Sunday, February 19, 2017

Lab 6

1. You will use the OPAMP in “open-loop” configuration in this part, where input signals will be applied directly to the pins 2 and 3.

Non-Inverting Input (V)
Output (V)
-5 < X < 0
-4.09
0
0
0 < X < 5
4.49
Inverting Input (V)
Inverting Output (V)
-5 < X< 0
4.49
0
0
0 < X < 5
-4.09
Table: Both inverting and Non-Inverting outputs hit a stable max and min value when above zero

Picture: Non- Inverting inputs with respective outputs


a. Apply 0 V to the inverting input. Sweep the non-inverting input (Vin) from -5 V to 5 V with 1 V steps. Take more steps around 0 V (both positive and negative). Create a table for Vin and Vout. Plot the data (Vout vs Vin). Discuss your results. What would be the ideal plot?

        When plugging in voltage values for the Non-Inverting input, all of the values below zero became a max value of -4.09 volts. While anything above zero became 4.49 volts. The ideal plot would have both the negative min and positive max of negative five and positive five.
Picture: Inverting inputs with respective outputs


b. Apply 0 V to the non-inverting input. Sweep the inverting input (Vin) from -5 V to 5 V with 1 V steps. Take more steps around 0 V (both positive and negative). Create a table for Vin and Vout. Plot the data (Vout vs Vin). Discuss your results. What would be the ideal plot?

        Much like the Non-Inverting input, the Inverting hit stable max and min values, however when a voltage lower than zero was plugged in the reading was 4.49. When a voltage above zero was plugged in the reading was -4.09.  The ideal plot would have both the negative min and positive max of negative five and positive five.


2. Create a non-inverting amplifier. (R2 = 2 kΩ, R1 = 1 kΩ). Sweep Vin from -5 V to 5 V with 1 V steps. Create a table for Vin and Vout. Plot the measured and calculated data together.

Input (V)
Output (V)
-5 < input < -2
-3.77
-1
-2.57
-0.74
-1.89
-.50
-1.23
0
0
0.05
1.9
0.70
2.43
1
3.78
2 < input < 5
4.24
Table : This table shows values for Non-Inverting amplifier when varied from -5 to 5 volts

Figure : Plot of Non-Inverted Opamp Output Voltage Versus Input Voltage


3. Create an inverting amplifier. (Rf = 2 kΩ, Rin = 1 kΩ). Sweep Vin from -5 V to 5 V with 1 V steps. Create a table for Vin and Vout. Plot the measured and calculated data together.

Input
Output
-5 < input < -2
4.21
-1
2.23
-0.73
1.80
-0.48
1.30
0
0.10
0.50
-0.62
0.74
-1.15
1.10
-1.84
2
-3.645
3 < input < 5
-3.70
Table; This table shows values for the Inverting amplifier when varied from -5 to 5 volts

Figure : Plot of Inverted Opamp Output Voltage Versus Input Voltage


4. Explain how an OPAMP works. How come is the gain of the OPAMP in the open loop configuration too high but inverting/non-inverting amplifier configurations provide such a small gain?

An op amp works by amplifying the difference between the two input terminals to potentially supply a high voltage to the output terminal, which is limited by the supply voltage. This amplification, otherwise known as the gain is usually extremely high in open loop operational amplifiers (around 100,000). This means that even a small input voltage going through the circuit will result in an output voltage that is close to the value of the supply voltage. In inverting and non-inverting op amp set-ups, however, a portion of the output voltage is connected back to the negative input voltage. This reduces the potential difference between the input terminals and thus decreases the gain of the op amp dramatically. 

1. Connect your DC power supply to pin 2 and ground pin 5. Set your power supply to 0V. Switch your multimeter to measure the resistance mode; use your multimeter to measure the resistance between pin 4 and pin 1. Do the same measurement between pin 3 and pin 1. Explain your findings (EXPLAIN).

     When measuring the resistance between pin four and pin one, the multimeter gave a reading of 1.3 Ohms while when connected to pin three and pin one the multimeter displayed a reading of being overloaded.

