Feedback Ampliers

INEL 4202 - Electronics II - Fall 2012

Manuel Toledo
ECE Dept. - Univ. of PR
September 17, 2012
1 Basic Concepts

LOAD
w
S
w
i
w
F
w
O A
NF
Signals (w) can be a voltages or currents.
Denitions:
The output signal is w
O
.
The feedback network, is normaly pasive resistor two-port network.
Fundamental feedback equation:
w
O
= A
NF
w
i
= A
NF
(w
S
w
O
)
w
O
=
A
NF
1 +A
NF
w
S
= A
F
w
S
=
A
NF
D
(1)
A
NF
is the non-feedback gain, but must include loading due to the feedback network.
The loop-gain or return ratio is dened as the product A
NF
The quantity D is called improvement factor or return difference.
For A
NF
1,
A
F

1

Since network is sometimes implemented as a resistor voltage or current divider,

when the loop-gain is much larger than unity the feedback amplier gain is independent of
amplier params
resistance errors tend to cancel.
variations with temperature cancel
1
+
-
v
IN
v
OUT
Amplifier
R
2
R
1
+
-
Amplifier
+
-
Amplifier
+
-
Amplifier
i
IN
R
2
R
2
v
OUT
i
IN
R
1
i
OUT
R
1
i
OUT
v
IN
voltage-series current-shunt
voltage-shunt current-series
Figure 1: Four feedback topologies.
Sedras naming series-shunt series-series shunt-series shunt-shunt
Handout naming voltage-series current-series current-shunt voltage-shunt
Output (sampled) signal voltage current current voltage
Input (feedback) signal voltage voltage current current
model h z g y

v
1
v
2
|
i
1
=0
v
1
i
2
|
i
1
=0
i
1
i
2
|
v
1
=0
i
1
v
2
|
v
1
=0
A
f
A
V
1+A
V
G
M
1+G
M
A
I
1+A
I
R
M
1+R
M
R
if
R
i
(1 +A
V
) R
i
(1 +G
M
)
R
i
1+A
I
R
i
1+R
M
R
of
Ro
1+A
V
R
o
(1 +G
M
) R
o
(1 +A
I
)
Ro
1+R
M
Table 1: Feedback amplier formulae.
2 Feedback Topologies
There are four feedback topologies, identied by the output signal being sampled (voltage or current) and
the signal subtracted at the input.
Examples of the four topologies are shown in gure 1.
2.1 Summary of Feedback Formulae
For each topology, a different gain must be used when applying the basic feedback formulas. These are
summarized in tables 1 and 2, which are equivalent to the textbooks table 8.1.
2.2 Analysis Method
The following steps can be followed to apply the feedback method to analyze an amplier.
1. Identify the type of feedback being used.
2. Draw a diagram of the feedback network.
3. Find the R
11
, R
22
and parameters that correspond to the type of feedback.
2
Sedras naming series-shunt series-series shunt-series shunt-shunt
model h z g y
input source Thevenin Thevenin Norton Norton
output source Norton Thevenin Thevenin Norton
R
11
v
1
i
1
|
v
2
=0
v
1
i
1
|
i
2
=0
v
1
i
1
|
i
2
=0
v
1
i
1
|
v
2
=0

v
1
v
2
|
i
1
=0
v
1
i
2
|
i
1
=0
i
1
i
2
|
v
1
=0
i
1
v
2
|
v
1
=0
R
22
v
2
i
2
|
i
1
=0
v
2
i
2
|
i
1
=0
v
2
i
2
|
v
1
=0
v
2
i
2
|
v
1
=0
Table 2: Summary of textbook feedback formulae.
4. Draw a diagram of the non-feedback amplier, including R
11
and R
22
, R
sig
(the sources Thevenin
or Norton resistance) and R
LOAD
. Assume caps are shorts. Remember to use the correct type of
input source (current source for current-mixing topology, and voltage source for voltage mixing
topology).
5. Find the non-feedback amplier gain that correspond to the type of feedback being used (i.e. voltage
gain A
v
= v
out
/v
in
, current gain A
i
= i
out
/i
in
, trans-conductance G
M
= i
out
/v
in
or trans-resistance
R
M
= v
out
/i
in
).
6. Find the non-feedback amplier input and output resistance, R
i
and R
o
.
7. Find the feedback amplier gain, input and output resistance.
8. Find the feedback amplier voltage and current gains, A
v
=
vo
vs
and A
i
=
io
is
, respectively, where
v
s
= R
sig
i
s
and R
sig
represents the sources Thevenin/Norton resistance.
9. If the problem asks for the resistance seen by the load, subtract R
LOAD
from R
of
. For current-
sampling topologies this generally means to subtract the resistance in parallel (i.e. R
out
=
1
1
R
of

