Transfer function of an ideal OP amp

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the transfer function of an ideal operational amplifier (OP amp) in a circuit involving resistors and a capacitor. Participants explore the relationships between input and output voltages, current through components, and the application of Kirchhoff's laws.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant begins by stating the relationship between current through the capacitor, R1, and R2, suggesting that the transfer function could be expressed as V0/VIN in terms of R1, R2, C, and dv/dt.
  • Another participant corrects the initial assumption about the current through R1, indicating that Vin is across both R1 and the capacitor, which should be reflected in the equations.
  • Subsequent posts involve attempts to derive equations using Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) and express the relationship between V0 and VIN, with varying degrees of success and clarity.
  • Participants discuss the concept of "virtual ground" at the negative input of the OP amp, which simplifies the analysis of the circuit.
  • There are multiple attempts to relate the voltages across the capacitor and resistors, with some participants expressing uncertainty about how to combine these voltages correctly.
  • One participant arrives at an expression for the transfer function, suggesting V0/VIN = R1/R2, but this is met with further scrutiny regarding the correctness of the input equation.
  • Another participant proposes defining a new voltage at the node between the capacitor and R1 to clarify the relationships in the equations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the use of KCL and the concept of virtual ground, but there is no consensus on the correct formulation of the equations or the transfer function. Disagreements persist regarding the relationships between the voltages and currents in the circuit.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the initial and final values for voltage, the treatment of voltages across components, and how to combine the equations correctly. The discussion reflects a complex interplay of assumptions and interpretations of circuit behavior.

TimeToShine
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Homework Statement



I have to find the transfer function of a linearly and ideally operating OP Amp.

http://i.imgur.com/u3f6E.jpg

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I know that the current through the capacitor, R1, and R2 is the same, so i=C(dv/dt) = Vin/R1 = (VIN-V0)/R2, where do I go from here? Is the transfer function just V0/VIN in terms of R1, R2, C and dv/dt? When I equate the second and third equations I get V0/VIN = 1-(R2/R1) but I'm not sure if this is right.

For the second part, I assume I just find a value of R1 that gives a value of A = 20-& in the equation VIN=A(gain) V0
 
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TimeToShine said:

Homework Statement



I have to find the transfer function of a linearly and ideally operating OP Amp.

http://i.imgur.com/u3f6E.jpg

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I know that the current through the capacitor, R1, and R2 is the same, so i=C(dv/dt) = Vin/R1 = (VIN-V0)/R2, where do I go from here? Is the transfer function just V0/VIN in terms of R1, R2, C and dv/dt? When I equate the second and third equations I get V0/VIN = 1-(R2/R1) but I'm not sure if this is right.

For the second part, I assume I just find a value of R1 that gives a value of A = 20-& in the equation VIN=A(gain) V0

Welcome to the PF.

You are correct that the same AC current flows through C, R1 and R2. But the current is not Vin/R1. Vin is across both R1 and the capacitor, so that must show up in your equations.
 
berkeman said:
Welcome to the PF.

You are correct that the same AC current flows through C, R1 and R2. But the current is not Vin/R1. Vin is across both R1 and the capacitor, so that must show up in your equations.



Sorry I didn't realize that, thanks.

So via KCL I can assume that Cdv/dt + Vin/R1 = (VIN-V0)/R2.

This results in a fairly awkward equation if I want to solve for V0(w)/VIN(w):

VIN(1/R2-1/R1) - Cdv/dt = V0/R2

I'm not sure where to go from here, I have no initial or final values for v(t) so i can't really do anything with the dv/dt.

thanks in advance.
 
TimeToShine said:
Sorry I didn't realize that, thanks.

So via KCL I can assume that Cdv/dt + Vin/R1 = (VIN-V0)/R2.

This results in a fairly awkward equation if I want to solve for V0(w)/VIN(w):

VIN(1/R2-1/R1) - Cdv/dt = V0/R2

I'm not sure where to go from here, I have no initial or final values for v(t) so i can't really do anything with the dv/dt.

thanks in advance.

No no no no no no no. :smile:

Vin is NOT across R1. It is across both the cap and resistor. So the LHS of your first equation above needs to change...
 
berkeman said:
Welcome to the PF.