2. Now sweep your DC power supply from 0V to 8V and back to 0V. What do you observe at the multimeter (resistance measurements similar to #1)? Did you hear a clicking sound? How many times? What is the “threshold voltage values” that cause the “switching?” (EXPLAIN with a VIDEO).
          The multimeter shows at first a reading then once the relay makes a clicking sound, the meter immediately displays a reading of overloaded. The clicking of the relay can be heard twice when the voltage is increased to eight and then decreased back down to zero. These clicks were measured at six volts and going down to two volts. 


Video 1: Relay "Click" Explanation


3. How does the relay work? Apply a separate DC voltage of 5 V to pin 1. Check the voltage value of pin 3 and pin 4 (each with respect to ground) while switching the relay (EXPLAIN with a VIDEO).

Video 2: This Video explains how the relay works and shows how the added 5 volts affects pin 3 and 4

         For Pin four, when the voltage hits about six volts for the input the relay makes a clicking sound and switches the reading on the multimeter to overloaded. When decreasing the voltage from eight back down to zero the same sound can be heard when around two volts and the mulitmeter gives off a reading. When the multimeter is plugged at pin three, the relay once again clicks at six and going down at two volts however it starts off as overloaded then clicks and goes down to a readable number.

3. Turn LED on/off by switching the relay. Explain your results in the video. Draw the circuit schematic (VIDEO)

Video 3: Relay as an LED Switch explained

Picture: schematic for the circuit with a relay



1. Connect the power supplies to the op-amp (+10V and 0V). Show the operation of LM 124 operational amplifier in DC mode with a non-inverting amplifier configuration. Choose any opamp in the IC. Method: Use several R1 and R2 configurations and change your input voltage (voltages between 0 and 10V) and record your output voltage. (EXPLAIN with a TABLE)

R1= 100 Ohm
R2= 100 Ohm
Input (V)
Output (V)
10 < X< 3
7.06
3
6.26
2
3.75
1
2.05
.5
1.02
0
0
Table: With both resistors at 100 ohms

R1= 47 Ohm
R2= 100 Ohm
Input (V)
Output (V)
10 < X < 2
6.63
2
6.43
1
3.045
.5
1.484
0
0
Table: One resistor is 47 Ohm and the other is 100 Ohm

R1= 1.2 k Ohm
R2= 100 Ohm
Input (V)
Output (V)
10 < X < 7
8.64
7
7.44
6
6.38
5
5.33
4
4.27
3
3.33
2
1.95
1
1.18
.5
.7
0
0
Table: One Resistor is 1.2k Ohm the other is 100 Ohm

      When the resistance was increased the change in voltage affected the reading much more than when there was only a small resistance. This data helps show how the resistance plays a vital role in the max value that the circuit can go up to. For example, In the first table, there are only five unique values while the third table (largest resistance) had ten unique values.

3. Design a system where LED light turns on when you heat up the temperature sensor. (CIRCUIT schematic and explanation in a VIDEO)

Figure: LED Relay Schematic Using Heat Sensor and Opamp

Although we were not able to build this circuit, we created this schematic based on earlier parts of the experiment and some hypotheses. As usual the Opamp will have a set maximum value, which is shown as 10V in the diagram, and the output of the Opamp is connected to the relay input. In the relay, the resistance can either be very high thus limiting the flow of current, or very low, allowing the LED to be lit. The temperature sensor will limit the amount of voltage that enters the opamp and thus the amount of voltage that enters the relay and thus the power in the LED.

Sunday, February 12, 2017

1. Functional check: Oscilloscope manual page 5. Perform the functional check (photo).

Photo 1: Operational check for the Oscilloscope

2. Perform manual probe compensation (Oscilloscope manual page 8) (Photo of overcompensation and proper compensation).
Photo 2: Proper compensation for the Oscilloscope

Photo 3: Overcompensation for the Oscilloscope

3. What does probe attenuation (1x vs 10x) do (Oscilloscope manual page 9)?

Probe attenuation is the adjustment of the scale on which the vertical components of the wave are displayed. The probe attenuation function exists to ensure that the probes’ measured values are consistent with the readings on display. 10X is the standard and 1X would limit the frequency to 7 MHz.


4. How do vertical and horizontal controls work? Why would you need it (Oscilloscope manual pages 34-35)?

Turning the nob for the vertical controls moves the wave up and down in a simple vertical shift, while the horizontal nob moves the curve left and right. This makes it easier to see the values of the curve and thus to write a function for the data.

