TransWikia.com

LTspice simulation doesn't agree with predicted transfer function

Electrical Engineering Asked by Walden Marshall on February 26, 2021

My LTspice schematic

I am trying to create an integrator in LTspice that I will use as a subcircuit in a signal chain later, but can’t get the simulation results to agree with my theoretical calculations. I derived the following transfer function:

$$
H(s)=frac{R_2}{R_{1}R_{2}Cs+R_{1}}
$$

When I used MATLAB linear simulator to test the response of this transfer function to a 5 Hz square wave, I got the expected result: a triangle wave at steady state. However, LTspice would not cooperate.
LTspice simulation results

This looks almost like a differentiator. I double and triple checked to make sure I had the transfer function right. I also built the physical circuit, and measured a triangle wave output at steady state. Can someone help me make my LTspice simulation produce the desired results?

I’m somewhat of a noob with LTspice so I apologize if I left out any important information needed to diagnose the problem.

2 Answers

The standard form for your transfer function is:

$$G_s=Kfrac{omega_{_0}}{s+omega_{_0}}$$

where voltage gain $K=-frac{R_2}{R_1}$ and $omega_{_0}=frac1{R_2,C_1}$. This is a low-pass filter with voltage gain $K=-2.7$ and $omega_{_0}approx 3.704:frac{text{rad}}{text{s}}$ or $f_{_0}approx 589.5:text{mHz}$.

From this, I'd expect integrator behavior, not differential. In particular, I'd expect an upward ramp followed by a downward ramp, etc. So it should look like a triangle wave at the output.

If you center your square-wave around $0:text{V}$ (which you didn't do), then you'd expect to see a charging current of about $frac{pm 4.5:text{V}}{1:text{k}Omega}=pm4.5:text{mA}$. At $100:text{ms}$ per half-cycle, this works out to $Delta,V=frac{4.5:text{mA}}{100:mutext{F}}cdot 100:text{ms}=4.5:text{V}$. So that should be the peak-to-peak for your triangle, assuming you center your square-wave. (The triangle wave will also be centered around $0:text{V}$, given a little bit of time to "settle-in.")

With the square-wave you have, I'd expect to see the same triangle-wave (given enough time to settle-in, with the integrating capacitor developing a net quiescent charge), but the average value is now the voltage gain times the input average voltage, or $-2.7cdot 4.5:text{V}=-12.15:text{V}$. For that, you'll need an opamp that preferably has rail-to-rail output and use a $V_text{EE}=-15:text{V}$.

Let's perform a run in LTspice using $pm 15:text{V}$ supply rails and an opamp whose output is close to rail-to-rail, the LT1800:

enter image description here

Just as predicted.

Correct answer by jonk on February 26, 2021

You have supplied the opamp with a +9 V rail only, then given it a 9 V input when it has -2.7x gain. It will not be able to drive the output negative.

To get things working

  • Supply the opamp with +/- 15 Volts.

  • Reduce your input signal to 1 V amplitude.

Then play with the amplifier supply and signal amplitude while you explore what input common mode range and output swing means for that opamp. Hint, it's not a rail-to-rail opamp.

Answered by Neil_UK on February 26, 2021

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question

Get help from others!

© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP