Applied ELECTRONICS II

ECEg - 3102

Lecture I:
Feedback Amplifiers

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Overview
 Introduction
 Basic Feedback Amplifier
 Properties of Negative Feedback
 Feedback Topologies
 Analysis of Feedback Amplifiers

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Introduction
• In a feedback system, a signal that is proportional to the output
is fed back to the input and combined with the input signal to
produce a desired system response.
• This partial dependence of amplifier output on its input helps
to control the output
• Most physical systems incorporate some form of feedback.

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Overview
 Introduction
 Basic Feedback Amplifier
 Negative feedback
 Positive feedback
 Properties of Negative Feedback
 Feedback Topologies
 Analysis of Feedback Amplifiers

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 Basic concepts of Feedback
Feedback can be broadly classified as:
Positive Feedback
• A portion of the output signal is added to the input.
• Positive feedback is used in the design of oscillator, signal
generators etc
Negative Feedback
• A portion of the output signal is subtracted from the input
signal.
• The basic idea of negative feedback is to trade off gain for
other desirable properties.
• It is used for amplifiers
 Principle of Feedback Amplifiers

• For an ordinary amplifier i.e. one without feedback, the voltage gain is given
by the ratio of the output voltage Vo and input voltage Vi.
A = Vo /Vi
• This gain A is often called open-loop gain.

For closed loop configuration (with feedback network)

A (Vi + βVo´) = Vo´ or Vo´ (1 – βA) =AVi
The amplifier gain A´ with feedback is given by

𝑨
is called positive feedback
𝟏 𝜷𝑨

𝑨
is called negative feedback
𝟏 𝜷𝑨

‘βA’ is called feedback factor whereas β is known as feedback ratio sacrifice factor is defined
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as S = A/A´. (1 ± βA) is called loop gain, amplifier gain A´ with feedback closed loop gain
Negative Feedback

• The amplifier gain with negative feedback is given by

Obviously, A´ < A because | 1 + βA | > 1.
Suppose, A = 90 and β = 1/10 = 0.1
Then, gain without feedback is 90 and with negative feedback is

• Negative feedback reduces the amplifier gain.

• That is why it is called degenerative feedback.
• A lot of voltage gain is sacrificed due to negative feedback. When | βA | » 1, then

• It means that A´ depends only on β.

• The gain is very stable because it is not affected by changes in temperature, device
parameters, supply voltage and from the aging of circuit components etc.
Positive Feedback
• The amplifier gain with positive feedback is given by
Since [1- βA] 1,
Suppose gain without feedback is 90 and β = 1/100 = 0.01, then gain with positive
feedback is

• Positive feedback increases the amplifier gain.

• It is called regenerative feedback.
• If βA = 1, then mathematically, the gain becomes infinite
• which simply means that there is an output without any input!
• However, electrically speaking, this cannot happen.
• What actually happens is that the amplifier becomes an oscillator which supplies its
own input.
• In fact, two important and necessary conditions for circuit oscillation are
• 1. The feedback must be positive,
• 2. Feedback factor must be unity i.e. βA = +1

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Overview
 Introduction
 Basic Feedback Amplifier
 Properties of Negative Feedback
 Advantages & Disadvantages
 Gain stability
 Bandwidth increment
 Feedback Topologies
 Analysis of Feedback Amplifiers

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Advantages of Negative Feedback
• The numerous advantages of negative feedback are:
1. higher fidelity i.e. more linear operation
2. highly stabilized gain
3. increased bandwidth i.e. improved frequency response
4. less amplitude distortion
5. less harmonic distortion
6. less frequency distortion
7. less phase distortion
8. reduced noise
9. input and output impedances can be modified as desired

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Disadvantages of Negative feedback

Circuit Gain
The overall amplifier gain, with the negative
feedback, is reduced compared to the basic amplifier
used in the circuit.

Stability
There is a possibility that the feedback circuit may
become unstable (oscillate) at high frequencies

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Gain Stability

The gain of an amplifier with negative feedback is given by

( )

• KEY :  percent change in the closed-loop gain

 percent change in the open-loop gain
• The percent change in the closed-loop gain is less than the
corresponding percent change in the open-loop gain A by the factor of
( ).
• This is called desensistivity of gain
• The term ( ) is called desensitivity factor.

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 Increased Bandwidth
• The bandwidth of an amplifier without feedback is equal to the separation
between the 3 dB frequencies f1 and f2.
BW = f2 – f1
• If A is its gain, the gain-bandwidth product is A × BW is always constant
• When negative feedback is applied, the amplifier gain is reduced, while the
bandwidth must increase to compensate for the decrease in gain.

A × BW = A´ × BW´ or A (f2 – f ´1) = A (f ´2 – f ´1) 1

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Feedback over Several Stages
Multistage amplifiers are used to achieve greater voltage or current
amplification or both

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Example 1.1
In the series-parallel (SP) feedback amplifier of Figure, calculate
A. open-loop gain of the amplifier
B. gain of the feedback network
C. closed-loop gain of the amplifier
D. sacrifice factor, S

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 Solution

a. Since 1 mV goes into the amplifier and 10 V comes out

b. The feedback network is being driven by the output voltage of 10 V.

Gain of the feedback network β

c. So far as the feedback amplifier is concerned, input is (250 + 1) = 251 mV and final
output is 10 V. Hence, gain with feedback is
A´ = 10 V/251 mV = 40
d. The sacrifice factor is given by

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Overview
 Introduction
 Basic Feedback Amplifier
 Properties of Negative Feedback
 Feedback Topologies
 4 types of topologies
 Analysis of Feedback Amplifiers

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 Ideal Feedback Topologies (1)
• There are four basic feedback topologies, based on the parameter
to be amplified or the output parameter.