5. Generate a 1 kHz, 0.5 Vpp around a DC 1 V from the function generator (use the output connector). DO NOT USE oscilloscope probes for the function generator. There is a separate BNC cable for the function generator.
a. Connect this to the oscilloscope and verify the input signal using the horizontal and vertical readings (photo).

Photo 4: Horizontal and Vertical reading for the Oscilloscope

b. Figure out how to measure the signal properties using menu buttons on the scope.

By pressing the menu buttons along the side of the display, one can view various different values from the wave including the period and frequency and different values for voltage including peak to peak and RMS values. 

6. Connect function generator and oscilloscope probes switched (red to black, black to red). What happens? Why?

When the positive probe from the oscilloscope is connected to the red probe (positive) and the hard ground of the oscilloscope is connected to the black terminal of the function generator the oscilloscope gives a clear reading in the form of a wave. However, when the probes are reversed (ie: the positive from the function generator is connected to the oscilloscope's hard ground) the reading given by the oscilloscope is zero, or visually speaking, a flat line. This is because the hard ground is automatically zero, so when the positive end of the function generator is connected to zero, no higher value can be measured.

7. After calibrating the second probe, implement the voltage divider circuit below (UPDATE! V2 should be 0.5Vac and 2Vdc). Measure the following voltages using the Oscilloscope and comment on your results:
a. Va and Vb at the same time (Photo)
Photo: Va and Vb shown at the same time on the Oscilloscope

b. Voltage across R4.


Voltage (peak to peak) (V)
At Va
1.12
At Vb
2.18
Over R4
1.325

*Note that this circuit was done with a 1.5 V AC output and a 2V DC offset.

Based on the theory, the voltage should be reduced by each resistor after the positive end of the voltage source. So, the voltage at Vb should be higher than the voltage at Va because the voltage from the source has only been reduced by one resistor at Vb and by 2 resistors of the same value by the time the current reaches Va. As for the value of the voltage drop over R4 it would make sense in theory that this value would be the difference between Va and Vb, which based on these readings would be about 1.06 volts. The actual measured reading was obviously a bit higher than this which could be accounted for by a small change in the supplied voltage or some flow in the circuits connections. 

8. For the same circuit above, measure Va and Vb using the handheld DMM both in AC and DC mode. What are your findings? Explain.

When measuring values for AC and DC for Va across the 1k ohm resistor, AC had a value of 1.09 Volts and DC had a value of 4.04 Volts. However when measuring the values for Vb across the 1k ohm resistor the same AC and DC Voltages were found. Because both Va and Vb are over a 1k resistor and have the same current, the voltage going though each should be the same. (After looking over other groups blogs, we realized we must have set up the circuit wrong to get values that differed so much)

9. For the circuit below

a. Calculate R so given voltage values are satisfied. Explain your work (video)

Video: R7 Calculation explained.

As the video explains, the value for R7 was calculated to be 6.1 kΩ. This is the value used in the circuit below. Note that it was constructed by putting 4 1k Ω and one 2 kΩ resistor in series.

b. Construct the circuit and measure the values with the DMM and oscilloscope (video). Hint: 1kΩ cannot be probed directly by the scope. But R6 and R7 are in series and it does not matter which one is connected to the function generator.

Video: Measuring values with the DMM and Oscilloscope


10. Operational amplifier basics: Construct the following circuits using the pin diagram of the opamp. The half circle on top of the pin diagram corresponds to the notch on the integrated circuit (IC).


a. Inverting amplifier: Rin = 1kΩ, Rf = 5kΩ (do not forget -10 V and +10 V). Apply 1 Vpp @ 1kHz. Observe input and output at the same time. What happens if you slowly increase the input voltage up to 5 V? Explain your findings. (Video)
Video : Inverted waves with increasing voltage

When the voltage is increased for the function generator, the first wave's (yellow) trough increases continuously even as far as going into the peak of wave two (blue). The second wave's peak increases until it reaches a certain point then begins to flatten out no matter the increase in voltage. 

b. Non-inverting amplifier: R1 = 1kΩ, R2 = 5kΩ (do not forget -10 V and +10 V). Apply 1 Vpp @ 1kHz. Observe input and output at the same time. What happens if you slowly increase the input voltage up to 5 V? Explain your findings. (Video)

Video : Non inverted waves with increasing voltage

Similar to the inverted waves on question 10a, the first wave increases with the voltage while the second hits a certain peak value and begins to flatten out at the peak.

