MODULE 2

FEEDBACK
AMPLIFIERS
Dr. V. Vinoth thyagarajan, APECE, TCE,
Madurai
Outline
1. Introduction to Feedback
2. Feedback Amplifier – Positive & Negative
3. Advantages/Disadvantages of Negative Feedback
4. Basic Feedback Concept
5. Classification of Amplifiers
6. Series – Shunt Configuration
7. Shunt – Series Configuration
8. Series - Series Configuration
9. Shunt – Shunt Configuration
Introduction to Feedback
 Feedback is used in virtually all amplifier system.
 Invented in 1928 by Harold Black – engineer in Western
Electric Company
 methods to stabilize the gain of amplifier for use in
telephone repeaters.
 In 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.
 However, unintentional and undesired system response
may be produced.
Feedback Amplifier
 Feedback is a technique where a proportion of the
output of a system (amplifier) is fed back and
recombined with input

input A output

b
 There are 2 types of feedback amplifier:
 Positive feedback
 Negative feedback
Positive Feedback
 Positive feedback is the process when the output is
added to the input, amplified again, and this process
continues.

input A output
+

b
 Positive feedback is used in the design of oscillator
and other application.
Positive Feedback - Example
 In a PA system

get feedback when you put the microphone in front

of a speaker and the sound gets uncontrollably loud
(you have probably heard this unpleasant effect).
Negative Feedback
 Negative feedback is when the output is subtracted
from the input.

input A output

b
 The use of negative feedback reduces the gain. Part of
the output signal is taken back to the input with a
negative sign.
Negative Feedback - Example
 Speed control

If the car starts to speed up above the desired set-

point speed, negative feedback causes the throttle
to close, thereby reducing speed; similarly, if the
car slows, negative feedback acts to open the
throttle
Feedback Amplifier - Concept

Basic structure of a single - loop feedback amplifier

Advantages of Negative Feedback
1. Gain Sensitivity – variations in gain is reduced.
2. Bandwidth Extension – larger than that of basic
amplified.
3. Noise Sensitivity – may increase S-N ratio.
4. Reduction of Nonlinear Distortion
5. Control of Impedance Levels – input and output
impedances can be increased or decreased.
Disadvantages of Negative Feedback

1. Circuit Gain – overall amplifier gain is reduced

compared to that of basic amplifier.
2. Stability – possibility that feedback circuit will
become unstable and oscillate at high frequencies.
Basic Feedback Concept

Basic configuration of a feedback amplifier

Effect of Feedback on Gain
 The output signal is: S o  AS
where A is the amplification factor
 Feedback signal is S fb   S o
where ß is the feedback transfer function
 At summing node:
S  Si  S fb
 Closed-loop transfer function or gain is
So A
Af  
Si 1  A
if A 1
A  1 then A f  
A 
Gain Stabilization (Desensitivity)
Classification of Amplifiers
Classify amplifiers into 4 basic categories based on
their input (parameter to be amplified; voltage or
current) & output signal relationships:

 Voltage amplifier (series-shunt)

 Current amplifier (shunt-series)
 Transconductance amplifier (series-series)
 Transresistance amplifier (shunt-shunt)
Feedback Configuration
Series:
connecting the
feedback signal
in series with the
input signal
voltage.

Shunt:
connecting the
feedback
signal
in shunt
(parallel) with
an input
current source
Series - Shunt Configuration

Av
Avf 
1   v Av
Series - Shunt Configuration
if Ro  RL
then the output of feedback network is an open circuit;
Output voltage is:
Vo  AvV
feedback voltage is:
V fb   vVo where ßv is closed-loop voltage transfer function
By neglecting Rs due toRi  Rs; error voltage is:
V  Vi  V fb Vo Av
 Avf  
Vi 1   v Av
Series - Shunt Configuration