1
R
LOAD
where R
out
is the resistance seen by the load.)
10. If the problem asks for the resistance seen by the load, subtract R
LOAD
from R
of
. For current-
sampling topologies this generally means to subtract the resistance in parallel (i.e. R
out
=
1
1
R
of

1
R
LOAD
where R
out
is the resistance seen by the load. For voltage-sampling congurations, generally
R
out
= R
of
R
LOAD
.
11. If the problem asks for the resistance seen by the source and its resistance, subtract R
sig
from R
if
.
For current-mixing topologies this generally means to subtract the resistance in parallel (i.e. R
in
=
1
1
R
if

1
R
sig
where R
in
is the resistance seen by the source and its Norton resistance. For voltage-
mixing congurations, generally R
in
= R
if
R
sig
.
The following four circuits are examples of feedback ampliers that use discrete components. Use
r

= 1100 and = 50.

3
2.2.1 Amplier 1
v
S
+25V
47k

100
10k
47k
33k
50F
10F
50F
50F
F
F
i
O
v
O
10k
150k
4.8k
4.7k
ANSWER:
1. Feedback is voltage-sampling, voltage-mixing.
2. The feedback network is:
100
4.7k
v
2
v
1
+
-
+
-
i
1
i
2
3. For voltage-sampling, voltage-mixing,
R
11
=
v
1
i
1
|
v
2
=0
= 4.7k || 100 = 98
R
22
=
v
2
i
2
|
i
1
=0
= 4.7k + 100 = 4.8k
=
v
1
v
2
|
i
1
=0
=
100
4.7k + 100
=
1
48
V/V
4. The non-feedback amplier is:
47k||150k
98
33k||47k||10k
v
O
=2.4k
=6.6k
36
v
S
10k
4.8k||4.8k
5. The voltage gain is
A
v
=
10k
10k +R
in
A
v1
A
v2
A
v2
= g
m2
R
c2
=
50
1100
2.4k = 109.1V/V
R
c1
= 6.6k || r
2
= 6.6k || 1.1k = 943
4
A
v1
=
g
m1
R
c1
1 +g
m1
R
e1
=
50
1100
943
1 +
50
1100
98
= 7.86V/V
R
in
= 36k || (r
1
+ (h
fe1
+ 1)R
e1
)
= 36k || (1.1k + 51 98)
= 5214
A
v
=
5214
15214
7.86 109.1V/V = 294V/V
6.
R
i
= 10k +R
in
= 15214
R
o
2.4k
7.
A
vf
=
A
v
1 +A
v
=
294
1 +
1
48
294
=
294
7.12
= 41.3V/V
R
if
= R
i
(1 +A
v
) = 7.12 15214 = 108.3k
R
of
=
R
o
1 +A
v
=
2.4k
7.12
= 337
8. The voltage gain has been found. The current gain can be found from the voltage gain by observing
that i
o
= v
o
/4.7k, so that
A
if
=
i
o
i
s
=
v
o
/4.7k
v
s
/10k
=
10
4.7
A
vf
= 87.9A/A
2.2.2 Amplier 2
v
O
v
S
V
CC
3k 500
50
i
o
Q
1
Q
2
1200
1200
ANSWER:
1. The feedback type is current-sampling, current mixing.
5
2. The feedback network is:
50
1200
i
2
v
2
+
-
v
1
+
-
i
1
3.
R
11
=
v
1
i
1
|
i
2
=0
= 1250
R
22
=
v
2
i
2
|
v
1
=0
= 1200 || 50 = 48
=
i
1
i
2
|
v
1
=0
=
50
1250
=
1
25
A/A
4. The small-signal equivalent non-feedback amplier is:
v
O
i
S
=v
S
/1200
3k
500
48
612
i
o
Q
1
Q
2
Y
1
Y
2
5. For this amplier the non-feedback gain is A
i
=
io
is
. Observe that i
o
= i
c2
= h
fe
i
b2
, Using R
in2
=
r
2
+ (h
fe
+ 1)R
e2
= 1.1k + 51 48 = 3548, a current divider on the base of Q
2
yields
i
b2
i
c1
=
3000
6548
= 0.46
where the negative sign accounts for the fact that current ows into the collector. Similarly, for Q
1
,
i
c1
= 50i
b1
Another current divider at the input gives
i
b1
i
s
=
612
1712
= 0.36
Thus
A
i
=
i
o
i
s
= 0.36 50 (0.46) 50
= 414A/A
6. The input resistance is
R
i
= 1.1k || 612 = 393.2
The output resistance that should be used in the formulae is the resistance seen by an ideal load (a
short) at the point where the output current is being measured, i.e. by the piece of wire between Y
1
