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One final type of summing amplifier is the SCALING AMPLIFIER. This circuit multiplies each input by a factor (the factor is determined by circuit design) and then adds these values together. The factor that is used to multiply each input is determined by the ratio of the feedback resistor to the input resistor. For example, you could design a circuit that would produce the following output from three inputs (E1, E2, E3):

Using input resistors R1 for input number one (E1), R2 for input number two (E2), R3 for input number three (E3), and R4 for the feedback resistor, you could calculate the values for the resistors:

Any resistors that will provide the ratios shown above could be used. If the feedback resistor (R4) is a 12-kilohm resistor, the values of the other resistors would be:

Figure 3-24 is the schematic diagram of a scaling amplifier with the values calculated above.

Figure 3-24. - Scaling amplifier.

To see if the circuit will produce the desired output, calculate the currents and voltages as done for the previous circuits.

With:

the output should be:

Calculate the current for each input:

Calculate the output voltage:

You have now seen how an operational amplifier can be used in a circuit as an adder, a summing amplifier, and a scaling amplifier.

Difference Amplifier (Subtractor) A difference amplifier will produce an output based on the difference between the input signals. The subtractor circuit shown in figure 3-25 will produce the following output:

Figure 3-25. - Subtractor circuit.

Normally, difference amplifier circuits have the ratio of the inverting input resistor to the feedback resistor equal to the ratio of the noninverting input resistors. In other words, for figure 3-25:

and, by inverting both sides: