Some circuits use transistors or diodes to take logs, subtract and then exponentiate to divide two signals.
The simplest mechanical divider that linear at least over a certain range is a lever were the denominator is the distance the fulcrum is moved away from where the numerator [force] is applied.
What's the most primitive / basic circuit that divides 2 impedances or voltages?
Bret Cahill
uP with 2-channel ADC, divide firmware, dac.
John
That may be the real world solution but an idealized analogy might be interesting, maybe a variable capacitor where the distance between plates increases with the denominator signal.
There's probably a comprehensive list of analogues between every kinematic mechanism and its corresponding electronic circuit. It wouldn't be a bad idea to torture some of these as much as possible.
Bret Cahill
A few classic electronic ways to do it are...
Gilbert-cell multiplier in a feedback loop
PWM multiplier in a feedback loop. Slow but very precise
Motor-driven dual 10-turn pot and a few tube opamps, like they used to do in olden days.
An MDAC can be made to divide, too.
John
Analog multiplier wired as a divider.
Unless you mean a simple voltage divider, two resistors in series.
Hope This Helps! Rich
Well, a noninverting op amp amplifier, with feedback resistor Rf and (-) to GND resistor Rs has output
Vo =3D Vin * Rs/Rf
so division of impedances is a cakewalk. One amplifier, one fixed voltage source.
Since division blows up at divide-by-zero, only high-gain solutions need apply, I suspect a single op amp is the minimum circuit element that can provide that.
The normal op amp connected as an inverting amplifier, feedback resistor Rf (output to (-)) and Rs (input to (-)) with (+) grounded,
Vout =3D - Vin * Rf/Rs
The solution has to properly blow up with zero in the divisor, so only a high-gain amplifier can do that; one op amp and two resistors is the most basic workable scheme. I think.
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