An inverting amplifier is a basic electronic circuit configuration that is commonly used in analog signal processing applications. It is one of the most fundamental op-amp (operational amplifier) circuits, and it gets its name from the fact that the output signal is an inverted or flipped version of the input signal.
The inverting amplifier circuit consists of an operational amplifier (op-amp) and two resistors. The op-amp is a high-gain differential amplifier with two input terminals, a non-inverting terminal (+) and an inverting terminal (-), and one output terminal.
Here's the basic setup of an inverting amplifier:
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+Vcc
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Rf (feedback resistor)
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Vin ----|---- Op-Amp ---- Vout
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Rin (input resistor)
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-Vcc
How it works:
Feedback Resistor (Rf): This resistor connects the output of the op-amp back to its inverting (-) input terminal. The value of Rf is determined by the desired gain of the amplifier.
Input Resistor (Rin): This resistor connects the input signal (Vin) to the inverting (-) input terminal of the op-amp.
When a voltage signal (Vin) is applied to the input of the inverting amplifier, the op-amp will amplify it, but with a phase inversion. The voltage at the inverting (-) input terminal of the op-amp is compared to the voltage at the non-inverting (+) input terminal, which is typically connected to a reference voltage (e.g., ground or virtual ground).
The op-amp will adjust its output voltage (Vout) in such a way that the voltage difference between the two inputs becomes zero. To achieve this, the op-amp will adjust Vout so that the following equation holds true:
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Vin / Rin = -Vout / Rf
Solving for Vout:
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Vout = -Vin * (Rf / Rin)
From the equation, it is evident that the output voltage (Vout) is the negative of the input voltage (Vin) multiplied by the ratio of the feedback resistor (Rf) to the input resistor (Rin). This negative sign indicates the inversion of the input signal.
The gain of the inverting amplifier is given by the magnitude of the ratio (Rf / Rin). By appropriately choosing the values of Rf and Rin, you can control the amplification factor of the input signal.
In practice, it is essential to use suitable resistor values and ensure the op-amp is properly powered to maintain stability and accurate performance in the inverting amplifier circuit.