You are correct that the same AC current flows through C, R1 and R2. But the current is not Vin/R1. Vin is across both R1 and the capacitor, so that must show up in your equations.

berkeman said:
No no no no no no no. :smile:

Vin is NOT across R1. It is across both the cap and resistor. So the LHS of your first equation above needs to change...
Wow, I'm not on the ball at all today.

Right, so i'll let the voltage across the capacitor be Vc.

via KCL I have:

I(cap) + I(R1) = I(R2)

Cdv/dt + (v0-vc)/r1 = (v0-vIN)/r2And the RHS is the same

This leads to:

Cdv/dt = V0(1/R2 - 1/R1) + Vin(1/R1 - 1/R2)

thanks in advance.
 
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TimeToShine said:
via KCL I have:

I(cap) + I(R1) = I(R2)

No. The current through the cap equals the current through each resistor. They are all in series (assuming the ideal opamp needs no input bias current).
 
Sorry I meant equals, I had it in the first post I was just getting confused.

According to this Cdv/dt = (V0 - VIN)/R1 = (V0 - VR1)/ R2

where VR1 = (R1)Cdv/dt
 
TimeToShine said:
Sorry I meant equals, I had it in the first post I was just getting confused.

According to this Cdv/dt = (V0 - VIN)/R1 = (V0 - VR1)/ R2

where VR1 = (R1)Cdv/dt

Two things. First, use the "virtual ground" property at the - input node of the opamp. Since the + terminal is connected to ground, what is the voltage always going to be at the - input (due to the negative feedback and infinite gain of the ideal opamp)? That helps simplify the equation for the current through R2.

Second, you really do need to combine the cap and R1 together as the LHS of an equation. When you try to say things individually about them, you make errors (because the voltage at the point between them would need to be an additional variable if you want to treat them separately. Use the vitural ground property of the - input node to write an equation for the voltage Vin across both C and R1 and the current that flows through both of them.
 
berkeman said:
Two things. First, use the "virtual ground" property at the - input node of the opamp. Since the + terminal is connected to ground, what is the voltage always going to be at the - input (due to the negative feedback and infinite gain of the ideal opamp)? That helps simplify the equation for the current through R2.

Second, you really do need to combine the cap and R1 together as the LHS of an equation. When you try to say things individually about them, you make errors (because the voltage at the point between them would need to be an additional variable if you want to treat them separately. Use the vitural ground property of the - input node to write an equation for the voltage Vin across both C and R1 and the current that flows through both of them.

If I remember correctly it's V input = V output = 0 in an ideal OP Amp so the potential at the node above the - op amp terminal is 0. This means that the current through I2 is

V0 - 0/R2 = V0/R2.

The Capacitor and resistor in series are a basic RC circuit, and the voltage across them is the same

Vc = Vin[1 -exp[-t/RC]]where R is R1 and C is the capacitance.

I know that this is the voltage across the capacitor but I'm not sure how exactly to combine the resistor and capacitors voltages and even if I do would dividing by the resistance R1 suffice to find the total current flowing into the node?

Regardless, I now have

Cdv/dt = (Vin-0)/R1 = (V0-0)/R2

Cdv/dt = Vin/R1 = V0/R2

So I can conclude that V0/VIN = R1/R2.
 
Last edited:
  • #10
TimeToShine said:
If I remember correctly it's V input = V output = 0 in an ideal OP Amp so the potential at the node above the - op amp terminal is 0. This means that the current through I2 is

V0 - 0/R2 = V0/R2.

The Capacitor and resistor in series are a basic RC circuit, and the voltage across them is the same

Vc = Vin[1 -exp[-t/RC]]where R is R1 and C is the capacitance.

I know that this is the voltage across the capacitor but I'm not sure how exactly to combine the resistor and capacitors voltages and even if I do would dividing by the resistance R1 suffice to find the total current flowing into the node?

Regardless, I now have

Cdv/dt = (Vin-0)/R1 = (V0-0)/R2

Cdv/dt = Vin/R1 = V0/R2

So I can conclude that V0/VIN = R1/R2.

You have the output equation correct.

The input equation is not right still. It's probably best to devine a new voltage at the node between the cap and R1. That way you can write the Cdv/dt using the voltage just across the capacitor. The voltage across the resistor is then related to Vin and Vc.
 
  • #11
berkeman said:
You have the output equation correct.