and Y
2
.Thus
R
o
48 +
1.1k + 3k
51
= 128.4
6
7. Now we can apply the feedback formulae:
A
if
=
A
i
1 +A
i
=
414A/A
1 +
1
25
414
=
414A/A
17.56
= 23.6A/A
R
if
=
R
i
1 +A
i
=
393.2
17.56
= 22.4
R
of
= R
o
(1 +A
i
) = 17.56 128.4
= 2255
8. The current gain has been found. To nd the voltage gain, use v
o
= 500i
o
and v
s
= 1200i
s
,
so that
A
vf
=
500
1200
A
if
= 9.8V/V
2.2.3 Amplier 3
V
CC
v
S
v
O
10k
40k
4k
i
o
ANSWER:
1. The feedback type is voltage-sampling, current-mixing.
2. The feedback network is just the 40k resistor,
v
2
+
-
v
1
+
-
40k
3. The feedback parameters are:
R
11
=
v
1
i
1
|
v
2
=0
= 40k
R
22
=
v
2
i
2
|
v
1
=0
= 40k
=
i
1
v
2
|
v
1
=0
=
1
40k
4. The small-signal equivalent circuit for the non-feedback amplier is
7
i
S
=v
S
/10k
v
O
40k||10k
4k||40k
5. For this amplier the non-feedback gain is R
M
=
vo
is
. Observing that
v
o
= 3636 i
c
= 3636 50 i
b
and that
i
b
=
8
9.1
i
s
yields
R
M
=
8
9.1
3636 50 160k
6. The input resistance is
R
i
= 1.1k || 8k = 967
The output resistance is just about 3636.
7. Now we can apply the feedback formulae:
R
Mf
=
R
M
1 +R
M
=
160k
1 +
1
40k
160k
=
160k
5
= 32k
R
if
=
R
i
1 +R
M
=
967
5
= 193.4
R
of
=
R
o
1 +A
i
= 727
8. To nd the voltage and current gains, use v
o
= 4k i
o
and v
s
= 10k i
s
, so that
A
vf
=
R
Mf
10k
= 3.2V/V
and
A
if
=
R
Mf
4k
= 8A/A
8
2.2.4 Amplier 4
R
S
v
S
600
5k 5k
330
20k
200
R
C1
R
C2
R
C3
Q
1
Q
2
Q
3
R
F
R
1
R
2
V
CC
i
o
v
O
7.5k
ANSWER:
1. The feedback type is current-sampling, voltage-mixing.
2. The feedback network is
200 330
20k
v
1
+
-
v
2
+
-
i
1
i
2
3. The feedback parameters are:
R
11
=
v
1
i
1
|
i
2
=0
= 200 || 20k 198
R
22
=
v
2
i
2
|
i
1
=0
= 330 || 20k = 325
=
v
1
i
2
|
i
1
=0
=
200 330
20.53k
= 3.21V/A
4. The small-signal equivalent circuit for the non-feedback amplier is
R
S
v
S
600
5k
5k
325 198
R
C1
R
C2
R
C3
Q
1
Q
2
Q
3
R
11
R
2
i
o
v
O
Y
1
Y
2
7500
5. For this amplier the non-feedback gain is G
M
=
io
vs
. Observing that
i
o
= i
c3
= h
fe
i
b3
= 50i
b3
To nd the current gain i
o
/i
b1
, we can apply the current divider rule at the bases of Q
2
and Q
3
.
9
R
in3
= 1.1k + 51 325 = 17675
i
b3
i
c2
=
7500
25175
= 0.3
R
in2
= 1.1k
i
b2
i
c1
=
5000
6100
= 0.82
i
o
i
b1
= 50 (0.82) 50 0.3 50 = 30750A/A
Now use
i
b1
=
v
s
600 + 1100 + 51 198
=
v
s
11.8k
gives
G
M
=
i
o
v
s
= 2.6A/V
6. The input resistance is
R
i
= 600 + 1100 + 51 198 = 11.8k
The output resistance is that seen by the short between Y
1
and Y
2
,
R
o
= 325 +
1100 + 7500
51
= 494
7. Now we can apply the feedback formulae:
G
Mf
=
G
M
1 +G
M
=
2.6A/V
1 + 3.2V/A2.6A/V
=
2.6A/V
9.3
= 0.28A/V
R
if
=
R
i
1 +G
M
= 9.3 11.8k = 109.7k
R
of
= 9.3 494 = 4.6k
8. To nd the voltage and current gains, use v
o
= 5000 i
o
and v
s
= 600 i
s
, so that
A
vf
= 5000 G
Mf
= 1400V/V
and
A
if
= 600 G
Mf
= 168A/A
3 Benets of using feedback
Advantages of using feedback:
Reduced sensitivity to parameters
Increased bandwidth
Reduced distortion
Improved input and output resistance
Cost of using feedback:
reduced gain.
10
3.1 Feedback and Sensitivity
S
A
P
=
P
A
dA
dP
For a feedback amplier,
S
A
F
P
=
P
A
F
dA
F
dP
=
P
A
F
d
A
NF
1+A
NF
dP
=
P
A
F
d
dA
NF
A
NF
1 +A
NF
dA
NF
dp
=
P
A
F
dA
NF
dp
(
1
1 +A
NF