Friday, February 3, 2017

Lab 4

1. (Table and graph) Use the transistor by itself. The goal is to create the graph for IC (y axis) versus VBE (x axis). Connect base and collector. DO NOT EXCEED 1 V for VBE. Make sure you have the required voltage value set before applying it to the base. Transistor might get really hot. Do not TOUCH THE TRANSISTOR! Make sure to get enough data points to graph. (Suggestion: measure for VBE = 0V, 0.5V, and 1V and fill the gaps if necessary by taking extra measurements).

VBE (V)
Current (mA)
0.070
9.8
0.175
22.7
0.336
44.1
0.500
66.7
0.732
83.0
Table 1: This table shows the growth of IC compared to the growth of VBE

Graph 1: This VBE and IC graph illustrates the exponential increase in the transistor

2. (Table and graph) Create the graph for IC (y axis) versus VCE (x axis). Vary VCE from 0 V to 5 V. Do this measurement for 3 different VBE values: 0V, 0.7V, and 0.8V.
Graph 2: This shows the distribution of the the VCE, VBE and IC tables

VCE (V)
VBE (V)
IC(mA)
0.714
0.823
74.4
1.024
0.823
130
1.485
0.823
155
2.016
0.823
241
Table 2: This table  shows how IC varies with the fluctuation of VCE while VBE stays the same at .8V

VCE (V)
VBE (V)
Ic (mA)
.7
.716
12.25
.972
.716
13.25
1.44
.716
14.05
2.114
.716
15.48
2.941
.716
18.7
3.971
.716
24.4
Table 3; This table shows how IC changes with VCE changing and VBE staying stable at .7V

VCE (V)
VBE (V)
IC(mA)
0-5 *
0
0
*With any value of VCE, IC= 0
Table 4: This table shows when VBE is zero, Ic also stays zero no matter the voltage from VCE


3. (Table) Apply the following bias voltages and fill out the table. How is IC and IB related? Does your data support your theory?

VBE (V)
VCE (V)
Ic (mA)
Ib (mA)
.7
2
12.9
2.7
.75
2
53.3
7.2
.817
2
82.8
16.4
Table 5: This table shows the relation between IC and IB while VBE changes and VCE remains stable

IC is fairly consistently a multiple of IB, which is consistent with our theories based on the purpose of the transistor: to amplify current. Therefore, it makes sense for the current at the collector to be higher than that at the base.


4. (Table) Explain photocell outputs with different light settings. Create a table for the light conditions and photocell resistance.

Lighting
Resistance (kΩ)
No Light
7.1
Partial Light
5.15
Room Light
1.73
Flash Light
.745
Table 6: This table shows how diffent shades of light affect the photocell


The photo resistor is a resistor of varying values depending on the amount of light on it. The higher input of light, the lower the resistance value. Moving forward this will mean that light on this photocell will allow the motor to run, while less light would slow it down or stop it all together.


5. (Table) Apply voltage (0 to 5 V with 1 V steps) to DC motor directly and measure the current using the DMM.

Voltage (V)
Current (mA)
.082
6.22
.92
30.2
1.969
39.3
2.962
43.5
3.95
49.6
5.05
54.9
Table 7: This table shows the increase in current as the voltage increases

6. Apply 2 V to the DC motor and measure the current. Repeat this by increasing the load on the DC motor. Slightly pinching the shaft would do the trick.

The more load on the motor the higher the current would spike to keep the motor rotating. However since the motor is quite small the motor ends up stopping at about 125 mA.

7. (Video) Create the circuit below (same circuit from week 1). Explain the operation in detail.
Video 1: This video explains the process happening during the Rube Goldberg circuit set up

8. Explain R4’s role by changing its value to a smaller and bigger resistors and observing the voltage and the current at the collector of the transistor.

Resistance (Ω)
Voltage (V)
Current (mA)
0
10.2
31.2
47
10.2
31.0
390
10.2
25.6
1.2k
10.2
8.64
Table 8: This table demonstrates how the change in resistance for R4 will affect the current


R4 reduces the current going through the collector of the transistor. A higher resistance will lower the current through the transistor and the motor in accordance with ohm’s law. 

9. (Video) Create your own Rube Goldberg setup.

Video 2: Our Rube Goldberg created in class