The Integrator

The Integrator circuit is also known as integration amplifier. Integrator circuits form an
important part of op-amp applications. Here we discuss the ideal integrator and its
drawback and then we extend our discussion to practical integrator and see how
practical integrator removes the drawbacks of an ideal integrator.

Construction:

• In Inverting Amplifier, replace the feedback resistance with capacitor.

The output voltage waveform is the integral of input voltage waveform.

To get the mathematical expression for the output voltage:

Apply Nodal Analysis:

Current through resistor ( say i1) = current through the feedback capacitor (if)

i1 = iF

From the basic understanding of network concepts, current through capacitor is given
by
𝑑𝑑𝑣𝑣𝑐𝑐
𝑖𝑖𝐶𝐶 = 𝐶𝐶 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

Where vc is the voltage across the capacitor

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𝑣𝑣𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 −𝑂𝑂 𝑑𝑑
𝑅𝑅1
= 𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 (0 − 𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 )

𝑣𝑣𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑑𝑑
= −𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑣𝑣0
𝑅𝑅1

𝑣𝑣
∫ 𝑅𝑅𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = ∫ −𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹 𝑑𝑑𝑣𝑣0
1

vin is time varying, R1 and CF are time invariant

−𝟏𝟏 𝒕𝒕
Hence, 𝒗𝒗𝟎𝟎 = 𝑹𝑹 ∫𝒐𝒐 𝒗𝒗𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊 𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅 + 𝑪𝑪
𝑪𝑪
𝟏𝟏 𝑭𝑭

C is the integration constant and is proportional to value of the output voltage v0 at t = 0

i.e. initial voltage on the capacitor

Points to Note:

• Output voltage is proportional to negative integral of input voltage

• Output voltage is inversely proportional to time constant R1CF
Since the output voltage is integral of the input, we can have some results:

Input Output
Step Ramp
Square wave Triangular wave
Sine wave Cosine Wave

Ques 1. The figure shows an input waveform to an ideal capacitor circuit . Draw the
output waveform assuming op-amp does not get saturated and RC = 1.

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Solution:

The output voltage is given by:

𝑡𝑡
𝑉𝑉0 = − ∫𝑜𝑜 𝑣𝑣𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 (𝑡𝑡)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

vin = A

V0 = -At

Hence as the time increases the output voltage varies as

Ques 2. The figure shows an input waveform to an ideal capacitor circuit . Draw the
output waveform assuming op-amp does not get saturated and RC = 1.

Solution:

The output voltage is given by:

𝑡𝑡
𝑉𝑉0 = − ∫𝑜𝑜 𝑣𝑣𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 (𝑡𝑡)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

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vin = A

V0 = -At

Hence as the time increases the output voltage varies as

Ques 3. If the input to the integrator is Square waveform, then the output waveform is:

a)

b)

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 c)

d)

Ans. C

Solution:

The capacitor is initially uncharged.

As the positive level of input voltage comes ( 0 to T/2) , the capacitor charges.

The output voltage increases linearly in negative direction

Now when the negative voltage level arrives ( T/2 – T)

The capacitor charges in opposite direction.

The capacitor voltage increases but in opposite direction.

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Hence the correct waveform is

Errors in Ideal Integrator

• Bias current charges the capacitor and gives error in output voltage.
• The error voltage may put op-amp in saturation.
• Very small bandwidth of ideal integrator limits the frequency range.
Frequency Response of an Ideal Integrator:

The figure shows equivalent representation of elements in an ideal integrator:

The gain of the integrator can be calculated as:

−1
𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜 (𝑠𝑠) −𝑍𝑍𝐹𝐹 (𝑠𝑠)
= = 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝑉𝑉𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 (𝑠𝑠) 𝑍𝑍𝑙𝑙 (𝑠𝑠) 𝑅𝑅1

𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜 (𝑠𝑠) −1
= 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑅𝑅
𝑉𝑉𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 (𝑠𝑠) 1

Substitute s = jω and ω = 2 π f

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 𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜 (𝑠𝑠) −1
= 𝑗𝑗2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅
𝑉𝑉𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 (𝑠𝑠) 1 𝐶𝐶

Magnitude can be written as:

𝑉𝑉 1
�𝑉𝑉 𝑜𝑜 � = 2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅 ……(1)
𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 1 𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹

Frequency at which gain = 1

Let this frequency be f = fb ( Unity Gain Frequency )

1
1 = 2𝜋𝜋𝑓𝑓
𝑏𝑏 𝑅𝑅1 𝐶𝐶

1
𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 = 2𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅
1 𝐶𝐶

From (1):

When f = 0
𝑉𝑉
�𝑉𝑉 𝑜𝑜 � = ∞ , practically the gain in limited by the open loop gain of practical op-amp
𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖

Hence an ideal integrator is unstable at low frequency because of large gain, which may
drive op-amp into saturation.

