Feedback Amplifiers

Classification of Amplifiers

1. Voltage Amplifier Thevenin’s Equivalent Circuit of two port

network as Voltage Amplifier

For Ri>>Rs Vi≈Vs

And If Ro<<RL
Then Transfer Characteristics
Vo≈AvVi≈AvVs

Voltage O/P proportional to

Voltage Signal.

Proportionality Independent of
Ideal Voltage Amplifier have Source and Load Resistance.
Ri = ∞
Ro= 0 Av=Vo/Vi , with RL=∞, Open
Circuit Voltage Gain.
 2. Current Amplifier Norton’s Equivalent Circuit of two port network as
Current Amplifier

For Ri<<Rs, Ii≈Is

And if Ro>> RL
Then Transfer Characteristics
IL≈AiIi≈AiIs

This Amplifier drives low

Resistance Load Ro>>RL
Driven by High Resistance Source
Ri<<Rs
Current O/P proportional to Signal
Current.

Proportionality Factor Independent of

Ideal Current Amplifier have Source and Load Resistance.
Ri = 0
Ro= ∞ Ai=IL/Ii with RL=0, short circuit Current
Gain
 Thevenin’s Equivalent Input
3. Transconductance Amplifier and Norton’s Equivalent
Output Circuit

For Ri>>Rs, Vi≈Vs

And if Ro>> RL
Then Transfer Characteristics
IL≈GmVi≈GmVs

This Amplifier drives low Resistance Load

Ro>>RL
Driven by Low Resistance Source Ri>>Rs

Supplies Current O/P proportional to

Signal Voltage.

Ideal Transconductance Proportionality Factor Independent of

Source and Load Resistance.
Amplifier have
Ri = ∞ Gm=IL/Vs with RL=0, short circuit
Ro= ∞ Transconductance Gain
 Norton’s Equivalent Input and
4. Transresistance Amplifier Thevenin’s Equivalent Output
Circuit

For Ri<<Rs, Ii≈Is

And if Ro<< RL
V0≈RmIi≈RmIs

This Amplifier drives High

Resistance Load Ro<<RL
Driven by High Resistance Source
Ri<<Rs
Supplies Voltage O/P proportional to
Signal Current.

Ideal Transresistance Amplifier Proportionality Factor Independent of

Source and Load Resistance.
have
Ri = 0 Rm=Vo/Is with RL=∞, Open circuit
Ro= 0 Transfer Resistance.
 The Feedback Concept

• Amplifier Output is sampled by Sampling Network and applied as

input signal through a feedback two port network.
• At Input, feedback signal is combined with external (source) signal
through Mixer or Comparator Network, and is fed into the Amplifier.
 The Feedback Concept

Signal Source :
Either a Signal Voltage Vs in series with a Resistor Rs
(Thevenin’s Representation) OR Signal Current Is in Parallel with
a Resistor Rs ( Norton’s Representation).

Feedback Network :

A Passive two port Network which may contain Resistors,

Capacitors and Inductors.
Most Often a Resistive Network.
 The Feedback Concept
Sampling Network :

(a) (b)

In Fig. a. Output Voltage is sampled by connecting the feedback

network in shunt across the output. This connection is called Voltage
or Node Sampling.

In Fig. b. Output Current is sampled by connecting the feedback

network in series with the output. This connection is called Current
or Loop Sampling.
 The Feedback Concept
Comparator or Mixer Network :

(a) (b)
Fig. a shows Series (Loop) Input Connection.
Fig. b shows Shunt (Node) Input Connection.
A Differential Amplifier is often used as the mixer. Such an amplifier has two
inputs and one output proportional to difference of inputs.
 The Feedback Concept
Transfer Ratio or Gain A (without feedback):
Transfer Ratio is denoted as A for basic amplifier without
feedback.
• Voltage Amplification or Voltage Gain Av=V/Vi
• Current Amplification or Current Gain AI=I/Ii
• Transconductance GM = I/Vi
• Transresistance RM = V/Ii
Transfer Ratio or Gain Af (with feedback):
Transfer Ratio is denoted as Af for basic amplifier with
feedback.
• Voltage Amplification or Voltage Gain Avf =Vo/Vs
• Current Amplification or Current Gain AIf =Io/Is
• Transconductance GMf = Io/Vs
• Transresistance RMf = Vo/Is
 The Feedback Concept
When any increase in the output signal results in a feedback signal into the input
in such a way as to cause a decrease in the output signal, amplifier is said to have
Negative Feedback

The effects of negative feedback on an amplifier:

Disadvantage
• Lower gain

Advantages
• Higher input impedance
• More stable gain
• Improved frequency response
• Lower output impedance
• Reduced noise
• More linear operation

10
 Transfer Gain With Feedback

• Source Resistance Rs is considered here to be the part of the amplifier.

