University of Technology

Department of Communication Engineering

Optical Communication Systems Engineering Branch

The Summing and Difference Amplifier

Experiment No.4 in Communication Electronics Laboratory II
June 17, 2021

Mousa Saad Luaibi

Second Year
Communication Electronics Laboratory II Exp.No.4: The Summing and Difference Amplifier

▪ Objective
To implement and study the summing and difference amplifier circuits.

▪ Equipment
1. DC Power supply ±12𝑉.
2. Variable Power supply 0 − 15𝑉.
3. Power supply 5𝑉.
4. Voltmeter 20𝑉.
5. Panel No. P16.

▪ Theory

The operational amplifier has two or more inputs, and the output voltage is proportional to the
negative of the algebraic sum of its input voltages. A two-input summing amplifier is shown in
Figure 1. The operation of the circuit and the derivation of the output are as follows:

𝐼𝑇 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2

𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = −𝐼𝑇 𝑅𝑓 , the following steps apply:

𝑉𝑖𝑛1 𝑉𝑖𝑛2
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = −(𝐼1 + 𝐼2)𝑅𝑓 = −( + )𝑅
𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑓

If all three of resistors are equal (𝑅1 = 𝑅2 = 𝑅3 = 𝑅), then:

𝑉𝑖𝑛1 𝑉𝑖𝑛2
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = − ( + ) 𝑅 = −(𝑉𝑖𝑛1 + 𝑉𝑖𝑛2 )
𝑅 𝑅
Communication Electronics Laboratory II Exp.No.4: The Summing and Difference Amplifier

Figure (1). The summing amplifier.

The same circuit can be used for any number of inputs as shown in Figure (2).

Figure (2).

The output voltage is expressed as:

𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = −(𝑉𝑖𝑛1 + 𝑉𝑖𝑛2 + 𝑉𝑖𝑛3 + ⋯ + 𝑉𝑖𝑛𝑁 )

▪ Procedure
➢ Part (1) Summing Amplifier:
1. I'll connect the circuit as shown in Figure (3). Wiring sequence:
12V(+)-1 , 12V(-)-3 , GND-2 , 15V(V)-6 , 15V(COM)-17 , 5V(+)-4 , 8-42 ,
VM(+)-48 , VM(-)-66 , 5V(GND)-65 , 18-66.
2. I’ll switch the power supply ±12𝑉.
3. I'll apply 5V from the power supply to I/P1 and connect the variable power supply
to I/P2 and I’ll vary the voltages as in table (1).
Communication Electronics Laboratory II Exp.No.4: The Summing and Difference Amplifier

Figure (3).

I/P1 (Volts) I/P2 (Volts) O/P (Volts), 𝑅𝑓 = 1𝑘Ω

5V 0V
5V 1V
5V 2V
5V 3V
5V 4V
5V 5V

Table (1).
4. I'll measure and record the output on the voltmeter. (I'll observe the polarities of
input and output voltages carefully).

➢ Part (2) Difference Amplifier:

5. I’ll connect the circuit as shown in Figure (4). Wiring sequence:
12V(+)-1 , 12V(-)-3 , GND-2 , 15V(V)-17 , 15V(COM)-66 , 5V(+)-4 , 8-42 ,
VM(+)-48 , VM(-)-67 , 5V(GND)-65 , 21-67.
6. I’ll switch the power supply ±12𝑉.
7. I'll connect 5V from the power supply to I/P1 and apply the variable power supply
to I/P2 from variable power supply as in table (2).
8. I'll observe the output voltage with its polarity carefully. (I'll note down inputs and
outputs).
Communication Electronics Laboratory II Exp.No.4: The Summing and Difference Amplifier

Figure (4).

I/P1 (Volts) I/P2 (Volts) O/P (Volts), 𝑅𝑓 = 1𝑘Ω

5V 0V
5V 1V
5V 2V
5V 3V
5V 4V
5V 5V

Table (2).

▪ Discussion

1. I'll discuss how you add more voltages using the summing amplifier.

➢ By connecting many resistors to the inverting input of the op-amp, and making
the input resistors are all equal, and connect voltage source for each input
resistor.

2. I'll discuss if the values of the input resistors changed, is it possible to obtain the sum
of input voltages.

➢ If the input resistors are of different values a “scaling summing amplifier” is

produced which will output a weighted sum of the input signals.

𝑉𝑖𝑛1 𝑉𝑖𝑛2 𝑉𝑖𝑛𝑁

𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = −( + + ⋯+ )𝑅
𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅𝑁 𝑓
Communication Electronics Laboratory II Exp.No.4: The Summing and Difference Amplifier

3. I'll explain how to obtain the average of the input voltages at the output.
𝑅𝑓
➢ This is done by making the ratio ( ) equal to the reciprocal of the number of
𝑅
inputs (n).

𝑅𝑓 1 𝑅𝑓
= , 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = −(𝑉𝑖𝑛1 + 𝑉𝑖𝑛2 + ⋯ + 𝑉𝑖𝑛𝑁 )
𝑅 𝑛 𝑅

4. I'll suggest possible applications for the summing and difference amplifiers.

➢ It used to process analog signals.

➢ It used as a digital to analog converter.
➢ It used in audio mixers.

5. I'll add comment I think necessary based on the observations obtained from the
experiment.

➢ It is necessary to pay attention to the polarity of the output; it must be negative

because this amplifier is considered as an inverting amplifier because the input
voltages are connected to the inverted input.
Communication Electronics Laboratory II Exp.No.4: The Summing and Difference Amplifier

▪ Result sheets