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The Inverting Integrator

The circuit shown below is the inverting integrator.

i2 (s)

R
v-
vin (s) -

i1 (s) ideal vout

oc
(s )
v+
+

Since the circuit uses the inverting configuration, we can

conclude that the circuit transfer function is:

vout
oc
(s )
G (s ) =
vin (s )
Z (s )
=- 2
Z 1 (s )

=-
(1 s C )
R
-1
=
s RC

In other words, the output signal is related to the input as:

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-1 vin (s )
vout
oc
(s ) =
RC s

From our knowledge of Laplace Transforms, we know this means

that the output signal is proportional to the integral of the
input signal!

Taking the inverse Laplace Transform, we find:

t
-1
v (t ) =
oc
out v (t
) dt
in
RC 0

For example, if the input is:

vin (tt
) = sin

then the output is:

t
-1
v oc
(tt
) = dt sin
out
RC 0
-1 -1
= cost
RC
1
= cost
RC

We likewise could have determined this result using Fourier

Analysis (i.e., frequency domain):
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v
oc
( )
G
( )= out
vin
( )
Z( )
=- 2
Z 1
( )

=-
( 1 j C )
R
j
=
RC

Thus, the magnitude of the transfer function is:

j
G
( ) =
RC
1
=
RC

And since:

( )
j = e ( 2) = cos 2 j sin 2
j
( )
the phase of the transfer function is:

( ) =
G radians
2
= 90o

Given that:
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v
oc
out
( )G= ( v ) in ( )
and:
voc
out
( ) =G ( ) v in ( )

we find for the input:

vin (tt
) = sin
where:
v
in
( ) =1 and v in( ) = 0

that the output of the inverting integrator is:

v
oc
out
( )G= ( v) in ( )
1
=
RC
and:
v
oc
out
( ) =G ( ) v in ( )
= 90o 0
= 90o
Therefore:

1
vout
oc
(tt
)=
RC
sin (
90 o )
1
= cost
RC

Exactly the same result as before!

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If you are still unconvinced that this circuit is an integrator,

consider this time-domain analysis.

i2 (t)
C

+ vc -

R
v-
vin(t) -
i- = 0 ideal
i1 (t)
v+
vout
oc
(t )
+

From our elementary circuits knowledge, we know that the

voltage across a capacitor is:

t
1
vc (t ) = i (t
2) dt
C 0

and from the circuit we see that:

vc (t ) = v -(t ) - vout
oc
(t ) = -vout
oc
(t )

therefore the output voltage is:

t
1
v (t ) = -
oc
out i (t
2) dt
C 0
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From KCL, we likewise know that:

i1(t ) = i2(t )

and from Ohms Law:

vin (t ) - v -(t ) vin (t )

i1(t ) = =
R1 R1
Therefore:
vin (t )
i2 (t ) =
R1

and thus:
t
-1
v (t ) =
oc
out i2(t
) dt
C 0
t
-1
= v (t
) dt
in
RC 0

The same result as before!