CHAPTER 3

FEEDBACK
AMPLIFIERS
EMT 212/4 Analog Electronic II

Outline
1.
2.
3.

4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Introduction to Feedback
Feedback Amplifier Positive & Negative
Advantages/Disadvantages of Negative
Feedback
Basic Feedback Concept
Classification of Amplifiers
Series Shunt Configuration
Shunt Series Configuration
Series - Series Configuration
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

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.

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.

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.

2.

3.
4.
5.

Gain Sensitivity variations in gain is

reduced.
Bandwidth Extension larger than that of
basic amplified.
Noise Sensitivity may increase S-N ratio.
Reduction of Nonlinear Distortion
Control of Impedance Levels input and
output impedances can be increased or
decreased.

Disadvantages of Negative
Feedback
1.

2.

Circuit Gain overall amplifier gain is

reduced compared to that of basic
amplifier.
Stability possibility that feedback
circuit will become unstable and
oscillate at high frequencies.

Basic Feedback Concept

Basic configuration of a feedback amplifier

Basic Feedback Concept

The output signal S

is:o AS
where A is the amplification factor
Feedback signal isS fb S o
where 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

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
Shunt:
voltage.
connecting
the
feedback
signal
in shunt
(parallel)
with an

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 v is closed-loop voltage transfer f

Ri
By neglecting Rs due
to Rs
voltage
V Vi is:
V fb
V

; error

Av
Avf

Vi 1 v Av
o

Series - Shunt Configuration

Input Resistance, Rif

Output Resistance, Rof

Vi V V fb V v ( AvV )
Or
Vi
V
(1 v Av )
Input current
V
Vi
Ii
Ri Ri (1 v Av )

Assume Vi=0 and Vx

applied to output
terminal.
V V V V 0

Rif with feedback

Vi
Rif Ri (1 v Av )
Ii

fb

V vVx

Or
Input current
Vx AvV Vx (1 v Av )

Ii

Ro

Rof with feedback

Rof

Vx
Ro

I x (1 v Av )

Ro

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

Non-inverting op-amp is an example of

the series-shunt configuration.
For ideal non-inverting
op-amp amplifier

Vo
R2
Avf
1
Vi
R1
Feedback transfer
function; 1

R2
1
R1

Series - Shunt Configuration

Vo AvV
V Vi V fb

R1
R1 R2
V
Avf o
Vi 1

V fb

Vo

Av
Av
R1
R1 R2

R1
R1 R2

Vi V

Av
1 Av

Vo V

Equivalent circuit

Rif

AvV
R
1 2
R1

Vi
Vi

Ri (1 Av )
I i V / Ri

Series - Shunt Configuration

Example:
Calculate the feedback amplifier gain of
the circuit below for op-amp gain,
A=100,000; R1=200 and R2=1.8 k.

Solution: Avf = 9.999 or 10

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/gatesource voltage.
feedback voltage
= output voltage
feedback
transfer function,

Series - Shunt Configuration

Small-signal voltage gain:

1

g m RE
r

RE
Vo
re
Avf

RE
Vi
1

1
g m RE
re
r

Open-loop voltage gain:

1

R
Av
g m RE E
re
r

Closed-loop input

resistance:
R r (1 g r ) R r 1
if

r g m RE

Output resistance:
r
RE
Rof RE

(1 g m r )

g m RE
r

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 i is closed-loop current transfer fu

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 )
Or
Ii
I
(1 i Ai )
Input current
I i Ri
Vi I Ri
(1 i Ai )

Assume Ii=0 and Ix applied

to output terminal.

Rif with feedback

Vi
Ri
Rif
I i (1 i Ai )

I I fb I i I x 0
I i I x
Vx ( I x Ai I ) Ro

Vx I x Ai ( i I x ) Ro

Vx I x (1 i Ai ) Ro

Rof with feedback

Rof

Vx
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

Op-amp current amplifier shunt-series

configuration.
is negligible
Ii from equivalent source
Ii and Rs.and
I of
I
i Ii '
RIs>>R
i; fb

Vo I fb RV
I i RF
F virtually
assume
1
ground;
I 1 Vo / R1

Current I1:

R
I o I fb I1 I i 1 F
R1

Output current:

Io
RF

Ai
1
Ii
R1
Ideal current
gain:

Shunt - Series Configuration

Ai is open-loop
current
I I i ' Igain
fb I i I fb
I o Ai I Ai ( I i I fb )