• Transfer Gain A ( AV, AI, GM, RM) includes the effect of the loading of the β
Network and load resistance RL upon the amplifier.
• Input Signal Xs, Output Signal Xo, the Feedback Signal Xf and the Difference
Signal Xd, represents either a voltage or current.
• From Figure, Xd = Xs – Xf = Xi So, Difference Signal Xd is also called error or
comparision signal.
/
• Reverse Transmission Factor β = Xf Xo
 Transfer Gain With Feedback
β is often a Positive or Negative Number , but in general is a
complex function of the signal frequency, ( Note that it is not a
CE current gain)

Transfer Gain A of Amplifier without Feedback, but including

the loading of the β Network, RL and Rs.

By substituting the Value of Xs = Xi + Xf, The Gain

with Feedback Af is obtained.

• If |Af|<|A|, Feedback is Termed Negative or degenerative.

• If |Af|>|A|, Feedback is Termed Positive or regenerative.

• Above Equation of Af is for Negative feedback, shows that gain

feedback is reduced from gain without feedback A by the factor of
1+βA, which exceeds unity.
Loop Gain : Transfer Gain With Feedback

• Signal Xd, Multiplied by A in passing through the amplifier, is multiplied

by β in transmission through feedback network and is multiplied by -1 in
the mixing or differencing network.
• Such a Path forms a loop starting from input to the amplifier, feedback
and back to the input.
• The Product –Aβ is called Loop Gain or Return Ratio.
• The Difference Between Unity and Loop Gain is called the Return
Difference D = 1+ Aβ.
• Amount of Feedback introduced into an amplifier often expressed in
Decibels,

N = dB of feedback =

If negative feedback is under consideration, N will be negative.

 Feedback Amplifier Topologies

Transconductance Amplifier With Current

Voltage Amplifier with Voltage-series feedback Series Feedback

Current Amplifier with Current Shunt feedback Transresistance Amplifier with Voltage shunt feedback
 General Characteristics of Negative Feedback Amplifier
1. Desensitivity of Transfer Amplification

• Variation due to aging, temperature, replacement etc. of the

transistors characteristics is reflected in a corresponding lack
of stability of the amplifier transfer gain.
• Fractional change in amplification with feedback divided by
the fractional change without feedback is called sensitivity of
the transfer gain.
• If the Amplifier Gain with Feedback is differentiated with
respect to A, the absolute value of the resulting equation is:

• Hence, Sensitivity is 1/(1+βA). If its value is 0.1, then percent

change in gain with feedback is one tenth percentage, the
variation in amplification if no feedback is present.
 General Characteristics of Negative Feedback Amplifier
1. Desensitivity of Transfer Amplification
• Reciprocal of the Sensitivity is Desensitivity D=(1+βA)
• Therefore, fractional change in gain without feedback is divided
by Desensitivity D when feedback is added.

Gain with feedback is

If, |βA|>>1, then,

• So, Gain with Feedback may be made entirely dependent on feedback

network.
• Stability of the active devices like transistors varies mostly, so if the
feedback network is made of only stable passive elements, then, the
stability of amplifier with feedback will be much improved.
 General Characteristics of Negative Feedback Amplifier
2. Frequency Distortion

• If the Feedback network does not contain reactive

elements, the overall gain is not a function of
frequency, so distortion due to frequency can be
removed.
• Frequency Selective Feedback Network can be
used to improve Bandpass characteristics of the
Amplifier frequency response.
 General Characteristics of Negative Feedback Amplifier
3. Nonlinear Distortion
• If, device operation extends beyond its linear operation, due to
large signal applied, its output signal will be slightly distorted.

• Let the distortion in o/p without feedback is the second harmonic

B2.

• With Negative Feedback, B2f actually appears in output.

