DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH

Name : K.RAMPRASAD
Branch : A.E.I.E
Institution : QQGPT, Hyderabad
Semester : V semester
Subject : LIC applications
Sub. Code : AEI 505
Topic : Applications of operational amplifiers
Duration : 50 min.
Sub. Topic : Isolation amplifier
Teaching Aids : PPT, Diagrams and Animations

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 Recap

In last class we have studied

• Characteristics of operational amplifier

• Non- Inverting amplifier

• Differential amplifier

• Instrumental amplifier

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 Objectives

Upon the completion of this topic the student will

be able to learn about

• Description of isolation amplifier with Circuit diagrams

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 Need of Isolation Amplifiers

• In many applications in industrial and medical

instrumentation, the need arises for amplifiers to
have

• Very high common mode voltage capabilities

• High isolation resistance

• High common mode rejection

• The isolation characteristics are achieved in

practice with a variety of signal couplers.
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 Need of Isolation Amplifiers Contd…

• The non linearity of such couplers can be over

come by linearising the characteristics by using

the operational amplifier

• One such examples is the isolation amplification

illustrated in figure 1

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 Types of isolation device

• Isolation can be achieved by several Means, such

as by the use of

• Transformer
• Photo resistant
• Hall effect devices
• Thermo couples

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 Operation

Fig 1 LED-Photo transistor linearized isolation amplifier

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 Operation Cont….

• A LED-phototransistor coupler is Used in the feed

back loop of the Amplifier A1.

• A second LED photo transistor Coupler with

matched characteristics Where in the LED is
driven by the same Amplifier A1.

• The photo transistor is Connected in the feed

back loop Of another amplifier A2 provides the
Necessary isolation.
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 Operation Cont….

• Due to the matched characteristics of the two led

photo transistor pairs

• The non-linear characteristics and

• Temperature dependence

gets compensated.

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 Operation Cont….

• In many process control applications, where the

measurand is converted to a current

• The linearized current amplifier shown in figure 2

is suitable for providing isolation

• With equal resistors connected to the positive

input of the amplifier as shown in figure 2

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 Operation Cont….
• The amplifier gain forces a current through the
load ZL and LED-1
• So that the currents in the transistors Q1 and Q2
are equal
• With the matched characteristics of the LED and
photo transistor pairs, the load current is equal to
the current Iin through LED-2

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 Operation Cont….

• Again, the reduction of non linearity depends on

the matching of the characteristics of the LED and
photo transistor pairs
• The error produced by the bias current of the
amplifier can be reduced by use of a low input
bias current amplifier

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Fig 2 isolation current amplifier with feed back linearization

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 Summary

We have discussed about

• Description of isolation amplifier with circuit

diagram

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 Quiz

1. The isolation can be achieved by the use of

c) Trans formers
d) Photo transistors
e) Hall effect devices
f) All the above

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 Quiz

1. The isolation amplifier is needed in industrial

and medical instrumentation because it has

c) High common ode voltage capability

d) High isolation resistance
e) High common mode rejection
f) All the above

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 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Draw the circuit diagram of isolation amplifier ?

2. Explain the operation of isolation amplifier ?

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