DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name of the faculty : D Saritha
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : D.A.E.I.E
Institute : Govt Polytechnic, Kothagudem
Year/Semester : V Semester
Subject : Linear IC Applications
Sub-Code : AEI-505
Topic : Other Applications of OP-Amp
Duration : 50 min
Sub-Topic : Instrumentation Amplifier
Teaching Aids : Diagrams
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 Objectives

Upon the completion of this topic the student will

be familiar with

• Instrumentation amplifier circuit using op-amp

• Operation of Instrumentation amplifier

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 Instrumentation amplifier

• In a number of industrial and consumer applications,

one is required to measure and control physical
quantities.
• Some typical examples are measurement and
control of temperature, humidity, light intensity etc.
• These physical quantities are usually measured with
the help of transducers.

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•The output of transducers has to be amplified so that it can
drive the indicator or display system.
•This function is performed by an instrumentation amplifier.
•The instrumentation amplifier is intended for precise, low
level signal amplification where low noise, low thermal and
time drifts, and high input resistance are required.

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 Applications

• Various differential amplifier configurations can be

used as instrumentation amplifiers depending on the
application requirement

• When employed in conjunction with the transducer

bridge and indicating meter, the instrumentation
amplifier is used as temperature and light indicators,
temperature controller, and analog weight scale

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 Features of instrumentation amplifier

• The important features of instrumentation amplifier are

a. High accuracy
b. High CMRR
c. High gain stability with low temperature coefficient.
d. Low dc offset
e. Low output impedance

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Block diagram of instrumentation
amplifier

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 Working
• The instrumentation amplifier forms the intermediate
stage of the system

• It’s function is to amplify adequately the weak output

signal of the input stage , so that the strengthened signal
can drive indicator, thus enabling precise, low-level
signal amplification.

• If the indicator is suitably calibrated, it can measure

directly the physical quantity which produces the input
signal for the instrumentation amplifier.

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Instrumentation amplifier

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 Construction
• The transducer used is a resistive transducer of
resistance RT and it forms one of the ratio arms of a
wheat stone bridge network, energized by a suitable dc
source.

• In practice , the bridge is balanced under desired

reference conditions ( resistance of transducer is RT .) ,
set by the designer , depending upon practical
requirements.
At balance, we have Va=Vb
∴RC/RB =RT/RA
Resistors RA,, RB and RC are so chosen that
RA= RB = RC= RT
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• When the physical quantity to be measured changes, the
resistance of the transducer changes, and as a result,
the bridge becomes unbalanced.
• Let ∆R denote the change , i.e. in resistance of the
transducer.
• New value of resistance = RT + ∆R
• Since resistors RB and RC are of fixed values, voltage Vb
remains unchanged, but voltage Va changes and the
change in Va is a fraction of ∆R.

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• Let Vab =voltage across the terminals of the bridge.
we have Vab = Va – Vb -------1
But Va = VDC[RA/RA+( RT+ ∆R )] and -------2
Vb = VDC[RB / RB + RC] by potential divider rule -------3
Substituting equation 1 and 2 in equation 3
Vab = VDC[RA/(RA+( RT+ ∆R )) - RB / RB + RC]
Let RA= RB = RC= RT = R
∴Vab = -VDC[ ∆R/2(2R+ ∆R )] -------4

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• The voltage Vab is applied to the instrumentation
amplifier which is a combination of three op amps A1,A2
and A3
• A1 and A2 are voltage followers and their main function is
to eliminate loading effect of the bridge network.
• The gain of the differential amplifier is given by
A3 = -RF/R1
∴ Output voltage of the circuit
Vo = Vab[-RF/R1]
= -VDC[ ∆R/2(2R+ ∆R )]
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• Since ∆R in general , is quite small,
2R+ ∆R≈ 2R
with this approximation we have
Vo = VDC[RF/R1 * ∆R/4R] ---------5
VDC, R1,R and RF are of fixed magnitude
∴ Vo ∝ ∆R

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• The output voltage is directly proportional to the
change in resistance of the transducer , and this
change in resistance is a measure of physical
quantity involved.

• The voltage Vo drives an indicating meter which

can be calibrated directly in terms of the units of
the physical quantity being measured.

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 Summary

We have discussed about

• Circuit diagram of an Instrumentation amplifier

• Working of an Instrumentation amplifier
• Applications of an Instrumentation amplifier

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 Quiz

1. An Instrumentation Amplifier is used for

amplification of

c) High level signal

d) Feedback signal
e) Low level output signal
f) None of the above

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1. The signal source of an Instrumentation amplifier is

a) DC voltage source
b) AC voltage source
c) The output of the transducer
d) None of the above

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3) In the instrumentation amplifier using a transducer
bridge the output voltage is

b) Directly proportional to change in resistance of

the transducer

c) inversely proportional to change in resistance of

the transducer

d) equal to change in resistance of the transducer

e) None of the above

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 Frequently asked questions

2. What is an Instrumentation Amplifier?

3. Draw the circuit of an Instrumentation Amplifier and
explain its working
4. List the applications of an Instrumentation Amplifier

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