The input equation is not right still. It's probably best to devine a new voltage at the node between the cap and R1. That way you can write the Cdv/dt using the voltage just across the capacitor. The voltage across the resistor is then related to Vin and Vc.
Thanks.

I'll call the node potential between the capacitor and the resistor E.

Cdv/dt = (E - 0)/R1 = V0/R2

Edit: Sorry it's very long winded.
Cdv/dt = E/R1 = V0/R2

You then said to relate the voltage across the resistor (E) to Vin and Vc. I'm not sure at how to do this but i'd guess thatVin - E = Vc
Vc - Vr1 = E

E = Vin - Vc = Vc - VR1

2Vc = Vin+VR1

but VR1 = E-0 = E

2Vc = Vin + E

but from Vin-E=Vc we get E = Vin - Vc

so

2Vc = Vin + Vin - Vc
3Vc = 2Vin

Vc = 2/3 Vin

E = Vin - Vc = Vin-2/3Vin = 1/3 Vin

ThereforeCdv/dt = E/R1 = V0/R2

(1/3Vin)/R1 = V0/R2

Giving:

V0/Vin = R2/3R1

Edit: Sorry it's very long winded
 
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  • #12
I'm sorry, I didn't track your last post at all.

If you call the voltage between the cap and R1 "Ve", then the v(t) across the capacitor is Vin(t)-Ve(t). And the voltage across R1 is Ve(t)-0V. Does that change your equations?
 
  • #13
berkeman said:
I'm sorry, I didn't track your last post at all.

If you call the voltage between the cap and R1 "Ve", then the v(t) across the capacitor is Vin(t)-Ve(t). And the voltage across R1 is Ve(t)-0V. Does that change your equations?
Vin(t) - Ve(t) = Vc(t) (eq1)

Ve(t) - 0 = Vr1(t) (eq2)

Another equation that should work isVc(t) - Vr1 = Ve(t) (eq3)

using eqs 2 and 3

Ve(t) = Vr1(t)
and
Ve(t) = Vc(t) - Vr(1)

therefore

Vr1(t) = Vc(t) - Vr1(t)
Vc(t) = 2Vr1(t) (eq4)

Does up to here make sense?

from eqs 1 and 3

Ve(t) = Vin(t) - Vc(t) = Vc(t) - Vr1(t)

from eq 4, Vc(t) - Vr1(t) = 2vr1(t) - vr1(t) = vr1(t)

giving:Vin(t) - Vc(t) = Vr1(t)

since vc(t) = 2vr1(t)

vin(t) = 3vr1(t)

Vin(t)/3 = vr1(t)

and

Vc(t) = 2/3 Vin(t)ALSO V(E) = Vin(t) - Vc(t)
Vin(t) - 2/3 Vin(t)
Ve(t)= 1/3 Vin(t)

So going back to the original equations:

Ve(t)/R1 = V0/R2

Giving V0(t)/Vin(t) = R2/3R1Yes it yielded the same equations.
is up to here correct?
 
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  • #14
bump.
 
  • #15
TimeToShine said:
Vin(t) - Ve(t) = Vc(t) (eq1)

Ve(t) - 0 = Vr1(t) (eq2)

Another equation that should work is


Vc(t) - Vr1 = Ve(t) (eq3)

using eqs 2 and 3

Ve(t) = Vr1(t)
and
Ve(t) = Vc(t) - Vr(1)

therefore

Vr1(t) = Vc(t) - Vr1(t)
Vc(t) = 2Vr1(t) (eq4)

Does up to here make sense?

from eqs 1 and 3

Ve(t) = Vin(t) - Vc(t) = Vc(t) - Vr1(t)

from eq 4, Vc(t) - Vr1(t) = 2vr1(t) - vr1(t) = vr1(t)

giving:


Vin(t) - Vc(t) = Vr1(t)

since vc(t) = 2vr1(t)

vin(t) = 3vr1(t)

Vin(t)/3 = vr1(t)

and

Vc(t) = 2/3 Vin(t)


ALSO V(E) = Vin(t) - Vc(t)
Vin(t) - 2/3 Vin(t)
Ve(t)= 1/3 Vin(t)

So going back to the original equations:

Ve(t)/R1 = V0/R2

Giving V0(t)/Vin(t) = R2/3R1


Yes it yielded the same equations.



is up to here correct?

Equation 3 looks wrong to me. The voltages across the capacitor and R1 add up to Vin...
 

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