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CHAPTER-2
FEEDBACK AMPLIFIERS
Lec 13-19
Lecture-wise Plan
CONTENTS
1. Problem Statement / Case Let / Practical relevant example
2. Learning Objectives
3. Topic Introduction
4. Working and operation
5. Applications
6. Reference links
2. The output shuts off the original effect of the stimulus or reduces its intensity.
3. Providing negative feedback with a thermostat changes the lay of the land.
1.1Any homeostatic process that changes the direction of the stimulus is a negative
feedback loop. It may either increase or decrease the stimulus, but the stimulus is not
allowed to continue as it did before the receptor sensed it. In other words, if a level is too
high, the body does something to bring it down; conversely, if a level is too low, the body
does something to raise it; hence, the term: negative feedback.
An example of negative feedback is the maintenance of blood glucose levels. As you can
see from the figure, depending on whether glucose levels are rising or falling, the body has
a different response. When levels increase, the beta cells secrete insulin which then
converts glucose to glycogen so that extra glucose can be stored restoring glucose levels to
a normal level. When levels fall, the alpha cells secrete glucagon which converts stored
1.2 The output shuts off the original effect of the stimulus or reduces its intensity
1)receptor recognizes the stimulus
2) control center decides what response is needed
3) effector is means by which control center's response to stimulus is carried out
4) response inhibits or removes (negates) the stimulus.
5) balance is restored
Examples: hand near hot stove, neuron sends stimulus to brain, which effector causes
muscle to contract, hand moves from hot stove.
1.3 Another way of thinking about feedback is in terms of the constraints it places on the
freedom of the system to change. Think of the temperature, the thermostat is controlling as
a ball rolling on a surface. As long as no feedback is applied, the ball is free to roll
whenever it likes: the surface can be thought of as a completely flat plain, like this.
When it gets warmer outside, the ball, representing room temperature, gets pushed to the
right, toward higher readings. When it cools off, the ball is dragged back to the left. In
neither case does the ball ―push back‖; it moves totally at the whim of the weather.
Providing negative feedback with a thermostat changes the lay of the land. Instead of the
temperature roaming freely like a ball on a flat surface, now it's confined within a valley.
The flat floor of the valley represents temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees. Within this
range the ball, representing the temperature, is free to follow the outside temperature as
before. Once it reaches the point where the thermostat starts heating or cooling the room,
however, it encounters a steep slope. As long as the heating or cooling capacity exceeds
the rate heat can leak through the walls from outdoors, the temperature will remain
confined to the desired range. This view point makes the stability conferred by negative
feedback self-evident.
The hypothalamus of the brain (a small cherry sized part of the brain found on the
underside in the middle) senses the temperature of the blood.
If the blood is too warm then it will set about the mechanisms which cool the body. This
continues until the blood is the correct temperature when the hypothalamus will switch off
the cooling mechanisms. If the blood is too cold then the mechanisms which conserve heat
and warm the body are started, stopping when the blood temperature reaches normal. This
mechanism of switching off the warming/cooling systems when the body reaches the
correct temperature is called negative feedback.
Although the average body temperature is 37°C the body temperature actually fluctuates a
great deal. The body is constantly triggering the mechanisms which warm the body and
cool the body in an attempt to keep it within the acceptable limits.
1.5. In life, the most common form of regulation is negative feedback, in which
accumulation of an end product of a process slows that process This three-step chemical
pathway converts substance A to substance D. A specific enzyme catalyzes each chemical
reaction. Accumulation of the final product (OJ inhibits the first enzyme in the sequence.
thus slowing down production of moreD.
2.Learning objectives
In this chapter, we will
The general structure of the negative-feedback amplifier and the basic principle that
The advantages of negative feedback, how these come about, and at what cost.
The appropriate feedback topology to employ with each of the four amplifier types:
3.Topic Introduction
3.1Feed back:
Why study feedback?
Important tool for analysis and design of circuits
valuable insight by thinking in terms of feedback
The process of sending part of the output signal of an amplifier back to the input of the
amplifier is called feedback .
Feedback is the fundamental concept in the design of a stable amplifier and an
unstable oscillator circuit.Feedback is used to make the operating point of a
transistor insensitive to both manufacturing variations in as well as temperature.
Feedback is just another word for effective listening
Feedback is an opportunity to motivate
Feedback is essential to develop performance
Feedback is a way to keep learning
Feedback Systems process signals and as such are signal processors. The processing part
of a feedback system may be electrical or electronic, ranging from a very simple to a
highly complex circuits. Simple analogue feedback control circuits can be constructed
using individual or discrete components, such as transistors, resistors and capacitors, etc,
or by using microprocessor-based and integrated circuits (IC’s) to form more complex
digital feedback systems.
open-loop systems are just that, open ended, and no attempt is made to compensate for
changes in circuit conditions or changes in load conditions due to variations in circuit
parameters, such as gain and stability, temperature, supply voltage variations and/or
external disturbances. But the effects of these ―open-loop‖ variations can be eliminated or
at least considerably reduced by the introduction of Feedback.
