Design of

Instrumentation
Amplifier
By
Dr Ravi Kumar Jatoth
Asst Professor
ECE Department

Objectives
Upon completion of this experiment you will be
able to:
measure the differential gain for a basic
differential amplifier.
measure the common- mode gain and
calculate the CMRR for a basic differential
amplifier.
build and test a discrete three op amp
instrumentation amplifier.
add an offset voltage to the reference
terminal of the instrumentation amplifier

Ideal Characteristics of an
Amplifier
High

common mode rejection

ratio(CMRR)
High input impedance
High slew rate
Low output impedance
Low power consumption
Low thermal and time drift

WHErE ArE In-AMPS AnDDIFFErEncE

AMPS USED?
Data

Acquisition
Medical Instrumentation Monitor and
control Electronics
Software-Programmable Applications .
Audio Applications High Speed Signal
conditioning Video Applications
Power control Applications

Instrumentation Amplifiers
Passive Transducer Measurement Configuration:
For passive transducers in a bridge configuration the voltage of interest is the
differential voltage e = VB - VA
Therefore need a difference amplifier with a committed adjustable gain Ad
Want Vo = Ad(VB - VA) = Ad e
VCM =

VA VB
E

2
2

R+DR

Want to reject VCM

R

R
IA

Vo = Ad
e

Instrumentation Amplifiers:

Active Transducer Measurement Configuration:

For an active transducer the differential voltage e
created by the transducer is of interest
Therefore need a difference amplifier
with a committed adjustable gain Ad
Want

Vo = Ad e

Surface whose temperature

is to be measured may be at
some non-zero potential (VCM)
relative to ground
Want to reject VCM

IA
Vo = Ad e

Differential Amplifier:

(Single op-amp instrumentation amplifier)

To obtain vo in terms of v1and v2 use superposition theorem

the average of the two input voltages. [2]

V p+V n
V cm=
2
-

Vn

Common-Mode
Voltage
For a differential input amplifier, common-mode voltage is defined as

+
-

Vo

Vp

Common-Mode Voltage (Alternate

defn.)

For a differential amplifier, common-mode voltage is defined as the average of the

two input voltages. [2]

IOP1

Vid
+

+
-

Vid/2

Vid/2

Vcm

V p+V n
V cm=
2
w here
V id
V p=V cm+
2
V id
V n=V cm2

Vout

Vout Adm Vid Acm Vcm

where
Adm Differential - mode gain
Acm Common - mode gain

Common-Mode Voltage
2

V-

Vid 0V

+
V-

V+
Vb 0

+
+
-

V+

Vs- 5

OP1
6

Vid 1000uV

OP1

Vs+ 5

V-

Vo 3.826745V

Vo 0V

Vb 0

Va 0

Va 1m

V2

Vcm 0

V+

Ideally a differential input amplifier only responds to a differential input voltage, not
a common-mode voltage.

Vid 0V

V+
Vb 0

Vcm 1

OP1

Vo 0V

Va 0

Vcm 1

10

CMRR and CMR

Common-Mode Rejection Ratio is defined as the ratio of the differential

gain to the common-mode gain
CMR is defined as follows [2]:

Adm
CMRR
Acm

CMR and CMRR are often used interchangeably

CMRdB 20 log10 CMRR

11

Ideal Differential Amplifier CMRR

What is the CMRR of an ideal differential input amplifier (e.g. op-amp)?

Recall that the ideal common-mode gain of a differential input amplifier is 0.
Voltage Amplifier Model [1]
Amplifier

Source

Load
Ro

Rs
+
Vs

Vi

Ri

VCVS
+
+

Vi

Vo

Rload

A dm->Infinity

Also recall the differential gain of an ideal op-amp is infinity.