• Output contains the term -AβB2f, which is obtained from -βB2f

term fed back to input. So output contains two terms;
• B2 generated in transistor and -AβB2f which is effect of feedback;

B2 - AβB2f = B2f

Or
 General Characteristics of Negative Feedback Amplifier
4. Reduction of Noise

Like other distortions, Noise in the amplifier will also reduce

by the factor of D.
Effect of Feedback Topology on Input Resistance

Voltage Series Feedback to calculate Input and Output Resistances

As shown in Fig. Feedback Voltage Vf=βVo is in series with Input. And

it opposes Vs, So current Ii will reduce if Vf is present.
So, from Network Input Impedance Rif=Vs/Ii
Also, Vs= IiRi + Vf = IiRi + βVo
From, Eqn. of Vo and Vs
And,

Where,

Av is Open Loop Voltage Gain with RL is Infinity

Effect of Feedback Topology on Input Resistance

Current Series Feedback

Similar procedure applied to
topology of transconductance
amplifier, with current series,

Transconductance Amplifier With

Current Series Feedback

Thus, It shows, Any Feedback applied in Series, will Increase

the Input Resistance of the Amplifier.
Effect of Feedback Topology on Input Resistance

Current Shunt Feedback

From Fig.
And
Where,

From Eqn. of Is and Io

Vi Vi
From Fig. Rif  And Ri  So,
Is Ii
Effect of Feedback Topology on Input Resistance

Voltage Shunt Feedback

Similar procedure applied to topology of transresistance

amplifier, with voltage shunt,
Ri
Rif 
1   RM
Where,
Vo Rm R L
RM  
I i Ro  RL

Here, Rm is the open-circuit transresistance,

And RM is Transresistance without Feedback taking load into account.

It shows that Any Shunt Feedback reduces the input resistance of

the amplifier.
Effect of Feedback Topology on Output Resistance

Negative feedback which samples the output voltage, regardless

how this output signal is returned to the input, tends to decrease
the Output Resistance Rof .
For Example, increase in RL increases Vo, and if it is Negative Feedback,
Output Vo will increase less than it would be without feedback.

Less change or remaining constant Output Voltage for a change in Load

Resistance RL is termed as Rof<<RL .

Negative feedback which samples the output current, regardless

how this output signal is returned to the input, tends to decrease
the Output Resistance Rof.
As the Current Negative Feedback reduces the Output Current, any effort
to keep it constant will require a current source in output. This Creation ot
Current source in output is termed as Rof >> RL .
Effect of Feedback Topology on Output Resistance

Voltage Series Feedback

• Resistance with feedback - Rof looking into output terminals but

with RL disconnected can be found with Source Signal removed i.e.
Vs=0 or Is=0.
• Let RL=∞, Impress a Voltage V across the output terminals, and
calculate the, Current I delivered by V. Then,

V  AvVi V   AvV
I  As, with Vs=0, Vi= - Vf = - βV
Ro Ro
Voltage Series Feedback
Hence,
V R0 Here, Ro is divided by Desensitivity Factor (1+βAv)
Rof  
I 1  Av Which contains the open circuit voltage gain Av not AV

Output resistance with feedback Rof ’ which includes RL as part of the

amplifier is Rof || RL

Rof RL Ro RL 1 R0 RL
Rof '   
Rof  RL 1  Av R0 /(1  Av )  RL Ro  RL  Av RL

Ro RL /( Ro  RL )

1   Av RL /( R0  RL ) Here Ro’ is divided by the
Desensitivity factor, which
Since, Ro’ = Ro||RL Ro ' contains the voltage gain AV
Rof '  that takes RL into account.
1 AV
Voltage Shunt Feedback

Proceeding as in the case of Voltage series, for Voltage

Shunt Topology we get.