3.2 Classification of Feedbacks
There are two types of feedback commonly used in electronic circuits, positive
(regenerative) feedback and negative (degenerative) feedback.
Positive: feedback signal is in phase with the input signal
Feedback signal is in phase with the input signal
Creates oscillations in the output and makes the amplifier
unstable: amplifier will saturate and output will be distorted Good for oscillators
as it will create stable oscillations
Negative: feedback signal is out of phase with the input signal
desensitize the gain (less sensitive to variation in the values of the circuit
components due to changes in temperature etc)
Reduce nonlinear distortion (constant gain independent of signal level)
Reduce the effect of noise (minimize interference and unwanted signals) control
The input and output resistances (raise or lower depending on the feedback
topology)
extend bandwidth
Positive feedback is primarily used in electronic oscillators, it increases gain (and
distortion if not properly controlled) and narrows bandwidth to such a degree that it can be
the primary reason for oscillators to work at a single frequency, rather than a band of
frequencies.
Another thing we need to be careful of is delay around the loop. It may be, if the signal
you are processing with your feedback system is oscillatory, that the delay converts your
negative feedback to positive feedback. When this occurs your feedback system begin
self-sustained oscillations.
The block diagram of a basic feedback amplifier consists of five basic elements.
These are:
1. Input signals
2. Output signals
3. Sampling Network
4. Comparison or Summing Network.
5. Basic Amplifier
Input Signal:
The signal source is modeled either by a voltage source Vs in series with a
resistance Rs , or by a current source Is in parallel with a resistance Rs.
Output Signal:
The output can either be the voltage across the load resistance or the
current through it. It is the output signal that is desired to be independent of the load and
insensitive to parameter variations in the basic amplifier.
Sampling Network:
The function of the sampling network is to provide a measure of the output
signal, i.e., a signal that is proportional to the output. This configuration is called shunt
connection.
In Fig below the output current is sampled and the output port of the
feedback network is connected in series with the load. This is a series connection.
Basic Amplifier:
The basic amplifier is one of the important parts of the feedback amplifier.
The circuit amplifies the difference signal that results from comparison and this
process is responsible for de-sensitivity and control of the output in a feedback
system.
The input signal Xs , the output signal Xo , the feedback signal Xf and the difference
signal Xi each represent either a voltage or a current.
The symbol indicated by the circle with the summation sign enclosed within
represents the summing network whose output is the algebraic sum of inputs.
Thus, for a Negative feedback, we get:
Xi = Xs - Xf ………………………………(1)
The signal Xi , representing the output of the summing network is the amplifier
input Xi . If the feedback signal Xf is 180 out of phase with the input Xs—as is
true in negative feedback systems—then Xi is a difference
signal. Therefore, Xi decreases as | Xf | increases.
The reverse transmission of the feedback network is defined by:
β =Xf / X0 …………….(2)
The transfer function is a real number, but in general it is a function of frequency.
The gain of the basic amplifier A is defined as:
A=Xo /Xi …………..(3)
Now, from Eq. (1), we get: Xi =Xs / Xf
Substituting the value of Xf from Eq. (2) as Xf Xo in Eq. (1), we get:
Xi =Xs- Xf = Xs-β Xo .............(3a)
From Eq. (3) we get:: Xo= A*Xi …………….(3b)
Substituting the value of Xi from Eq. (3a), we get:
Xo = A*Xi = A(Xs+ Xo) = AXs-AβXo
or, Xo (1+Aβ) = AXs
Or, Xo /X s=A/(1+Aβ) …………….(3c)
The feedback gain Af is obtained from Eq. (3c) as:
Af = Xo /Xs = A/(1+Aβ) ……………….(4)
I.Gain Desensitivity:
Feedback can be used to desensitize the closed-loop gain to variations in the basic
amplifier. Let’s see how.
• Assume β is constant. Taking differentials of the closed-loop gain equation gives
II.Bandwidth Extension
Depending on the input signal (voltage or current) to be amplified and form of the output
(voltage or current), amplifiers can be classified into four categories.
Depending on the amplifier category, one of four types of feedback structures should be
used.
1.Voltage series feedback ( Af = Vo/Vs) – Voltage amplifier
2. Voltage shunt feedback ( Af = Vo/Is) – Trans-resistance amplifier
3.Current series feedback ( Af = Io/Vs) - Trans-conductance amplifier
Here voltage refers to connecting the output voltage as input to the feedback network.
Similarly current refers to connecting the output current as input to the feedback network.
Series refers to connecting the feedback signal in series with the input voltage; Shunt
refers to connecting the feedback signal in shunt (parallel) with an input current source.
Since effective input resistance is small hence input should be a current. (for ideal voltage
source – input resistance is very high compare to internal source resistance, if not then, lot
of voltage will be dropped at internal source resistance and voltage source won’t be a ideal
voltage source )
Effective output resistance is also small compare to the resistance of amplifier without
feedback hence less voltage will drop at Ro-eff and most of the voltage occurs at RL.
Hence output ckt will behave like a voltage source. Thus voltage shunt feedback ckt
behave like a current controlled voltage source.
Input resistance of the amplifier and feedback network are in series hence effective input
resistance will increase.
Output resistance of the amplifier and output resistance of the feedback circuit are in parallel
hence effective output resistance of the feedback amplifier will reduce.
Output resistance of the amplifier and output resistance of the feedback circuit are in series
hence effective output resistance of the feedback amplifier will increase.
Input resistance of the amplifier and feedback network are in series hence effective input
resistance will increase.
Thus Current series feedback circuit behave like a voltage controlled current source. 1
Solution:
Since 1mv goes into the Amplifier and 10V Comes out
By sacrificing so much voltage gain,we have improved many other Amplifier Quantities
Exercise 4.2:
a)A system has a gain of 80dB without feedback. If the negative feedback fraction is
1/50th. Calculate the closed-loop gain of the system in dB with the addition of
negative feedback.
b)If after 5 years the loop gain of the system without negative feedback has fallen to
60dB and the feedback fraction has remained constant at 1/50th. Calculate the new
closed-loop gain value of the system.
Exercise 4.2:
Exercise 13.2 With a negative voltage feedback, an amplifier gives an output of 10 V with
an input of 0.5 V. When feedback is removed, it requires 0.25 V input for the same output.
Calculate (i) gain without feedback (ii) feedback fraction mV
Sol:
(i) Gain without feedback, Aν = 10/0.25 = 40
(ii) Gain with feedback, Aνf = 10/0.5 = 20
Example 13.4 The overall gain of a multistage amplifier is 140. When negative voltage
feedback is applied, the gain is reduced to 17.5. Find the fraction of the output that is
fedback to the input.
Solution: Av = 140, Aνf = 17.5 Let mv be the feedback fraction. Voltage gain with
negative feedback is
parameters
Parameters
Parameters
Parameters
4.7 Applications
b.Disadvantages:
Reduction in gain.
Reduction in input resistance in case of voltage shunt and current shunt
type amplifiers.
Increase in output resistance in case of current shunt and current series
feedback amplifiers.
c.Applications:
In almost all Electronic Amplifiers
d.Summary
We have seen that a Feedback System is one in which the output signal is
sampled and then fed back to the input to form an error signal that drives the
system, and depending on the type of feedback used, the feedback signal which
is mixed with the systems input signal, can be either a voltage or a current.
Feedback will always change the performance of a system and feedback
arrangements can be either positive (regenerative) or negative (degenerative)
type feedback systems. If the feedback loop around the system produces a
loop-gain which is negative, the feedback is said to be negative or degenerative
with the main effect of the negative feedback is in reducing the systems gain.
We have also seen that block-diagrams can be used to demonstrate the various
types of feedback systems. In the block diagrams above, the input and output
variables can be modelled as either a voltage or a current and as such there are
four combinations of inputs and outputs that represent the possible types of
feedback, namely: Series Voltage Feedback, Shunt Voltage Feedback, Series
Current Feedback and Shunt Current Feedback.
The names for these different types of feedback systems are derived from the
way that the feedback network connects between the input and output stages
either in parallel (shunt) or series.
Negative feedback:
• Reduces gain
• Reduces component and environmental sensitivity
• Increases linearity
Reference Links
1. http://ecetutorials.com/question-answers/amplifier-question-and-answers-
2/feedback-amplifiers/
2.http://www.talkingelectronics.com/Download%20eBooks/Principles%20of
%20electronics/CH-13.pdf
3. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electronic/negfeed.html
4. http://www.iitg.ac.in/apvajpeyi/ph218/Lec-14.pdf
5. http://freevideolectures.com/Course/3062/Electronics-I/18#
6. http://www.satishkashyap.com/2013/12/iit-ideo-lectures-on-electronics-
by.html
9. ww.learnabout-electronics.org/Amplifiers/amplifiers31.php
11. http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/systems/negative-feedback.html