Op Amp Inverting Amplifier: Operational Amplifier Circuit

The op amp inverting amplifier circuit is widely used and easy to implement.

The op amp inverting amplifier circuit is very easy to design and can be implemented with a very limited number of additional components.

In its simplest form the op amp inverting amplifier only requires the use of two additional resistors.

This the inverting amplifier can also be used as a virtual earth mixer, but it is also worth noting that the input impedance of this op amp circuit is not as high as the inverting format.

Op amp inverting amplifier circuit

The basic diagram for the inverting operational amplifier circuit is quite straightforward and only needs a few components beyond the operational amplifier integrated circuit itself.

The circuit 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.

Inverting amplifier gain

One of the main features of the inverting amplifier circuit is the overall gain that it produces. This is quite easy to calculate. The voltage gain, Av, 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.

It is also easy to determine the equation for the voltage gain. 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:

$Av=-\frac{\mathrm{R2}}{\mathrm{R1}}$

Where:
Av = voltage gain
R2 is the feedback resistor value
R1 is the input resistor value

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

It is often necessary to know the input impedance of a circuit, and in this case of the inverting amplifier. 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 very simple to determine the input impedance of an inverting operational amplifier circuit. It is simply the value of the input resistor R1.

It is easy to reason why the input impedance to the amplifier circuit is equal to R1.

The non-inverting input is connected to ground and therefore this is properly at ground potential.

The gain of the operational amplifier is very high, this means that for outputs within the rail voltage, which it is for an analogue amplifier, the voltage difference between the inverting and non-inverting inputs must be very small. As the non-inverting input is at ground, the inverting input must be virtually at ground. It is for this reason that the circuit is sometimes referred to as a virtual earth amplifier.

Op amp inverting amplifier design hints and tips

The op amp inverting amplifier is very easy to design, but as with any design there are a few hints and tips that can be of use.

• Don’t make R2 too high:   Although the input impedance of op amps is high, it is always best to ensure that the value of R2 is not chosen to be too high otherwise other circuit effects may load it and the value of gain may not be what is expected. It is often wise to keep the value of R2 below 100kΩ as a rough rule of thumb.
• Don’t make R1 too low:   It is also wise not to make the value of R1 too low in the op amp inverting amplifier. Remember that it determines the input resistance of the inverting amplifier circuit. If AC coupling the input circuit, the value of the series coupling capacitor will need to be chosen so that its reactance is sufficiently low at the lowest frequencies needed. Lowering the value of R1 increases the value of capacitor required. Also making R1 too low increases the loading on the previous stage.
• Remember bandwidth:   Although op amps have a high value of gain, this starts to fall at increasing frequencies. Even with feedback in the inverting amplifier, the gain bandwidth product needs to be considered. Don’t try to get too much gain out of a single stage, otherwise the frequency response may suffer.

Inverting amplifier single ended operation

Typically an operational amplifier circuit will be operated from differential supplies, e.g. +12V and -12V. This is quite acceptable in many applications, but there are often occasions when only one supply is needed.

Under these circumstances it is relatively easy to implement the op amp inverting amplifier in what is termed a single ended version using only one supply rail.

The single voltage supply version of the op amp inverting amplifier circuit is relatively straightforward, although it does have more components when compared to the dual rail version.

Effectively a half way point has been created for the non-inverting input. And in this way the operational amplifier sees the same conditions.

A few points to note:

• Half supply point:   A point at half the supply voltage is set to connect to the non-inverting input. This is created by the potential divider chain consisting of resistors R3 and R4. In view of the high input impedance of the operational amplifier, values of something like 47kΩ can be used. If the values are chosen to be too high then the impedance of the inverting input may offset the voltage
• Choice of half rail voltage:   The half rail voltage is chosen to be close to 50% of the rail. In this way the circuit will enable the largest output voltage swing up and down without clipping.
• Decoupling:   The half rail supply requires decoupling to ground. In this way any signal and power supply noise will not affect the operation of the circuit. The point is purely required as a signal ground and voltage reference point. The value of the capacitor should sufficiently large to pass any signal components that may appear on it.
• Circuit coupling:   A single ended voltage rail op amp inverting amplifier requires the inputs to the AC coupled. Capacitors C2 and C3 should be chosen to pass the lowest signal frequencies with no undue attenuation.

The single ended rail version of the op amp inverting amplifier circuit finds applications where only one voltage supply rail is available. Often circuits running from battery supplies will only have one supply and this solution is often employed in these applications.

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