Basic inverting amplifier circuit

Quite straightforward and only needs a few components beyond the operational amplifier integrated circuit itself.

Consists of a resistor from the input terminal to the inverting input of the circuit, and another resistor connected from the output to the inverting input of the op-amp. The non inverting input is connected to ground.

Basic inverting operational amplifier circuit

As the gain of the operational amplifier itself is very high and the output from the amplifier is a matter of a few volts, this means that the difference between the two input terminals is exceedingly small and can be ignored.

As the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier is held at ground potential this means that the inverting input must be virtually at earth potential (i.e. a virtual earth).

Gain of the inverting amplifier circuit

One of the main features of the inverting amplifier circuit is the overall gain that it produces.

The voltage gain is actually the output voltage (Vout) divided by the input voltage (Vin), i.e. it is the number of times the output voltage is larger than the input voltage.

As the input to the op-amp draws no current this means that the current flowing in the resistors R1 and R2 is the same.

Using ohms law Vout /R2 = -Vin/R1. Hence the voltage gain of the circuit Av can be taken as:

Av

- R2 / R1

As an example, an amplifier requiring a gain of ten could be built by making R2 47 k ohms and R1 4.7 k ohms.

Inverting amplifier input impedance

 A circuit with a low input impedance may load the output of the previous circuit and may give rise to effects such as changing the frequency response if the coupling capacitors are not large.

It is simply the value of the input resistor R1. This is because the inverting input is at earth potential (i.e. a virtual earth) and this means that the resistor is connected between the input and earth.

Non-inverting amplifier circuit

The basic circuit for the non-inverting operational amplifier is relatively straightforward.

In this circuit the signal is applied to the non-inverting input of the op-amp.

However the feedback is taken from the output of the op-amp via a resistor to the inverting input of the operational amplifier where another resistor is taken to ground.

It is the value of these two resistors that govern the gain of the operational amplifier circuit.

Basic non-inverting operational amplifier circuit

Amplifier gain

The calculation hinges around the fact that the voltage at both inputs is the same.

This arises from the fact that the gain of the amplifier is exceedingly high.

If the output of the circuit remains within the supply rails of the amplifier, then the output voltage divided by the gain means that there is virtually no difference between the two inputs.

 As the input to the op-amp draws no current this means that the current flowing in the resistors R1 and R2 is the same.

The voltage at the inverting input is formed from a potential divider consisting of R1 and R2, and as the voltage at both inputs is the same, the voltage at the inverting input must be the same as that at the non-inverting input.

This means that Vin = Vout x R1 / (R1 + R2). Hence the voltage gain of the circuit Av can be taken as: Av = 1 + R2 / R1

As an example, an amplifier requiring a gain of eleven could be built by making R2 47 k ohms and R1 4.7 k ohms.

Amplifier input impedance

The input impedance of this operational amplifier circuit is very high, and may typically be well in excess of 10^7 ohms.

For most circuit applications this can be completely ignored.

This is a significant difference to the inverting configuration of an operational amplifier circuit which provided only a relatively low impedance dependent upon the value of the input resistor.