As the frequency increases, gain decreases with frequency

Practical Integrator

The drawbacks of ideal integrator can be corrected using a practical integrator.

Construction:

• The figure shows the modified ideal integrator to make practical integrator.

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A feedback resistance RF is added which reduces the gain at low frequencies.

Frequency Response of a Practical Integrator:

To understand how a practical integrator removes the drawbacks of an ideal integrator

let us find the expression for gain.

Apply Nodal:

Total incoming current through resistor R1 (I) = Current through capacitor + Current
through feedback resistor

I = I1 + I2
𝑣𝑣𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 −𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 𝑣𝑣
= − 𝑅𝑅𝑜𝑜
𝑅𝑅1 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝐹𝐹

𝑣𝑣𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 (𝑠𝑠) 𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 (𝑠𝑠)

= −𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 (𝑠𝑠) −
𝑅𝑅1 𝑅𝑅𝐹𝐹

𝑣𝑣𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 1
= − �𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 + 𝑅𝑅 � 𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 (𝑠𝑠)
𝑅𝑅1 𝐹𝐹

𝑅𝑅
𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 − 𝐹𝐹
𝑅𝑅
= (1+𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠1𝑅𝑅
𝑣𝑣𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝐹𝐹 )

Substitute s = jω and ω = 2 π f
−𝑅𝑅𝐹𝐹
𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 𝑅𝑅1
=
𝑣𝑣𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 1+𝑗𝑗2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 𝐶𝐶𝑅𝑅𝐹𝐹

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 1
Let 2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅𝐹𝐹
= 𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎

𝑅𝑅
𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 − 𝑅𝑅𝐹𝐹
1
=
𝑣𝑣𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑓𝑓
1 + 𝑗𝑗
𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎
1
𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎 = 2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅 is known as break frequency or corner frequency of a practical
𝑓𝑓

integrator.

Let us find the magnitude of the transfer function:

Magnitude:
𝑅𝑅𝐹𝐹
𝑅𝑅1
|𝐴𝐴| =
2
�1+� 𝑓𝑓 �
𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎

Here to find the gain at low frequencies i.e. at f = 0

Gain =|A| = RF/R1

Point to Note:

Infinite DC gain in case of Ideal Integrator gets limited to RF/R1.

𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑓𝑓 = 𝑓𝑓𝑎𝑎
1 𝑅𝑅
𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺𝐺 = |𝐴𝐴| = �𝑅𝑅𝐹𝐹�
√2 1

The complete frequency response of a practical integrator is :

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It is here to note the two important frequencies fa, the corner frequency and fb , the unity
gain frequency.

It is between these two frequencies fa and fb where the circuit works as an Integrator

Input signal will be integrated properly when time period of the input signal (T) follows:

T ≥ RFCF

where
1
𝑅𝑅𝐹𝐹 𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹 = 2𝜋𝜋𝑓𝑓
𝑎𝑎

As a rule of thumb, the input frequency ‘ f ’ and corner frequency should follow

f ≥ 10 fa

Ques 4. If the time period of an ideal integrator is 2 sec. The time after which
Integrator will saturate if the input signal is shown below is:

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Answer: 7.5 sec

Solution:
−1 𝑡𝑡
𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 (𝑡𝑡) = 𝑅𝑅𝐶𝐶 ∫0 𝑣𝑣𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

−1 𝑡𝑡
= 2
∫0 4 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

⇒ -2t = -15

t = 7.5 sec

Hope this article on Op-amp Integrator was helpful for you to prepare for your trade. If
you have any queries then do mention in the comments section.

You can also check related articles from the below links-

Operational Amplifier Study Notes Operational Amplifier with Feedback

Frequency Response of Operational Amplifiers & 741 IC

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