 Voltage-series
 Voltage-shunt
 Current-shunt
 Current-series
Ideal Feedback Topologies (1)
 Voltage-series topology

Input terminal Output terminal Circuit name

Voltage Voltage Voltage amplify (V/V)
series Parallel Series-shunt
Ideal Feedback Topologies (2)
 Current-shunt topology

Input terminal Output terminal Circuit name

Current Current Current amplifier (A/A)
Parallel (shunt) series Shunt-series (if the name of
the circuit start with the
connection of input terminal )
Ideal Feedback Topologies (3)
 Voltage-shunt topology

Input terminal Output terminal Circuit name

Current Voltage Trans-resistance (V/A)
shunt Shunt Shunt-shunt
Ideal Feedback Topologies (4)
 Current-series  topology

Input terminal Output terminal Circuit name

Voltage Current Trans-conductance (A/V)
Series series Series-series
Overview
 Introduction
 Basic Feedback Amplifier
 Properties of Negative Feedback
 Feedback Topologies
 Analysis of Feedback Amplifiers
 Voltage-series
 Current-shunt
 Current-series
 Voltage-shunt

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 Analysis of Feedback Amplifiers
Fundamental Parameters
Fundamental Assumptions • Input resistance
In order to analyze the four
feedback configurations. • Output resistance
• Input is transmitted through • Closed loop gain
the amplifier only, not through
the feedback. .
• The feedback signal
transmitted via feedback
network only,
• not through the amplifier.
• ß is independent of the load
and source impedance.

Ideal structure of a Voltage-Series feedback amplifier

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 Voltage-Series (Voltage Amplifier) Feedback
How the input impedance changes
when considering feedback?

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Analysis of Voltage-Series Feedback Amplifiers

How the Output impedance changes when considering feedback?

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Analysis of Voltage-Series Feedback Amplifiers

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Analysis of Voltage-Series Feedback Amplifiers

Practical case
• In practical case, feedback network will not be ideal.
• Actually, it is resistive and will load the amplifier.
• Source and load resistances will affect A, Ri, and Ro.
• Source and load resistances should be lumped with basic amplifier.
• Expressed as two-port network.

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Method of Analysis of Feedback Amplifiers

Steps
1. Identify if the mixing or comparison is series or shunt
a) Series mixing : If the feedback signal subtracts from the externally applied
signal as a voltage
b) Shunt mixing : If the feedback signal subtracts from the applied excitation
signal as a current.
2. Identify the sampled signal as series or shunt
a) Voltage sampling : Set Vo = 0 (RL= 0). If Xf becomes zero, we have voltage
sampling.
b) Current sampling : Set Io = 0(RL = 1). If Xf becomes zero, we have current
sampling.

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Method of Analysis of Feedback Amplifiers
3. The amplifier without feedback but taking the feedback network loading into
account
1. Find the input circuit.
a) Set Vo = 0 for voltage sampling.
b) Set Io = 0 for current sampling.
2. Find the output circuit.
a) Set Vi = 0 for shunt comparison so that no feedback current enters the
amplifier input.
b) Set Io = 0 for series comparison so that no feedback voltage reaches the
amplifier input.
4. Find the feedback network.
5. Calculate ß, A, Ri and Ro.
6. Calculate the closed loop Af, Rif, Rof.

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Analysis of Feedback Amplifiers

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Analysis of Feedback Amplifiers

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Analysis of Feedback Amplifiers

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Analysis of Feedback Amplifiers

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Analysis Current-Shunt of Feedback Amplifiers

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Analysis Current-Shunt of Feedback Amplifiers

Note: The effect of current-shunt Feedback in an amplifier

is to decrease the Input resistance and increase the output
resistance.

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Analysis Current-Series of Feedback Amplifiers

(Transconductance Amplifier) Feedback

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Analysis of Current-Series Feedback Amplifiers
(Transconductance Amplifier) Feedback

Since Ix= I0

Note: The effect of current-series Feedback in an amplifier is

to increase both the output and input resistance .

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Analysis of Current-Series Feedback Amplifiers
(Transconductance Amplifier) Feedback

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Analysis of Current-Series Feedback Amplifiers
(Transconductance Amplifier) Feedback

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Analysis of Current-Series Feedback Amplifiers
(Transconductance Amplifier) Feedback

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Analysis of Current-Series Feedback Amplifiers
(Transconductance Amplifier) Feedback

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Analysis of Current-Series Feedback Amplifiers

(Transconductance Amplifier) Feedback

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Analysis of Voltage-Shunt Feedback Amplifiers
(Trans-resistance Amplifier) Feedback

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Analysis of Voltage-Shunt Feedback Amplifiers

(Trans-resistance Amplifier) Feedback

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Summary

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In summary steps to analysis feedback

The following steps needs to be taken during the analysis of

negative feedback.
1. Recognize the type of feedback
2. Derive open-loop circuit (i.e., circuit without feedback)
3. Ensure suitability of the input signal source
4. Obtain open-loop small-signal equivalent circuit
5. Find feedback gain B = Xf/Y
6. Calculate open-loop parameters A, Ri and Ro
7. Calculate closed-loop parameters Af , Rif and Rof

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 Recognize the type of feedback
• Identify the common circuit elements (i.e., feedback network)
• Determine input-mixing type (i.e., type of feedback signal Xf
• Series-mixing (feedback signal is voltage, vf )
• If the input voltage source vs is connected to the output
with an element in series
• - e.g., when a circuit element, like RE or RS, present in the
emitter/source terminal of the first transistor when the
input is from the base/gate terminal.
• Shunt-mixing (feedback signal is current, if )
• e.g., collector-feedback configuration or drain-feedback
configuration
• Determine output-sampling type
• Voltage-sampling (shunt-connection)
• Current-sampling (series-connection)

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END
CH-1

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