Objectives:

• To understand the operation theory of a differentiator circuit and compare with a first-order RC
filter.
• To design and implement the differentiator circuit and verify its input-output characteristics using
LM741 IC.
Theory:
The operational amplifier can be abstracted as a black box having two inputs and one output. Shown in
Fig. 1(a), the op amp symbol distinguishes between the two inputs by the plus and minus sign; Vin1 and
Vin2 are called the “noninverting” and “inverting” inputs, respectively. We view the op amp as a circuit that
amplifies the difference between the two inputs, arriving at the equivalent circuit depicted in Fig. 1(b). The
voltage gain is denoted by A0:
Vout = A0 (Vin1 – Vin2)
We call A0 the “open-loop” gain.

Fig. 1: (a) Op amp symbol, (b) equivalent circuit

The very high gain of the op amp leads to an important observation. Since realistic circuits produce finite
output swings, e.g., 2 V, the difference between Vin1 and Vin2 in Fig.1(a) is always small:
Vin1 – Vin2 = Vout/A0.
In other words, the op amp, along with the circuitry around it, brings Vin1 and Vin2 close to each other.
Following the above idealization, we may say Vin1 = Vin2 if A0 = ∞.

Fig. 2: Circuit with general impedances around the op amp.

In general, it is possible to employ complex impedances shown in Fig. 2. For inverting op amp, we can
write

Vout Z1
≈− .
Vin Z2
where the gain of the op amp is assumed large. Suppose in Fig. 2, Z1 is a resistor and Z2 a capacitor
shown in Fig. 3. That is Z1 = R1 and Z2 = 1/C1s. With an ideal op amp, we have

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 Vout R1
=−
Vin 1
C 1s
= − R1C 1s. ...(i )

Fig. 3: Differentiator.
Exhibiting a zero at the origin, the circuit acts as a differentiator (and a high-pass filter). Fig. 4 plots the
magnitude of Vout/Vin as a function of frequency. From a time-domain perspective, we can equate the
currents flowing through C1 and R1:

dVin Vout
C1 =− .
dt R1
arriving at

dVin
Vout = − R1C1 . ...(ii )
dt

Fig. 4: Frequency response of differentiator.

Equation (i) indicates that Vout/Vin approaches infinity as the input frequency goes to infinity. This is to be
expected: the capacitor impedance becomes very large at high frequencies, approaching an open circuit
and reducing the circuit to the open-loop op amp.

(a) (b)
Fig. 5: Comparison of (a) a differentiator with (b) RC circuit.
The ideal differentiator expressed by Eq. (ii) occurs because the right plate of C1 is pinned at zero.
It is instructive to compare the operation of the differentiator with that of its passive counterpart shown in
Fig. 5. In the ideal differentiator, the virtual ground node permits the input to change the voltage across C1

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instantaneously. In the RC filter, on the other hand, node X is not “pinned,” thereby following the input
change at t = 0 and limiting the initial current in the circuit to V1/R1. If the decay time constant, R1C1, is
sufficiently small, the passive circuit can be viewed as an approximation of the ideal differentiator.
Let us now study the differentiator with a finite op amp gain. Equating the capacitor and resistor currents
in Fig. 3 gives

Vin − Vx Vx − Vout
=
1 R1
C 1s
Substituting –Vout/A0 for VX, we have
Vout − R1C1s
= .
Vin 1 + 1 + R1C1s
A0 A0
In contrast to the ideal differentiator, the circuit contains a pole at

A0 + 1
sp = − .
R1C1
Equipment and Materials Required:
i) Trainer Board
ii) Function Generator/Audio Generator
iii) Display Device/Oscilloscope
iv) Op amp (LM741 IC)
v) Resistors and capacitors
vi) Connecting wires

Experimental Procedure:
1. Construct the circuit shown in Fig. 6.

(a) (b)
Fig. 6: Practical differentiator designed in experiment.
2. Apply DC power to the circuit. Connect a function generator set to provide a square wave signal
of 4 Vp-p at 2 KHz to input Vin.
3. Use your oscilloscope to measure the peak-to-peak input (Vin) and output voltage (Vout) levels.

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Experimental Results:
i) Calculation
By Hand Calculation
dVin
Vout = − R1C1 .
dt
where Vin jumps from 0 to V1.
By Measurement
Vertically, I square = 2V
1 sub-square = 2V/5 = 0.4V
For input voltage (Vin):
5 square = 5 x 2V = 10V
3 sub-square = 3 x 0.4V = 1.2V
Vin = 10V + 1.2V = 11.2V
For output voltage (Vout):
8 square = 8 x 2V = 16V
4 sub-square = 4 x 0.4V = 1.6V
Vout = 16V + 1.6V = 17.6V

ii) Waveform

(a) (b)

Fig. 7: Comparison of output waveforms of (a) differentiator with (b) RC circuit.

Discussion:

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