In this lab we will build and test a simple BJT operational amplifier
from discrete components. The circuit that we will use is presented
and discussed by Sedra and Smith in Example 6.2 (pages 438-439)
and in Section 6.10 and Example 6.3 (pages 470-475). It utilizes
differential transistor pairs to amplify the difference between
the (+) and (-) inputs, and `current mirrors' (rather than resistors)
to bias the transistors. Successive stages of the amplifier are
direct coupled to eliminate bypass or coupling capacitors and
to allow d.c. operation. For comparison, the circuitry of a 741
amplifier is given on p. 700 of Sedra and Smith.
NOTE 1: It will be important to lay out the amplifier neatly
on your breadboard. You will want to use your own breadboard for
building the circuit (or a checked-out breadboard) since it will
probably take you two lab periods to finish. Use bus lines for
the +/-15 volt supplies, and lay the circuit out between two sets
of bus lines from the bottom to top of the breadboard.
(This puts the input stage furthest from the supply and decreases
the chances that feedback through the supply bus will cause the
circuit to oscillate.) The circuitry is more complicated than
you may be used to breadboarding, and MOST PROBLEMS WILL COME
FROM WIRING MISTAKES. Take the time to wire your circuit CAREFULLY
and NEATLY to avoid mistakes.
A. D.C. Bias Voltages and Currents
Construct and test the amplifier in stages as described below.
We will use two CA3086 transistor arrays for Q1--Q6 and Q9, and
2N3906 pnp and 2N3904 npn transistors for Q7 and Q8, respectively.
As the construction proceeds you will probably have to adjust
some component values slightly to get the proper bias. Note the
bias voltages and currents directly on your schematic, as in Figure
6-23.
NOTE 2: All of the transistors of the CA3086 chip are on a common
substrate, which is connected to pin 13 (the emitter of transistor
Q5). This pin must be connected to the MOST NEGATIVE voltage
in the circuit, namely to -15V. To ensure this, use Q5 of the
array as Q9 of the current mirror. Also, be sure to ground yourself
and the packaging before removing the CA3086 chip from the package
as they can be damaged by static electicity.
1. Construct the first stage differential amplifier and current
mirror bias circuit (Q1--Q3 and Q9). One of the collector resistors
of the differential amplifier should include a 1K pot and be variable
around 20K. (This will be used to fine tune the bias voltages
after the entire amplifier is built.)
The current mirrors shown in the text circuit are susceptible
to `thermal runaway', so we will add an emitter resistor RE
to Q3 to obtain a `Widlar' current mirror shown in Figure 6.20
of your text. For RE = 100 ohms, compute the reference
current IREF that gives the required mirror current
of 0.5 mA. Compute the collector resistor of Q9 that gives the
correct reference current.
With both inputs grounded, measure the bias voltages at each point
in the circuit, starting with Q9, then Q3, etc. Remember that
each transistor should be in its active mode (0.6--0.7 V base-emitter
voltage and base-collector reverse-biased (or zero)). Check this
for each transistor as you go, and note the values on your schematic.
Measuring bias voltages is the BEST WAY to troubleshoot a circuit,
and if you ever have problems with the circuit not working, you
can usually find the problem by rechecking the bias values.
Note that the bias voltages on the two collectors can be used
to compute the collector currents. Do this and compare with their
design values. (The currents can be equalized by adjusting the
1K pot.) The total bias current can also be determined by measuring
the voltage across RE of the current mirror with your
DVM. Do this.
2. Test the operation of the first stage by applying a sine wave
from your signal generator to one of the inputs. (Leave the other
input grounded.) By displaying one of the collector voltages vs.
the input voltage in x-y mode on your scope, you should be able
to reproduce the curves of Figure 6.3 in your text. Use the `hold'
and `recall' features of your digital scope to obtain both collector
waveforms on the same plot. You should be able to estimate the
small-signal gain of the first stage by measuring the slope at
zero input. Compare with the theoretical gain gmRC/2.
