The document outlines the signal conditioning process, including amplification, attenuation, filtering, and conversion, with a focus on operational amplifiers (op-amps). It explains the properties and various configurations of op-amps, such as inverting, summing, differential, and buffer amplifiers. Each configuration has specific applications and characteristics, emphasizing their importance in signal processing and instrumentation.

1. SIGNAL CONDITIONING
AND CONVERSION
Process and Instrumentation
Lerotholi Polytechnic
© December 2012

2. Learning outcomes
• Outline the functions of the signal conditioning
circuits
• State the operational amplifiers’ properties
• Analyse different operational amplifier
configurations

3. Functions of signal conditioning circuits
• Amplification - It is the process of linearly
increasing the amplitude of an electrical signal.
• Attenuation - It is the gradual loss in strength of
any kind of signal through a medium.
• Filtering - It is the removal of unwanted
components from the signal.
• Conversion - This can mean making the signal
into d.c voltage and/or current

4. Operational amplifiers
• The basis of many signal conditioning modules is
the operational amplifier.
• The common IC operational amplifier is one
which has a very high gain
• Its applications are not limited to linear
amplification systems, but include digital logic
systems as well.

5. Properties of operational amplifiers
• An inverting input
• A non-inverting input
• A high input impedance (usually assumed
infinite) at both inputs
• A low output impedance
• A large voltage gain when operating without
feedback (typically 105)

6. • The voltage gain remains constant over a
wide frequency range.
• Relatively free of drift due to ambient
temperature change, hence the direct
voltage output is zero when there is no input
signal.
• Good stability, being free of parasitic
oscillation.

7. Operational amplifiers’ configurations
• The basic unit performs in a variety of ways
according to the manner of the surrounding
circuitry
• A number of general applications are as
follows:
• Inverting amplifier
• Differential amplifier
• Summing amplifier
• Buffer amplifier

8. Inverting amplifier
• The circuit of an inverting operational amplifier is shown in
the figure below.
-
+
Rf
A1
R1
vi
i
v
if
vo
ii

9. • The open loop gain of the op-amp is A, thus the output
voltage vo = Av; R2 may be assumed negligible, hence
• vi – v = iiR1
• if the input impedance to the amplifier is very high then i ≈ 0,
hence
• ii = - if
• But
• And
f
o
f
R
v
v
i


1
R
v
v
i i
i


f
o
f
o
i
R
v
v
R
v
v
R
v
v 






1

10. • If the output signal is exactly out of phase with the input
voltage, the operational amplifier being in its inverting mode,
then vo = -Av
• And
• Hence
• And
• Generally, R1 and Rf are of approximately the same range of
resistance, e.g. R1 = 100 kΩ and Rf = 1MΩ, and A is very
large, e.g. A = 105, hence
• and
A
v
v o


f
o
o
o
i
R
v
A
v
R
A
v
v 



1
f
o
f
o
o
i
R
R
v
R
R
A
v
A
v
v 1
1






A
vo
f
o
R
R
A
v 1


11. • It follows that the overall gain is given
approximately by
• From this relationship it is seen that the gain of the
amplifier depends on the resistances of R1 and Rf,
and that the inherent gain of the op-amp, provided
it is large, does not affect the overall gain.
• Example (Notes)
f
o
i
R
R
v
v 1



1
R
R
A
f
v 


12. Summing operational amplifier
• This is a development of the inverting operational amplifier.
-
+
Rf
A1
RA
RB
RC
iC
vc
iB
iA
vA
vB
ii i
v
if
vo
A
A
A
R
v
v
i


B
B
B
R
v
v
i


C
c
C
R
v
v
i


f
o
f
R
v
v
i




13. • In a summing amplifier, usually v is very small compared
with other voltages, hence
• If Rf= RA = RB = RC
• Then –vo = vA + vB + vC
Example (Notes)
C
C
B
B
A
A
f
o
R
v
v
R
v
v
R
v
v
R
v
v 






C
C
B
B
A
A
f
o
R
v
R
v
R
v
R
v





14. Differential amplifier
• The function of the differential amplifier is to amplify
the difference between two signals.
• Being a linear amplifier, the output is proportional to
the difference in signal between the input terminals.
• If we apply the same sine wave signal to both
inputs, there will be no difference and hence no
output signal.
• The differential amplifier can be used with positive
or negative feedback. In an idealized differential
amplifier,
• vo = Av(v1 - v2 )

15. Buffer amplifier
• A buffer is an electronic amplifier that is designed
to have an amplifier gain of 1.
• Buffers are used in impedance matching, the
benefit of which is to maximize energy transfer
between circuits or systems.
• There are two main kinds of buffer circuits,
Voltage buffers and Current buffers. The purpose
of each is to isolate the mentioned characteristics
to avoid loading the input circuit or source from
the output stage