Comments on: Design a Unipolar to Bipolar Converter for a Unipolar Voltage Output DAC

By: Adrian S. Nastase

Adrian S. Nastase — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 22:30:59 +0000

In reply to Fred E.. Thank you, Fred.

By: Fred E.

Fred E. — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 00:07:40 +0000

This is an awesome tutorial, Adrian! I have used this circuit in the past because a legacy circuit required a sensor output to have a range of -5 to 5V, and my new sensor output had a 0 to 5V output. (Exactly like your example.) I am using this circuit again with a new sensor that has an output range of 0 to 1.8V but needs to be converted to -5 to 5V so it will interface with my existing circuitry. This tutorial has and will continue to help many electronic techs and electrical engineers.

By: Adrian S. Nastase

Adrian S. Nastase — Sat, 27 Jun 2020 20:58:21 +0000

In reply to Anthony. Use the circuit shown in this article, MasteringElectronicsDesign.com:How to Derive the Transfer Function of the Inverting Summing Amplifier. All resistors are 10k. The input is V1. V2 has to be -5V to offset the output.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 18:24:28 +0000

I really like your page and I am just getting into electronics. Maybe you can help.

I need to take a 0-5v input and have the output be 5 to 0v. Basically at 0v input I need 5v output and at 5v input I need 0v output. will this converter work for this situation?

By: Adrian S. Nastase

Adrian S. Nastase — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 19:43:20 +0000

In reply to tom winsemius. 1. If the following stage has a 1 ohm resistance you can use a simple attenuator at the DAC output which will give you 0 to 200 mV for a DAC trip of 0 to 2.5V. 2. You can use TLV4113, provided that you lower the power supply to no more than 6V. TLV4113 is a dual op amp so the footprint is different than OPA547F. Also, TLV4113 has a lower output current, so you have to verify if that is ok for your application.

By: tom winsemius

tom winsemius — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 01:36:40 +0000

Two part question:
Given that in a microprocessor based system, it takes some amount of time for the DAC to be established to its 2.5V, (using your example voltages) if my output can only handle voltages very near zero, (say +/- 200mV) what would you suggest to keep my output from destroying my later device which has about 1 ohm resistance?
The op amp that I have inherited is an OPA547F/500 and has a disable input that I have coupled to an opto circuit to get the correct levels. It seems to work but is pricey compared to a TLV4113. Do you see the TLV4113 doing the same job as the OPA547?

By: Adrian S. Nastase

Adrian S. Nastase — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 21:18:53 +0000

In reply to Frank. It is just a different circuit. TI uses a summing amplifier, and their circuit is designed for +/-10V output voltage. The circuit I described in this article uses a differential amplifier and it is designed for +/-5V output voltage.

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 12:18:20 +0000

What is the advantage/disadvantage compared to this circuit:
http://www.ti.com/lit/ug/slau525/slau525.pdf
which needs only 3 resistors, not 4?

By: Adrian S. Nastase

Adrian S. Nastase — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 17:20:47 +0000

In reply to Bob Johnson. What is the reference voltage you intend to use?

By: Bob Johnson

Bob Johnson — Wed, 31 May 2017 15:38:13 +0000

Hi, I need to convert a 5V unipolar signal to a +/- 10V signal. I am stuck between trying to find something to do it for me or make my own circuit. My goal is to use an arduino to control the device i need the signal for. Any ideas on what is the best way to approach this? Thanks