Voltage to Current Signal Conversion | Analog and Digital Electronics - Electrical Engineering (EE) PDF Download

In electrical and electronic circuits, there are two basic electrical quantities namely current and voltage. Sometimes, we need to convert these two quantities into one another. For this, electronic circuits are designed which are known as converters. Based on conversion, there are two types of converters namely Voltage to Current Converter (V to I Converter) and Current to Voltage Converter (I to V Converter).

In this article, we will discuss the definition, circuit diagram, types, and applications of voltage to current converters (or V to I Converters). So let’s begin with the basic introduction of the voltage to current converter.

What is a Voltage to Current Converter?

An electronic circuit that takes voltage as the input and produces a current as the output is known as a voltage to current converter. The voltage to current converter is also known as V to I converter.

In other words, an electronic circuit that produces a current which is directly proportional to the applied voltage is known as a voltage to current converter (V to I converter).

The voltage to current converters are used in instrumentation circuits. Where, the voltage to current converter produces a current corresponding to the input voltage. Therefore, it can convert electrical data from voltage to current form. The block diagram of a voltage to current converter is shown in Figure-1.

Transfer Ratio of Voltage to Current Converter

The ratio of the output current to the input voltage of a voltage to current converter is known as the transfer ratio of the converter.

Circuit Diagram of Voltage to Current Converter

A voltage to current converter can be implemented using an operational amplifier. In practice, IC LM741 operational amplifier is often used for this purpose. The operational amplifier can convert a voltage signal into a corresponding current signal.

The circuit diagram of a typical voltage to current converter using Op-Amp is shown in Figure-2.

In the voltage to current converter using Op-Amp, an input voltage signal is applied at the non-inverting terminal of the Op-Amp, while the output current is taken through the output terminal.

Types of Voltage to Current Converters

There are two types of voltage to current converters which are implemented using Op-Amp −

• Floating Load Voltage to Current Converter
• Ground Load Voltage to Current Converter

Let us discuss each of these two types of voltage to current converters one by one in detail.

Floating Load Voltage to Current Converter

As the name implies, the type of voltage to current converter in which the load resistor remains floating in the converter circuit is known as a floating load voltage to current converter. Here, the “floating load” means the load resistor is not connected to the ground. The circuit diagram of a floating load voltage to current converter is shown in Figure-3.

In the floating load voltage to current converter, the input voltage (V_in) is provided at the noninverting terminal of the operational amplifier (Op-Amp), whereas the inverting terminal of the Op-Amp is supplied with the feedback voltage (V_f). The feedback voltage is determined by the output current. In this type of voltage to current converter, the feedback voltage (V_f) is in series with the input difference voltage (V_d). For this reason, the floating load voltage to current converter is also known as the current series negative feedback amplifier.

The voltage equation of the floating load voltage to current converter is obtained by applying KVL in the input loop as

The transfer function or gain of the Op-Amp (A) is very large. Thus, V_d = 0.

Since the input current I_B to the Op-Amp is zero.

Thus, the output current is

Hence, from the above equation, it is clear that the output current depends upon the input voltage and input resistance of the circuit. Since, the output current is controlled by the resistor R, hence,

i.e., the output current is directly proportional to the input voltage of the circuit.

Ground Load Voltage to Current Converter

In the ground load voltage to current converter, one end of the load resistor R_L is always connected to the ground. The ground load voltage to current converter is also known as Howland Current Converter. The circuit diagram of this voltage to current converter is shown in Figure-4.

In order to analyze the circuit of the ground load voltage to current converter, we first determine the relationship between the input voltage 𝑉_𝑖𝑛 and the output current 𝐼_𝑂. For that, we apply KVL at the node 𝑉₁, and get,

But, for a non-inverting amplifier, the transfer gain A is 

Thus, it is clear that the output current is related to the input voltage V_in and the resistor R. 

Averager Circuit

If we take three equal resistors and connect one end of each to a common point, then apply three input voltages (one to each of the resistors’ free ends), the voltage seen at the common point will be the mathematical average of the three.

This circuit is really nothing more than a practical application of Millman’s Theorem:

This circuit is commonly known as a passive averager, because it generates an average voltage with non-amplifying components. Passive simply means that it is an unamplified circuit. The large equation to the right of the averager circuit comes from Millman’s Theorem, which describes the voltage produced by multiple voltage sources connected together through individual resistances. Since the three resistors in the averager circuit are equal to each other, we can simplify Millman’s formula by writing R₁, R₂, and R₃ simply as R (one, equal resistance instead of three individual resistances):

If we take a passive averager and use it to connect three input voltages into an op-amp amplifier circuit with a gain of 3, we can turn this averaging function into an addition function. The result is called a non-inverting summer circuit:

With a voltage divider composed of a 2 kΩ / 1 kΩ combination, the non-inverting amplifier circuit will have a voltage gain of 3. By taking the voltage from the passive averager, which is the sum of V₁, V₂, and V₃ divided by 3, and multiplying that average by 3, we arrive at an output voltage equal to the sum of V₁, V₂, and V₃:

Much the same can be done with an inverting op-amp amplifier, using a passive averager as part of the voltage divider feedback circuit. The result is called an inverting summer circuit:

Now, with the right-hand sides of the three averaging resistors connected to the virtual ground point of the op-amp’s inverting input, Millman’s Theorem no longer directly applies as it did before. The voltage at the virtual ground is now held at 0 volts by the op-amp’s negative feedback, whereas before it was free to float to the average value of V₁, V₂, and V₃. However, with all resistor values equal to each other, the currents through each of the three resistors will be proportional to their respective input voltages. Since those three currents will add at the virtual ground node, the algebraic sum of those currents through the feedback resistor will produce a voltage at V_out equal to V₁ + V₂ + V₃, except with reversed polarity. The reversal in polarity is what makes this circuit an inverting summer:

Summer (adder) circuits are quite useful in analog computer design, just as multiplier and divider circuits would be. Again, it is the extremely high differential gain of the op-amp which allows us to build these useful circuits with a bare minimum of components.