Input Resistance, Rif Output Resistance, Rof

Vi  V  V fb  V   v ( AvV ) Assume Vi=0 and Vx applied

Or Vi to output terminal.
V  V  V fb  V   vVx  0
(1   v Av )
 Input current Or V    vVx
V Vi  Input current
Ii   
Ri Ri (1   v Av ) Vx  AvV Vx (1   v Av )
Ii  
Ro Ro
 Rif with feedback  R with feedback
of
Vi V Ro
Rif   Ri (1   v Av ) Rof  x 
Ii I x (1   v Av )
Series - Shunt Configuration
 Series input connection increase input resistance – avoid loading
effects on the input signal source.
 Shunt output connection decrease the output resistance - avoid
loading effects on the output signal when output load is connected.

Equivalent circuit of shunt - series feedback circuit or

voltage amplifier
Series - Shunt Configuration
 Basic emitter-follower and source-follower circuit
are examples of discrete-circuit series-shunt feedback
topologies.
• vi is the input signal
• error signal is base-
emitter/gate-source
voltage.
• feedback voltage =
output voltage 
feedback transfer
function, ßv = 1
Example problems
Shunt – Series Configuration

Ai
Aif 
1   i Ai
Shunt – Series Configuration
 Basic current amplifier with input resistance, Ri and an
open-loop current gain, Ai.
 Current IE is the difference between input signal current
and feedback current.
 Feedback circuit samples the output current – provide
feedback signal in shunt with signal current.
 Increase in output current – increase feedback current –
decrease error current.
 Smaller error current – small output current – stabilize
output signal.
Shunt – Series Configuration

if Ri  Rs then I i  I
then the output is a short circuit; output current is:
I o  Ai I 
feedback current is:
I fb   i I o where ßi is closed-loop current transfer function
Input signal current:
I i  I   I fb
Io Ai
 Aif  
I i 1   i Ai
Shunt – Series Configuration

Input Resistance, Rif Output Resistance, Rof

I i  I   I fb  I    i ( Ai I  ) Assume Ii=0 and Ix applied to

Or Ii output terminal.
I  I   I fb  I    i I x  0
(1   i Ai )
 Input current
I  i I x
I i Ri Vx  ( I x Ai I  ) Ro
Vi  I  Ri 
(1   i Ai ) Vx  I x  Ai (  i I x )Ro
 Rif with feedback Vx  I x (1   i Ai ) Ro
Vi Ri
 Rof with feedback
Rif   V
I i (1   i Ai ) Rof  x  Ro 1   i Ai 
Ix
Shunt - Series Configuration
 Shunt input connection decrease input resistance – avoid loading
effects on the input signal current source.
 Series output connection increase the output resistance - avoid
loading effects on the output signal due to load connected to the
amplifier output.

Equivalent circuit of shunt - series feedback circuit or

voltage amplifier
Shunt - Series Configuration

 Common-base circuit is example of discrete shunt-

series configuration.
I
Io RL
Io RL
Ii I Ifb
Ii

 Amplifier gain: Closed-loop current gain:

Io  Ai
I o / I   Ai   Aif   
I i 1   1  Ai
Series – Series Configuration

Ag
Agf 
1   g Ag
Series – Series Configuration
 The feedback samples a portion of the output
current and converts it to a voltage – voltage-to-
current amplifier.
 The circuit consist of a basic amplifier that
converts the error voltage to an output current with
a gain factor, Ag and that has an input resistance, Ri.
 The feedback circuit samples the output current and
produces a feedback voltage, Vfb, which is in series
with the input voltage, Vi.
Series – Series Configuration
Assume the output is a short circuit, the output current:
I o  AgV
feedback voltage is:
V fb   z I o where ßz is a resistance feedback transfer function
Input signal voltage (neglect Rs=∞):
Vi  V  V fb
Io Ag
 Agf  
Vi 1   z Ag
Series – Series Configuration