So

CMRRidealOA

Adm Adm

Acm
Acm
12

Real Op-Amp CMRR

In

an operational amplifier, the differential

gain is known as the open-loop gain.
The open-loop gain of an operational
amplifier is fixed and determined by its
design

CMRR of Difference Amplifiers

Ri1

R1

R2

A difference amplifier is made up of a differential amplifier (operational amplifier)

and a resistor network as shown below.
The circuit meets our definition of a differential amplifier
The output is proportional to the difference between the input signals

Ro

V1

Ri2

+
-

R3

Vo

R4

V2

14

Ri1 R1
Ri 2 R3 R4
Resistances seen by thesources
are finite and not necessaril y
equal. If input sources have
output resistances Rs1 and Rs 2
then
Ri1 R1 Rs1
Ri 2 R3 R4 Rs 2

We can also define the differential - mode

and common - mode input resistances as follows
(Assuming R1 R3 and R2 R4 ) :
Rid 2 R1
Ric

R1 R2
2

DA Derivation

Use superposition to determine

Vo as a function of V1 and V2
V1 off
Ri1
Non-inverting amplifier

R2
Vo 2 V p 1
R1

R2

Vp

Ri2

Ro

+
-

R4

V p V2
R3 R4
So,

R1

R3

Vo2

R4

V2

R4 R2
1
Vo 2 V2
R3 R4 R1

18

DA Derivation

V2 off
Inverting amplifier

R2

Vo1 V1
R1

R1

R2

Ri1

Ro

V1

Ri2

+
-

R3

Vo1

R4

19

DA Derivation

Combining the contributions of V1 and V2

Vo Vo1 Vo 2

R4 R2
R2
1
V2
Vo V1
Re-arranging yields R1
R3 R4 R1
R

1 1

R
R2
Vo 2 V2 V1
R3
R1
1

R4

R
R
If 1 3 then
R2 R4

R2
V2 V1
Vo
R1
20

DA
CMRR
Lets replace V1 and V2 with our alternate definition of the inputs (in terms
of differential-mode and common-mode signals)

Vdm
2
V
V2 Vcm dm
2
R
Vo 2 V2 V1
R1
V1 Vcm

Vdm/2
+

R1

R2
+

+
-

Vcm
+
Vdm/2

R1

R2

Vo

Vo

V
V
R2
Vcm dm Vcm dm
R1
2
2

Vo

R2
Vdm
R1

It is readily observed that an ideal difference amplifiers output should only

amplify the differential-mode signalnot the common-mode signal.

24

DA
CMRR
This assumes that the operational amplifier is ideal and that the resistors
are balanced.
Keeping the assumption that the operational amplifier is ideal, lets see
what happens when an imbalance factor () is introduced.

Vdm/2
+

R1

R2(1- )

+
-

Vcm
+
Vdm/2

R1

Vo

R2

25

DA CMRR

Using superposition we find that

V R 1
V R2
R2 1

Vcm dm
1

Vo Vcm dm 2
2
R1
2 R1 R2 R1 R2 1

After some algebra we find that [1]

Vo AdmVdm AcmVcm
where

Adm

R2 R1 2 R2
1

R1
R1 R2 2

Acm

R2

R1 R2

As expected, an imbalance affects the differential and common-mode gains, which

will affect CMRR!
As the error->0, Adm->R2/R1 and Acm->0.
26

DA CMRR

Since we have equations for Acm and Adm, lets look at CMR

R2

2
R

1
2

1

R1 R2 2
Adm
R1
20 log 10
CMR(dB ) 20 log 10

R
A
2
cm

R1 R2

If the imbalance is sufficiently small we can neglect its effect on Adm

With that and some algebra we find [1]

R2

R1
CMR(dB) 20 log10

27

DA CMRR

This equation shows two very important relationships

1 2
R1
CMR(dB) 20 log10

As the gain of a difference amplifier increases (R2/R1), CMR increases

As the mismatch () increases, CMR decreases

Please remember that this just shows the effects of the resistor network
and assumes an ideal amplifier

28

DA
CMRR
Another possible source for CMRR degradation is the impedance at
the reference pin.
So far we have connected this pin to low-impedance ground.

Vdm/2
+

R1

R2
+

+
-

Vcm
+
Vdm/2

R1

Vo

R2

Placing and impedance here will disturb the voltage divider we come
across during superposition analysis.
This will negatively affect CMR

29

Instrumentation Amplifiers:

Differential Amplifier:
Short input to v2

(Single op-amp instrumentation amplifier)

(Inverting Configuration)

Instrumentation Amplifiers:

Differential Amplifier:

(Single op-amp instrumentation amplifier)

Short input to v1

(Noninverting Configuration)

Instrumentation Amplifiers:

Differential Amplifier:

(Single op-amp instrumentation amplifier)

To obtain vo in terms of v1and v2 use superposition theorem

Instrumentation Amplifiers:

Differential Amplifier:

(Single op-amp instrumentation amplifier)

Differential Input Impedance:

Zd = 2R1

Rin, Rid, Zid, Zd

Zd is limited

Instrumentation Amplifiers:

Three Op Amp Instrumentation Amplifier:

CMRR and Zin are very important attributes of an IA
Can increase Zin of difference amplifier configuration by adding unity gain buffers
or buffers with gain

Instrumentation Amplifiers:

Three Op Amp Instrumentation Amplifier:

CMRR and Zin are very important attributes of an IA

Can increase Zin of difference amplifier configuration by adding buffers
Common mode signals are not amplified if common R1 is used and
connection to ground is removed.