Output Resistance Output Resistance

without Load with Load

Ro Ro '
Rof  Rof ' 
1  Rm 1  RM

Both Series and Shunt Topology taking Voltage as Feedback

reduces the Output Resistance of the Amplifier.
Current Shunt Feedback

By replacing Vo by V from figure,

V
I  Ai I i With Is =0, Ii = -If = -βIo = βI, hence,
Ro
V V V
I  Ai I or I (1   Ai )  Rof   Ro (1  Ai )
Ro Ro I
Here Ro is multiplied by Desensitivity factor 1+βAi which contains short
circuit current gain Ai not AI
 Current Shunt Feedback

The output resistance Rof’ which includes RL as part of the

amplifier can be found as:

Rof RL
Ro (1   Ai ) RL R0 RL (1   Ai )
Rof '   
Rof  RL Ro (1  Ai )  RL R0  RL 1  Ai R0 /( R0  RL )

As And, Ro’ = Ro||RL We, get

1  Ai
Rof '  Ro '
1   AI

For, RL=∞, AI=0, and Ro’=Ro, so eqn. of

Rof’ reduces to Rof '  Ro (1  Ai )
Current Series Feedback

Proceeding as in the case of Current Shunt, for Current Series

Topology we get,

Rof  Ro (1  Gm )
And

1   Gm
Rof '  Ro '
1  GM

Both Series and Shunt Topology taking Current as Feedback

increases the Output Resistance of the Amplifier.
 Method of Analysis of a Feedback Amplifier
• Feedback Amplifier should be separated into two blocks for analysis.
The Basic Amplifier A and The Feedback Network β.
• Value of A and β are used to find important characteristics of the
feedback system like Af, Rif, Rof.
Rules for analysis of basic amplifier configuration without feedback but
taking the loading of the B network into account

To find the input circuit

1. Set Vo=0 for Voltage Sampling. Or Short the output node.

2. Set Io=0 for current sampling. Or open the output loop.
To find the output circuit

1. Set Vi=0 for Shunt Comparison. Or Short the input node.

2. Set Ii=0 for Series Comparison. Or open the input loop.

These procedures ensure that the feedback is reduced to zero

without altering the loading on the basic amplifier
 Method of Analysis of a Feedback Amplifier

Rules for analysis of Feedback Amplifier configuration:

1. Identify Topology.
2. Draw basic amplifier without feedback using following rules.
3. Use Thevenin's source if Xf is voltage and a Norton’s source if Xf is
current.
4. Replace each active device by proper model (Hybrid-π for High
Frequency and h-parameter model for low frequencies.
5. Indicate Xf and Xo on the circuit obtained by carrying out steps 2, 3,
and 4. Evaluate β=Xf/Xo
6. Evaluate A by applying , KVL and KCL to equivalent Ckt.
7. From A and β find D, Af, Rif, Rof an Rof’
Feedback Amplifier Analysis
 Voltage Series Feedback- Source Follower

FET Source Follower (a) Amplifier without Feedback (b) FET Small Signal Model (c)

• Feedback Signal is voltage Vf across R

• Sampled signal is Output Voltage Vo across R
Basic Amplifier Analysis.
1. Find Input Circuit:
Set Vo=0, then Vs appears across G and S.
2. Find Output Circuit
Set Ii=0 i.e. open the input loop, that makes R appear in output loop.
This gives Amplifier without feedback (Fig.b)
• Figure.(c) shows Small Signal FET Model where Vf=Vo so Feedback
Factor β=Vf/Vo=1
Voltage Series Feedback- Source Follower

AV is Gain Without Feedback

taking Load Resistance R into
account.
Without feedback Vf=0, so Vi=Vs
Vo g mVs rd R R
AV   
Vi (rd  R)Vs rd  R
Where,   gmrd Amplification Factor of FET

R rd  (1 )R
D  1 AV  1  
rd  R rd  R
AV R
Gain with Feedback AVf  
D rd  (1   ) R
Voltage Series Feedback- Source Follower
The Input Impedance of an FET is Infinite, Ri = ∞,
So , Rif = RiD = ∞

Output Resistance looking into the FET Source S.