Input Resistance, Rif Output Resistance, Rof

Vi  V  V fb  V   z ( AgV ) Assume Ii=0 and Ix applied to

Or Vi output terminal.
V  I   I fb  I    z I x  0
(1   z Ag )
 Input current I   z I x
V Vi Vx  ( I x Ag I  ) Ro
Ii  
Ri Ri (1   z Ag )  
Vx  I x  Ag (  z I x ) Ro
 Rif with feedback Vx  I x (1   z Ag ) Ro
Vi
 Rof with feedback
Rif   Ri (1   z Ag ) Vx
Ii Rof   Ro 1   z Ag 
Ix
Series – Series Configuration
 Series input connection increase input resistance
 Series output connection increase the output resistance

Equivalent circuit of series - series feedback circuit or

voltage amplifier
Series – Series Configuration
 Shunt – Shunt Configuration

Az
Azf 
1   z Az
Shunt – Shunt Configuration
 The feedback samples a portion of the output
voltage and converts it to a current – current-to-
voltage amplifier.
 The circuit consist of a basic amplifier that
converts the error current to an output voltage with
a gain factor, Az and that has an input resistance, Ri.
 The feedback circuit samples the output voltage
and produces a feedback current, Ifb, which is in
shunt with the input current, Ii.
Shunt – Shunt Configuration
Assume the output is a open circuit, the output voltage:
Vo  Az I 
feedback voltage is:
I fb   gVo where ßg is a conductance feedback transfer function
Input signal voltage (neglect Rs=∞):
I i  I   I fb
Vo Az
 Azf  
I i 1   g Az
Shunt – Shunt Configuration

Input Resistance, Rif Output Resistance, Rof

I i  I   I fb  I    g ( Az I  ) Assume Vi=0 and Vx applied

Or Ii to output terminal.
I  V  V fb  V   gVx  0
(1   g Az )
 Input current Or V    gVx
I i Ri  Input current
Vi  I  Ri 
(1   g Az ) Vx  AzV Vx (1   g Az )
Ii  
Ro Ro
 Rif with feedback  Rof with feedback
Vi Ri Vx Ro
Rif   Rof  
I i (1   g Az ) I x (1   g Az )
Shunt – Shunt Configuration

Equivalent circuit of shunt - shunt feedback circuit or

voltage amplifier
Shunt – Shunt Configuration
 Effect of Feedback on Bandwidth

So A( s )
A f (s)  
S i 1   ( s ) A( s )

AMID ( s )
ALPF ( s ) 
H  s

AMID ( s ) s
AHPF ( s ) 
L  s
 Upper Cut-off Frequency

Magnitude of the Transfer function (LPF) Effect of feedback on open loop gain
MID
A (s) MID
HF
AOL ( s )  OL MID S A OL ( s )
1
s ACL ( s )  o
 MID
H Si 1   F ( s ) AOL (s)
 H  2f H
Effect of feedback on closed loop gain at high frequency
HF
HF So A ( s) A MID
CL ( s )
A CL ( s)   OL
HF
HF
ACL ( s) 
Si 1   F ( s ) AOL (s) s
1 MID
 H (1  AOL F )
Upper cut-off frequency of system with feedbcak

 Hf   H (1  AOL
MID
F )
 Lower Cut-off Frequency

Magnitude of the Transfer function (HPF) Effect of feedback on open loop gain
MID
MID
A ( s)  s MID S A OL ( s )
LF
AOL (s)  OL

L  s
ACL ( s )  o
 MID
Si 1   F ( s ) AOL (s)
 L  2f L
Effect of feedback on closed loop gain at high frequency
LF
LF So A ( s) A MID
CL ( s )  s
A (s) 
CL  OL HF
ACL (s) 
LF
Si 1   F ( s ) AOL ( s) L
s MID
(1  AOL F )
Upper cut-off frequency of system with feedbcak
f L
 
L MID
(1  AOL F )
Effect of Feedback on Bandwidth
Feedback Amplifier
Input and output Impedances
 Summary

1. For a series connection at input or output, the

resistance is increased by (1+A).
2. For a shunt connection at input or output, the

resistance is lowered by (1+A).

Feedback Amplifier