A
NF
(1 +A
NF
)
2
)
=
P
A
NF
dA
NF
dp
(
1
A
NF
1 +A
NF
)
=
P
A
NF
dA
NF
dp
1
1 +A
NF
= S
A
NF
P
1
1 +A
NF
Sensitivity to any parameter or factor is reduced by the improvement factor.
3.2 Feedback and Low-frequency Response
non-feedback amplier gain: approximated by a zero and a dominant pole
Let the zero be at the origin. Then
A
NF
(s) = A
mid
s
s +
L
The feedback gain becomes
A
F
(s) =
A
mid
s
s+
L
1 +A
mid
s
s+
L
=
A
mid
s
s +
L
+A
mid
s
=
A
mid
s
s(1 +A
mid
) +
L
=
A
mid
1 +A
mid

s
s +

L
1+A
mid
Low-frequency cut-off is reduced by an amount equal to the improvement factor.
3.3 Feedback and High-frequency Response
non-feedback amplier high-frequency response is represented by a single pole,
A
NF
= A
mid

H
s +
H
then
A
F
(s) =
A
mid

H
s+
H
1 +A
mid

H
s+
H
11
=
A
mid

H
s +
H
+A
mid

H
=
A
mid

H
s +
H
(1 +A
mid
)
=
A
mid
1 +A
mid

H
(1 +A
mid
)
s +
H
(1 +A
mid
)
high-frequency cut-off: increased by the improvement factor.
3.4 Feedback and Distortion
Non-linearities: cause its input and output signals to differ in shape.
Nonlinearities + distortion: w
D

LOAD
w
S
w
i
w
F
w
O A
NF
w
D
w
O
= w
D
+A
NF
w
i
= w
D
+A
NF
(w
S
w
O
)
=
w
D
1 +A
NF
+
A
NF
1 +A
NF
Non-linearities: are reduced by improvement factor
Noise: might not reduced because more stages are needed
12