Key component in Operational Amplifiers

Objective of Lecture
Describe how dependent voltage and current

sources function.
Explain how they are treated when analyzing
a circuit and provide examples.

Dependent Sources
The output voltage or current of a dependent

source is determined by one of the parameters

associated with another component in the
circuit.
In this course, the parameter is the voltage across

or current flowing through of the other

component.

Other parameters may be the components resistance,

amount of light shining on the component, the ambient
temperature, and mechanical stress applied to the
component including changes in atmospheric pressure.

Practical Dependent
Sources
Operational amplifiers
Transistors
Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs)
Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect
Transistors (MOSFETs)
Voltage and current regulators
Other devices include:
Photodetectors, LEDs, and lasers
Piezoelectric devices
Thermocouples, thermovoltaic sources

Dependent Power
Sources
Voltage controlled voltage source
(VCVS)

Current controlled voltage source

(CCVS)
Voltage controlled current source
(VCCS)
Current controlled current source
(CCCS)

Power Generators
Dependent voltage and current sources

generate power and supply it to a circuit only

when there are other voltage or current
sources in the circuit.
These other sources produce a current to flow

through or a voltage across the component that

controls the magnitude of the voltage or current
output from the dependent source.

Circuit Analysis
Treat similar to the independent voltage and

current sources when performing nodel and

mesh analysis.
Do not treat like an independent source when
using superposition.
Independent voltage and current sources are

turned on and off as we apply superposition.

Dependent sources remain on.

Example #1: Nodal

Analysis
Voltage controlled
current source
The value of the
current is -2x10-3
times the voltage
across R1.

Example #1 (cont)

Note that there are no units on the coefficient

for the dependent source. It is assumed that

you know that the units should be A/V for a
VCCS.

Example #1 (cont)
Node A : IV I1 I 4
Node B : I1 1mA I 2 I 3
Node C : I 3 2 x10 3VR1 0
Node D : I 4 1mA

Example #1 (cont)
V A 4V

I1 V A VB R1
I 2 VB R2

I 3 VB VC R3

I 4 V A VD R4
VR1 V A VB

Example #1 (cont)

Node A : IV 4V VB R1 4V VD R4

Node B : 4V VB R1 1mA VB R2 VB VC R3
Node C : VB VC R3 2 x10 3 4V VB 0
Node D : I 4 1mA

Example #1 (cont)
Node
s

Voltages
(V)

Currents(mA)

4V

IV

-1 mA

6V

I1

-2mA

22V

I2

3mA

1V

I3

-4mA

I4

1mA

Example #2:
Superposition
V2 is a current
controlled voltage
source (CCVS).
The value of the
voltage of the
CCVS is 3000
times the current
i2, which is the
current flowing
out of V1.

Example #2 (cont)
The two circuits that will be analyzed are
1. When V1 is on and I1 is turned off.
2. When I1 is on and V1 is turned off.

In both circuits, V2 is left on.

Example #2 (cont)
When I1 is turned off,
one terminal of R4 is not
connected to the rest of
the circuit an it can be
eliminated.

Example #2 (cont)

You can select any analysis to solve for i2 .

Example #2 (cont)
V1 VR1 VR 2 0
VR 2 VR 3 V2 0
V1 4V
VR1 i2 R1

VR 2 i2 i3 R2
VR 3 i3 R3
V2 3000i2

Example #2 (cont)

4V i2 1k i2 i3 2k 0

i2 i3 2k i3 4k 3000i2 0

Example #2 (cont)

Currents

Dependen
t Source

i2

1.2mA

i3

-0.2mA

V2

3.60V

Example #2 (cont)

Again, you can select which ever analysis technique

that you would like in order to solve for i2.

V V
Example #2 (cont)
R1

R2

VR 2 VR 3 V2 0

V4 VI 1 VR1 0
I1 i1 1mA

VR1 i2 i1 R1

VR 2 i2 i3 R2
VR 3 i3 R3
VR 4 i1 R4
V2 3000i2

Example #2 (cont)

i2 1mA1k i2 i3 2k 0
i2 i3 2k i3 R3 3000i2 0
i1 3k VI 1 i2 1mA1k 0

Example #2 (cont)

Currents

Dependen
t Source

i2

0.3mA

i3

-50A

V2

0.9V

Example #2 (cont)

Curren
ts
i2

Dependen
t Source
(1.2+0.3)mA=1.5
mA

V2

(3.6+0.9)V=4.
5V

Summary
Dependent sources are voltage or current sources whose

output is a function of another parameter in the circuit.

Voltage controlled voltage source (VCVS)
Current controlled current source (CCCS)
Voltage controlled current source (VCCS)
Current controlled voltage source (CCVS)

Dependent sources only produce a voltage or current

when an independent voltage or current source is in the

circuit.
Dependent sources are treated like independent sources
when using nodal or mesh analysis, but not with
superposition.