Closed-loop current gain:

Io
Ai
Aif
Ai
Ii 1

RF
1

R1

and
Assume
VoV1 isI fbvirtually
RF
ground:
RF
Vo
I current:
I1 I fb
1
R1
R1

Output current
RF

I o I fb I1 I fb I fb
R1

Shunt - Series Configuration

Common-base circuit is example of

discrete shunt-series configuration.
I
Io
Ii

Io

Amplifier gain:
current
I o / I Again:
i

RL

Ifb

Ii

Closed-loop
Aif

Io

Ai

I i 1 1 Ai

RL

Shunt - Series Configuration

Common-base circuit with RE and RC

Ii

RE

Io

RC

Ii

RE

V-

V+

Aif

Io

Ii

g m r
Ai

r
r
1
g m r 1
Ai
RE
RE

Io

RC

Series Series
Configuration

Agf

Ag
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, V fb,
which is in series with the input voltage, V i.

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 z is a resistance feedback transfer

Input signal voltage (neglect Rs=):

Vi V V fb

Ag
Io
Agf
Vi 1 z Ag

Series Series
Configuration
Input Resistance, Rif

Output Resistance, Rof

Vi V V fb V z ( AgV )
Or
Vi
V
(1 z Ag )
Input current
V
Vi
Ii

Ri Ri (1 z Ag )

Assume Ii=0 and Ix applied

to output terminal.

Rif with feedback

Vi
Rif Ri (1 z Ag )
Ii

I I fb I z I x 0
I z I x
Vx ( I x Ag I ) Ro

Vx I x Ag ( z I x ) Ro

I x (1feedback
z Ag ) Ro
RV
ofx with
Rof

Vx
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

The series output

connection samples
the output current
feedback voltage is a
function of output
current.
Assume ideal op-amp
circuit
neglect
Vi V fband
Io R
E
transistor base-current:

Io
1
Agf
Vi RE

Series Series
Configuration

Assume IEIC and

Ri
V

Io

fb

RE

g m r I b g m r AgV

V Vi V fb Vi I o RE
I o g m r Ag Vi I o RE

g m r Ag
Io
Agf
Vi 1 g m r Ag RE

Series Series
Configuration

Series Series
Configuration

RC

I o ( g mV )
RC RL

V fb
g mV RE
r

Vi V V fb V

1 g m RE
r

RC

g m
RC RL
Io

Agf
Vi
1

1 g m RE
r

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 g is a conductance feedback transfer
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 )
Or
Ii
I
(1 g Az )
Input current
I i Ri
Vi I Ri
(1 g Az )

Assume Vi=0 and Vx

applied to output
terminal.
V V V V 0

Rif with feedback

Vi
Ri
Rif
I i (1 g Az )

fb

V gVx

Or
Input current
Vx AzV Vx (1 g Az )
Ii

Ro
Ro

Rof with feedback

Vx
Ro
Rof

I x (1 g Az )

Shunt Shunt Configuration

Equivalent circuit of shunt - shunt feedback

circuit or
voltage amplifier

Shunt Shunt Configuration

Basic inverting op-amp circuit is an example of

shunt-shunt configuration.

Vo I fb R2
where I fb I i

Vo
Azf
R2
Input current
I i splits between feedback current and
error current.
Shunt output connection samples the output
voltage feedback current is function of output
voltage.

Shunt Shunt Configuration

Az is open-loop
transresistance
gain factor (-ve
value)
V
A I A I I
o

where I fb Vo / R2
Az
Vo
Azf

Az
Ii
1
R2

fb

Shunt Shunt Configuration

Shunt Shunt Configuration

Vo
Vo V
g mV
0
RC
RF
V V Vo
Ii

r
RF
1
1

Vo

RC RF
Vo
Azf

Ii

1
1
1
Vo

g m
I i
0

RF
RF
r RF

g m
RF

1
1 1
1 1
1


g m

RC RF r RF RF
RF

Shunt Shunt Configuration

Open-loop transresistance gain factor A z is

found by setting R
F =
gm
Az

RC

1

r

Multiply by (rRC)
Vo
Azf

Ii

g m r RC

Assume RC <<RF

& r<< RF

Vo
Azf

Ii

RC
RF

Az

r RC

Az
RF

r 1
r RC

Az

RF RF
RF

1 Az
RF

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