3. Add the second stage differential amplifier and biasing current
mirror. Because the collector current of Q6 is 4 times that of
Q3, a transistor of 4x the junction area would need to be used.
This can be done either by connecting 4 transistors in parallel,
as in Figure 6.17, or by constructing a separate current mirror
that gives the required current. It will be easier to construct
a separate Widlar current mirror for this stage. Note that RE
will have to be smaller than before, probably around 10
ohms, to obtain a reasonable reference current IREF.
(What would IREF need to be if RE = 100
ohms, as before?)
Connect the two stages and measure the bias levels in the same
manner as before (amplifier inputs grounded). Compare with the
expected bias voltages and currents. Note that the collector voltage
of Q5 will provide the bias for the remaining stages and must
be close to +12 V. If it is not you will have to change either
RC or the resistor which determines IREF.
It is not necessary to test this stage with a sinusoidal input;
if the bias levels are correct the circuit will function properly.
Add the pnp level converter (Q7) and emitter-follower output
driver (Q8). The goal here is to achieve 0 VDC bias at the output
of the amplifier; if the previous stage bias is close enough you
should be able accomplish this using the 1K pot. NOTE that the
output transistor will be dissipating some power (how much?).
The 2N3904 should be able to handle it, as it has a 1.5 Watt rating
at 25 degrees C. The potentiometer serves as a d.c. offset adjust.
Is the adjustment fine or coarse?
B. Small-signal and op-amp operation.
1. Bypass the power supply lines near the amplifier with 0.1 or 0.01 uF capacitors. Measure the open-loop gain of the op amp at 1 kHz. In Example 6.3, the gain is computed stage by stage to be a total of about 8500 (bottom p. 474). Apply a suitably small signal (1 mV p-p or less) to the (+) or (-) input to measure the gain, leaving the other input grounded. Use a voltage divider of low source resistance (50 ohms) to produce the input signal. (A larger source resistance would alter the bias voltages in the circuit.) With the large gain and small input signals you will have to take care about how
everything is grounded. The output voltage should swing both positive
and negative. Measure the overall gain, and compare with theory.
(As an option, measure the gain at each stage.)
2. Briefly measure the 3 dB frequency of the amplifier. To do
this, you will have to reduce the input signal amplitude so that
the output amplitude is not limited by the slew rate as the signal
frequency is increased. (Option: What is the measured slew rate?)
Can you measure the unity gain frequency?
3. As it stands, the op amp is not compensated and would probably
oscillate if you tried to apply feedback (why?). Compensate the
op amp by placing a 0.01 uF capacitor between the collectors of
Q1 and Q2. What break point and unity gain frequency does this
give? Make a sketch to scale of the asymptotic Bode plot for the
uncompensated and compensated open loop gain.
4. Use the compensated op amp to implement an inverting gain of
10 amplifier. Measure the bandwidth of the amplifier and check
if this is what you would expect from the open loop gain. The
frequency response may be `peaked' just below the 3 dB frequency;
this means that there is a pole pair close to the imaginary axis
at this frequency and therefore that the step response will have
overshoot. Test and document this with a square wave input. The
ringing can be eliminated by increasing the compensation capacitor
to 0.1 uF. Document the effect on the step response and closed
loop bandwidth.
(Optional) If you have gotten this far and want to do more, try
measuring various non-ideal things about the op-amp, such as its
slew rate, saturation values, input noise, input d.c. offset,
input bias current, common-mode rejection, etc.
ASSOCIATED LABORATORY ASSIGNMENT
Prior to, between lab sessions, or following the lab, analyze
the circuit using PSPICE. PSPICE can be used to compute the bias
voltages, frequency response, and transient response of the amplifier.
Check if the bias voltages are correct and modify the circuit
until this is achieved. Analyze the frequency response of the
uncompensated and compensated amplifier, and make a bode plot
of both. Compare with your lab results. Finally, simulate the
inverting gain of 10 amplifier, computing both the frequency and
transient response.