FEEDBACK AMPLIFIERS

What is feedback amplifier?

If an amplifier has feedback path exists from output

to input then that amplifier is termed as Feedback
amplifier.
Feed back is the parameter which quantifies the
amount of feedback given in a feedback amplifier.
Feedback factor = Feedback signal/input
signal.
What is negative and positive feedback?
If feedback from output to input is given in such in a way that
the introduction of feedback in the amplifier decreases the overall
gain, then the feedback is termed asnegative feedback.
If feedback from output to input is given in such in a way that
the introduction of feedback in the amplifier increases the overall
gain, then the feedback is termed aspositive feedback.

What are Advantages and disadvantages of Negative feedback?

Some of the Advantages of negative feedback:

a) Input resistance increases
b) Output resistance decreases
c) Bandwidth increases
d) Non linear distortion decreases
e) Frequency distortion decreases
f) Sensitivity will be decreased
g) Gain stability

The main disadvantage of negative feedback is decrease

in
overall gain. The gain and feedback factor in an amplifier
are
often functions of frequency, so the feedback may lead to
positive feedback.

What is de-sensitivity
factor?
De sensitivity factor is defined as the factor with
which the feedback
desensitizes the gain. It is also called as return
difference.
De sensitivity factor = (dAfb/Afb)/(dA/A) = 1/
(1+A*)
Where Afb is gain with feedback
A is gain without feedback
is feedback factor.
What
is a gain
loop gain
in amplifier?
Loop
in amplifier
is defined as the gain of
feedback path from output to input. It is the product of
loop gain and feedback factor in positive feedback
amplifiers. In negative feedback amplifiers it is the
negative product of loop gain and feedback factor.

What is the effect of negative feedback on

voltage gain, BW, Noise, nonlinear distortion, Ri,
Ro
of
a
voltage
amplifier?
The
voltage
noise,
nonlinear
Voltage
gaingain,
with bandwidth,
feedback =
Voltage
gain
distortion,
input de sensitivity factor (since de
without
feedback*
sensitivity
1 in negative
resistance, factor
output<<
resistance
are feedback, hence
Voltage gain with feedback < gain without
feedback).
Band width with feedback = Band width without
feedback/ desensitivity factor (since desensitivity
factor << 1 in negative feedback, hence Band
width with feedback > Band width without
feedback).
Noise with feedback = Noise without feedback*
desensitivity factor (since desensitivity factor << 1
in negative feedback, hence Noise with feedback <
Noise without feedback).

 Non linear distortion with feedback = Non linear

distortion without feedback* de sensitivity factor
(since de sensitivity factor << 1 in negative
feedback, hence Non linear distortion with
feedback
>
Non
linear
distortion
without
feedback).
Input resistance with feedback = Input resistance
without feedback/ de sensitivity factor (since de
sensitivity factor << 1 in negative feedback, hence
Input resistance without feedback > Input
resistance with feedback).
Output resistance with feedback = Output
resistance without feedback* de sensitivity factor
(since de sensitivity factor << 1 in negative
feedback, hence Output resistance with feedback <
Output resistance without feedback)

What are the different types of feedback topologies?

There are four different types of feedback

topologies based on type of output signal and
feedback signal (voltage or current signal).
Voltage feedback is taken in series with the load
and current feedback is taken In shunt with the
load. They are
a)Voltage-series:Output signal is voltage signal,
feedback signal is voltage signal. Also called as
series-series feedback. It is employed in voltage
amplifiers.

b)Current
series:Output signal
signal is
is current
current signal,
signal,
c)Current shunt:Output
feedbacksignal
signalisiscurrent
voltagesignal.
signal. Also
Also called
called as
as
feedback
shunt-series
feedback.
is employed
in
shunt-shunt
feedback.
It is Itemployed
in current
Transconductance amplifiers
amplifiers.
Contd..

d)Voltage shunt:Output signal is voltage signal,

feedback signal is current signal. Also called as
shunt-series feedback. It is employed in tans
resistance amplifiers.
The first word indicates the type of output signal
and the second word indicates the manner in
which feedback signal is taken whether it is
taken in series or shunt with the load.
What is the effect of each feedback network
topologies
on input and
Feedback
topology/
Parameter
Voltage series
Current series
Current shunt
Voltage shunt
output
resistance?
Increases
Rif = Ri*(1+A*)
Input resistance

Output resistance

Increases

Decreases

decreases

Rif = Ri*(1+A*)

Rif = Ri/(1+A*)

Rif = Ri*(1+A*)

Increases

Increases

Decreases

Decreases
Rof = Ro/(1+A*)

Rof = Ro*(1+A*)

Rof = Ro*(1+A*)

Rof = Ro/(1+A*)

Introduction
A practical amplifier has a gain of nearly one
million i.e. its output is one million times the input.
Consequently, even a casual disturbance at the
input will appear in the amplified form in the
output.
There is a strong tendency in amplifiers to
introduce hum due to sudden temperature changes
or stray electric and magnetic fields.
Therefore, every high gain amplifier tends to give
noise along with signal in its output.
The noise in the output of an amplifier is
undesirable and must be kept to as small a level as
possible.
The noise level in amplifiers can be reduced
considerably by the use of negative feedback i.e.
by injecting a fraction of output in phase
opposition to the input signal.