Instrumentation Amplifiers:

Transducer and Three Op Amp IA Circuit Diagram:

Instrumentation Amplifier

Experiment

Variable Gain

Instrumentation Amplifiers
69

Analog Devices Inc. is the largest supplier of

instrumentation amplifiers in the world.

The AD620 is a low cost, high accuracy instrumentation amplifier which requires
only one external resistor to set gains of 1 to 1000. Furthermore, the AD620 offers
lower power (only 1.3 mA max supply current), making it a good fit for battery
powered, portable (or remote) applications.
The AD620, with its high accuracy of 40 ppm maximum nonlinearity, low offset
voltage of 50 V max and offset drift of 0.6 V/C max, is ideal for use in precision
data acquisition systems, such as weigh scales and transducer interfaces. The
low noise, low input bias current, and low power of the AD620 also make it well
suited for medical applications such as ECG and noninvasive blood pressure
monitors.
The low input bias current of 1.0 nA max is made possible with the use of
Superbeta processing in the input stage. The AD620 works well as a preamplifier
due to its low input voltage noise of 9 nV/Hz at 1 kHz, 0.28 V p-p in the 0.1 Hz to
10 Hz band, 0.1 pA/Hz input current noise. The AD620 is also well suited for
multiplexed applications with its settling time of 15 s to 0.01% and its cost is low
enough to enable designs with one in amp per channel.

70

AD620
Specifications
common-mode rejection ratio
(CMRR): The ratio of the
common-mode interference
voltage at the input of a
circuit, to the corresponding
interference voltage at the
output.

http://products.analog.com/products/info.asp?product=

71

Electrostatic Warning for the

AD620 In-Amp

Make vs. Buy: A Typical Bridge Application Error Budget

The AD620 offers improved performance over homebrew

three op amp IA designs, along with smaller size, fewer components
and lower supply current. In the typical application, a gain of 100 is
required to amplify a bridge output of 20 mV full scale over the
industrial temperature range of 40C to +85C.
Regardless of the system in which it is being used, the AD620
provides greater accuracy, and at low power and price.
Note that for the homebrew circuit, the OP07 specifications for
input voltage offset and noise have been multiplied by 2, because a
three op amp type in-amp has two op amps at its inputs.

AD620 vs opamp

72

73

Error Budget

The OP-07 has very low input offset voltage (25V max for
74
OP-07A) which is obtained by trimming at the wafer stage.
These low offset voltages generally eliminate any need for
external nulling. The OP-07 also features low input bias
current (2nA for OP-07A) and high open-loop gain
(300V/mV for the OP-07A). The low offsets and high openloop gain make the OP-07 particularly useful for high-gain
instrumentation applications.
The wide input voltage range of 13V minimum combined
with the high CMRR of 110dB (OP-07A) and high input
impedance provides high accuracy in the non-inverting
circuit configuration. Excellent linearity and gain accuracy
can be maintained even at high closed-loop gains.
The OP-07 is available in five standard performance grades.

The LM741 series are general purpose operational amplifiers which

feature improved performance over industry standards like the LM709.
They are direct, plug-in replacements for the 709C, LM201, MC1439 and
748 in most applications.

Op07 vs LM741

Op07 vs 741
$1.25 for one Op07
$0.44 for one LM741
25 for $25
25 for $8
From Digikey

(Inexpensive
versions of each)
Input Offset
Voltage
Input Offset
Current
CMRR

Op07 (Analog
Devices)
30 to 75 uV

LM741 (National
Instruments)
6 to 7.5 mV

.4 to 2.8 nA

200 to 300 nA

110 dB Min

70 dB Min

Closed Loop BW
(gain = 1)
Slew Rate

.6 MHz

.437 MHz

.3 V/uSec

.5 V/uSec
75