A Framework For Teaching Nonlinear Op Amp Circuits To Junior Undergraduate Electrical Engineering Students

Abstract

In this work, we propose a framework for teaching nonlinear operational amplifier (opamp) circuits. This course would be for junior electrical engineering students who have a working knowledge of linear circuit theory and are starting the study of op-amp circuits. The framework involves mathematically understanding a nonlinear op-amp circuit, simulating the circuit and implementing the circuit in the laboratory. The students compare and study the results from all three approaches. The goal of this framework is to teach a few basic but very powerful concepts which can be used to analyze practical nonlinear op-amp circuits. This paper describes the framework followed by an application to the design, simulation and implementation of a negative impedance converter.