1 (R3+R4)
10
C1 R1 + VCC
2 C2
XC3 = RL
- 7
6 1
Vi C3 =
3 + 4 2πf1 RL
IB RL
- VEE VO
R2

IB
C1 R1 + VCC
Figure 7: Inverting amplifier - 7 C3
6
The gain of the circuit is V1
C2 R3
+ 4
R2 kXCF ZF RL
Av = = - VEE VO
R1 R1 R4
V2
where ZF = R2 kXCF

R2 (−jXCF )
ZF = R2 kXCF = Figure 8: Capacitor-Coupled Difference Amplifier
R2 + XCF
R2 XCF
|ZF | = p 2 2 • The capacitors should be placed across
R2 + XCF
resistors R2 and R4 with each one calculated
When XCF = R2 at the desired cutoff frequency as
R2 R2
|ZF | = p 2 2 = √ Xc = resistance inparallel
2R2 2

Dr. Manjunatha P Professor Dept of ECE, JNN College of Engineering, Shivamogga 5

0.1. OP-AMPS AS AC AMPLIFIERS

Using LF 353 BIFET opamp design a high Zin

capacitor coupled noninverting amplifier to have
0.1VBE 0.1 × 0.7
a low cutoff frequency of 200 Hz. The input R1(max) = = = 116kΩ
and output voltages are to be 15 mV and 3 V IB(max) 600nA
respectively, and the minimum load resistance is Chose nearest standard resistor as 120kΩ
12 kΩ.
1 1
Solution: Feedback resistor for LF 353 BIFET C1 = R1

= 116kΩ

= 0.27µF
opamp 1M Ω 2πf 1 10
2π × 120 10

VO 3
Av = = = 200 1 1
Vi 15mV C2 = = = 0.16µF
2πfL RL 2π × 120 × 8.2kΩ
R2 + R3 R2
Av = =1+ —————–
R3 R3
R2 1M Ω 4.2 A capacitor-coupled voltage follower is to be
R3 = = = 5kΩ
Av − 1 200 − 1 designed to have lower cutoff frequency 120 Hz.
for the circuit is to be and The load resistance is
1 1 RL = 8.2kΩ and the op-amp used has a maximum
C2 = = = 0.17µF input bias current of 600 nA. Design a suitable
2πf1 R3 2π × 200 × 4.7kΩ
circuit for LF 353-BIFET opamp.
1 1
C3 = RL

= 12kΩ

= 0.66µF Solution:
2πf1 10
2π × 200 10 For LF 353-BIFET opamp
C1 = 1000pF
R1(max) = 1M Ω
C1 + VCC
3 7 C3
+ 6
μA741
Vs
R1 2 _ 1 1
4
RL C1 = R1

= 1M Ω

= 0.013µF
C2 - VEE VO 2πf1 10
2π × 120 10

R2
R3 1 1
C2 = = = 0.16µF
2πfL RL 2π × 120 × 8.2kΩ
—————–

Figure 9 4.3: Calculate the new lower cut-off frequency for

the circuit in example 4-1 when the load resistance
—————– is changed to 4.7 kΩ
4.1 A capacitor-coupled voltage follower is to be
designed to have lower cutoff frequency 120 Hz. Solution:
for the circuit is to be and The load resistance is
RL = 8.2kΩ and the op-amp used has a maximum 1 1
input bias current of 600 nA. Design a suitable f1 = 2πC2 RL = 2π × 0.18 × 10−6 × 4.7kΩ = 188Hz
circuit.
Solution: —————–

Dr. Manjunatha P Professor Dept of ECE, JNN College of Engineering, Shivamogga 6