Hence R is considered as External Load RL.
From Fig. Ro=rd, β=1, and

Then from Equation for Output Resistance for Voltage Series Feedback,
R0 rd From Figure, R’o=R||rd, So R’of as per the
Rof  
1  Av 1   equation,

R '0 Rrd rd  R Rrd

R'of   
D R  r d r d  (   1) R r d (   1) R
Current Series Feedback

Fig. b. Amplifier without Feedback, but including the Loading of Re

• Feedback signal is Vf across Re and the sampled

signal is load current Io
• Obtain Input Circuit by opening the output loop.
• Re would appear in input side.
• Obtain Output Circuit by Opening Input Loop.
• Re would also appear on Output side.
• It is a Transconductance Amplifier with Transfer
Fig. a. CE Amplifier with unbypassed gain GM
emitter resistance as current series
feedback
Current Series Feedback
• In the h-Parameter Model
of CE Amplifier shown in
Fig. c,
• Feedback Voltage Vf
appears across Re in the
output circuit.
• Feedback Factor β is;
Fig. c. h-Parameter Model of Transistor
Vf
 I o Re
   Re
Io Io
I o  h fe I b  h fe
Input Signal Vi without feedback is Vs, then GM   
Vi Vs Rs  hie  Re
h fe Re Rs  hie  (1  h fe ) Re
D  1  GM  1  
Rs  hie  Re Rs  hie  Re
GM  h fe
GMf  
D Rs  hie  (1  h fe ) Re
Current Series Feedback

GM  h fe
GMf  
D Rs  hie  (1  h fe ) Re

• If (1+hfe)Re>>Rs+hie
And as hfe>>1, then
• GMf ≈ - 1/Re ≈ 1/β
Fig. c. h-Parameter Model of Transistor
• For stable operation Re
should be stable.
 h feVs Vs
Load Current is given by I o  G Mf Vs  
Rs  hie  (1  h fe ) Re Re

• For (1+hfe)Re>>Rs+hie And as hfe>>1, Load Current is directly

proportional to the input voltage, and also depends on the feedback
network element Re, and not on any other parameter.
Current Series Feedback

From fig.
Ri=Rs+hie+Re
And
Rif=Ri.D
=Rs+hie+(1+hfe)Re
Since Ro=∞( Transconductance Amplifier),
Rof=Ro(1+βGm)=∞
Hence R’of=RL||Rof=RL
Another equation for R’of from Effect of Feedback
Calculations,

1   Gm
Rof '  Ro '
1   GM
Current Shunt Feedback

• Cascade Amplifier with Feedback from the second emitter to the first
base through resistor R’.
• Q1 Voltage gain is very high(Common Emitter Configuration) , so Vi2 is
much larger and 180°Out of phase with Vi1.
• Q2 Voltage gain is less than Unity ( Emitter Follower Config.) So, Ve2 is
slightly smaller than and in phase with Vi2.
• So Ve2 is much larger than Vi1 and is 180°out of phase.
Current Shunt Feedback

Here Ii = I’s-If, so it is negative feedback.

Neglecting Base Current of Q2, and with Ve2>>Vi1we get,

Vi1 Ve2 Ve2 (Io  I f )Re I o Re

If    Or, I f   I o
R' R' R' R ' Re
Current Shunt Feedback
I o Re
If    I o Gives,, β = Re /(R’+ Re)
R ' Re
It shows Feedback Current is proportional to Output Current, so the circuit is
Current Shunt Feedback Amplifier. For this amplifier we expect as the
Feedback Current Gain,

I o 1 R ' Re
AIf   
Is  Re
Which verifies Aif is desensitized provided R’ and Re are stable resistances.
For Current shunt Feedback the Input Resistance decreases and output
resistance increases.
As Is=Vs/Rs, the Voltage gain with feedback AVf is ;

Vo I o Rc 2 R ' Re Rc 2 Rc 2
AVf    
Vs I s Rs Re Rs  Rs
Voltage Shunt Feedback • Common Emitter Amplifier with Resistor R’
Connected from output to input.
• In the Circuit, O/P Voltage Vo is much greater
than the input voltage Vi and it is 180 degree
out of phase.( CE Configuration)

Vi  Vo Vo
If      Vo Where β = -1/R’
R' R'
Since the feedback current is proportional to
the output voltage, this circuit is an example of
a voltage shunt feedback amplifier.
For Voltage Shunt Feedback Amplifier, we expect
the Transfer Gain RMj to be desensitized.. .
Vo 1
RMf     R'
Is 
So, Transresistance depends only on Feedback Resistance.
Voltage Shunt Feedback
For Voltage Shunt Feedback,
Both Input and Output
resistance are low. If we assume
R’if=0. Then the voltage gain with
feedback is
Vo Vo 1 R'
AVf    
V s I s Rs  R s Rs
Which depends on passive elements
only, so stabilized.