Lab 6: Op Amps

Reading:
“The Art of Electronics (TAOE)”
Chapter 4: 4.01 –4.09

6.1 Open Loop Test Circuit

Before connecting circuits using chip packages there are a couple of points that you
should note.
• First, note how the integrated circuit package for the LF411 op-amp goes into the
breadboard. (This type of package is called a “dual in line package” or “DIP”)

Figure 6.1: How the DIP goes into the breadboard

• Second (a point that might seem to be redundant), an integrated circuit (IC) always
needs to be powered. For all of the op-amp circuits that you will see, the power
connections will be ±15V, which is supplied at two pins on the IC (the connections
are different for most IC’s but the LF411 has the connections: pin 4 = -15V and pin 7
= +15V). However most of the circuit diagrams that you will see omit these
connections! Also many op-amp circuits have no direct connection between the chip
and ground. That is no great problem as there is always a common reference on all
circuits that is called zero volts or ground.

Figure 6.2: Open-loop test circuit. For this circuit the connections are labelled according to
pin numbering conventions. Remember this for all subsequent circuits. To find the pin
allocations for other chips that you might use, the company data sheets must be consulted!
Construct the circuit shown in figure 5.2. Try to use the pot to apply zero volts to the op-amp.
Watch the output voltage as you try to get the input voltage to zero (what you are trying to do
is match the voltages of the non-inverting and inverting inputs). Is this behaviour consistent
with the LF411 gain specification (around 200V/mV)?

6.2 Inverting Amplifier

Figure 6.3: Inverting amplifier. The power connections are now implied.

Construct the inverting amplifier circuit shown above. Drive the amplifier with a 1kHz
sine wave. What is the gain? What is the maximum possible output swing? How linear is the
gain (to see this try a triangle wave)? Try waves of different frequencies. Is the gain the same
for all of them? You might be able to find some higher frequencies for which the
performance of the op-amp is not ideal. You can read more about this in the textbook but we
will only be assuming ideal op-amp behaviour. We will steer clear of the effects of less than
ideal behaviour in these labs.
Now drive the circuit with a sine wave at 1kHz again. Measure the input impedance of
the amplifier circuit by adding a 1k resistor in series with the input.
Measure (or at least try to measure) the output impedance of the amplifier circuit. Note
that no blocking capacitor is needed, why? (You should expect to fail here as you can
realistically only find that Zout is very low.)

6.3 Non-inverting Amplifier

Figure 6.4: Non-inverting amplifier.

Wire up the non-inverting amplifier shown above. What is the voltage gain? (It is not the
same as the inverting amp you just constructed!)
 Try to measure the circuits input impedance at 1 kHz by putting a 1MΩ resistor in series
with the input. Does this configuration maintain the low output impedance that you measured
with the inverting amp? Think about this carefully!

6.4 Follower (optional)

Figure 6.5: An op-amp as a follower.

Build the follower circuit shown above using a 411 op-amp. Measure the gain and the
impedances Zin and Zout (Note: some of these measurements you may have already made).

6.5 Current to Voltage Converter (optional)

Figure 6.6: Current to voltage converter

Use an IPL10020 photodiode to construct the circuit above. If you see some high
frequency oscillations on the output, add a small capacitor in parallel with the feedback
resistor (about 100pf). Why does this reduce the oscillation? (Hint: what happens to the
circuits gain at high frequencies?)
What is the average DC output level, and what is the percentage ‘modulation?’ What
causes this modulation and what frequency is it? What input photocurrent does the output
level correspond to? Try covering the photodiode with your hand to vary the amount of light
hitting the diode. While your doing this look at the ‘summing junction’ (point X) with your
scope as Vout varies. What do you see? Is this what you would expect?
 What is the benefit of this circuit over an alternative below?

Figure 6.6b: An alternative current to voltage converter

6.6 Summing Amplifier

Figure 6.7: Summing Amplifier

Construct the circuit in the figure. What so you see at the output? Try replacing the
potentiometer with an oscillating signal with a frequency close to that of the “sig” input.
Describe the new output?

6.7 Introducing the 311 Op Amp (optional)

Figure 6.8: “Pinout” of 311 Op Amp chip (note that the power connections have
changed)

A. Comparator
Construct the circuit in figure 6.9 below. You might recognise that this circuit is doing
the same job as the one in figure 6.2. What is the essential difference and why is there are
difference? Using the oscillator on the breadboard, drive the input with a 1 kHz triangular
wave and sketch the trace at the output. Try other waveforms, what do you see? Is this the
same response as you saw for the circuit in figure 6.2? If not what is the difference? What are
the functions of the +15V connection to pin 7 (via the 4.7k resistor) and the ground
connection to pin 1? What is the function of the 1.0k resistor? Try changing the value of the
voltage on pin 7 from 15V to 5V what is the outcome? With the voltage across the 4.7k
resistor at 5V, try varying the power supply voltages from 0 to +/- 15V, what happens?

+15
+15

4.7k
3 8
-
7
311
2
+ 1
4

10k -15

Figure 6.9: 311 Op Amp comparator circuit

B. Schmitt Trigger

Returning the voltage at pin 7 to 15V, now make the necessary modifications to the
circuit to construct the Schmidt trigger in figure 6.10. What is the function of this new circuit
element? Where would you expect the thresholds to be for this new circuit? Are they the
same as before? Drive this circuit with the same signal that you used before. How has the
output changed?

+15

4.7k
-
311
+

100k
10k

Figure 6.10: Schmidt trigger

C. RC Oscillator

Now make the final modification to turn this into an oscillator by adding the capacitor and
resistor to complete the negative feedback path. This feedback actually replaces the oscillator
that you were using on the inverting input and drives the circuit itself. Note the change in
voltage to pin 1 (why?). Calculate the oscillation frequency. Now measure it and see if the
calculation was correct? Can you think of a way to make a variable frequency oscillator?
What is shape of the output voltage? Sketch the voltage at point X; can you explain the shape
that you see? Are they the same? If not why not?

100k +15

4.7k
X
-
311
+
0.01µF
-15

100k
10k

Figure 6.11: Schmidt trigger