Feedback
The process of injecting a fraction of output
energy of some device back to the input is known
as feedback
The principle of feedback is probably as old as
the invention of first machine but it is only some 50
years ago that feedback has come into use in
connection with electronic circuits.
It has been found very useful in reducing noise in
amplifiers and making amplifier operation stable.
Depending upon whether the feedback energy
aids or opposes the input signal, there are two
basic types of feedback in amplifiers viz positive
feedback and negative feedback.

Positive
feedback

When the feedback energy (voltage or current) is

in phase with the input signal and thus aids it, it is
called positive feedback.
This is shown in Fig. below
Both amplifier and
feedback
network
introduce
a
phase
shift
180. is a 360

Theofresult
phase shift around the
loop,
causing
the
feedback voltage Vf to
be in phase with the
input
Vinfeedback
.
The signal
positive
increases the gain
of the amplifier.
However, it has the disadvantages of increased
distortion and instability.

 Therefore, positive feedback is seldom(then &

now) employed in amplifiers.
One important use of positive feedback is in
oscillators.
As we shall see in the next competency, if positive
feedback is sufficiently large, it leads to
oscillations.
As a matter of fact, an oscillator is a device that
converts d.c. power into a.c. power of any desired
frequency.

Negative feedback

When the feedback energy (voltage or current) is

out of phase with the input signal and thus

opposes it, it is called negative feedback.
This is shown in Fig. below.
As you can see, the
amplifier
introduces
a
phase shift of 180 into
the
circuit
while
the
feedback network is so
designed
that
it
introduces
phase
The resultno
is that
theshift
feedback voltage Vf is 180
(i.e.,
phasewith
shift).
out of0phase
the input signal Vin.
Negative feedback reduces the gain of the
amplifier. However, the advantages of negative
feedback are: reduction in distortion, stability in
gain, increased bandwidth and improved input and

CLASSIFICATION OF
AMPLIFIERS
Amplifiers can be classified
broadly as,

VOLTAGE AMPLIFIER(series
series)

This circuit is a 2-port

network
and
it
represents
anRs,
amplifier.
Suppose R1
drop
across Rs is very
small.
Contd..

 The constant of proportionality Av doesn't

depend on the impedances. (Source or load). Such
a circuit is called as Voltage Amplifier.
Therefore, for ideal voltage amplifier

Av represents the open circuit voltage gain. For

ideal voltage amplifier, output voltage is
proportional to input voltage and the constant of

CURRENT
AMPLIFIER(shunt
An ideal current shunt)
amplifier is one which gives
output current proportional to input current and
the proportionality factor is independent of Rs and
R
.
LThe
equivalent circuit of current amplifier is
shown in Fig below.
For ideal Current
Amplifier,

TRANSCONDUCTANCE AMPLIFIER
(shunt
series)
Ideal Transconductance
amplifier supplies output
current which is proportional to input voltage
independently of the magnitude of Rs and RL

In the equivalent circuit, on the input side, it is

the Thevenins equivalent circuit. A voltage source
comes in series with resistance. On the output
side, it is Norton's equivalent circuit with a current
source in parallel with resistance. (See Fig.).

S RESISTANCE AMPLIFIER(series shunt)

It gives output voltage Vo proportional to Is,
independent of Rs & RL. For ideal amplifiers

Norton equivalent circuit on the input side.

Thevenins' equivalent circuit on the
output side.

EEDBACK CONCEPT
A sampling network samples the output voltage
or current and this signal is applied to the input
through a feedback two port network. The block
diagram representation is as shown in Fig. below.

Contd..

ignal Source
It can be a voltage
source V s or a current
source Is
EEDBACK NETWORK
It is a passive two port
network. It may contain
resistors,
capacitors
or
inductors.
But usually a resistance is used as the feedback
element. Here the output current is sampled and
feedback.
The feedback network is connected in series with
the output. This is called as Current Sampling or
Loop Sampling.
A voltage feedback is distinguished in this way
from current feedback.
For voltage feedback, the feedback element
(resistor) will be in parallel with the output. For
current feedback the element will be in series.

MPARATOR OR MIXER NETWORK

This is usually a differential amplifier. It has two
inputs and gives a single output which is the
difference of the two inputs.

Contd..

Contd..

Feedback amplifiers are classified as shown below.

Principles of Negative Voltage Feedback In Amplifi ers

A feedback amplifier
has two parts viz an
amplifier and a feedback
circuit.
The feedback circuit
usually
consists
of
resistors and returns a
fraction
of
output
energy
back
the

Fig. shows
the to
principles
input.
of
negative voltage feedback
in an
ple:
Asamplifier.
shown in fig, the output of the amplifier is 10
The fraction mv (it is also represented as ) of
this output i.e. 100 mV is fedback to the input
where it is applied in series with the input signal of
101
AsmV
the feedback is negative, therefore, only 1 mV
appears at the input terminals of the amplifier.

ferring to Fig. , we have,

following points are worth noting :

(i) When negative voltage feedback is applied, the
gain of the amplifier is reduced. Thus, the gain of
above amplifier without feedback is 10,000
whereas
negative
feedback,
it is only
100.
(ii) When with
negative
voltage
feedback
is employed,
the voltage actually applied to the amplifier is
extremely small. In this case, the signal voltage is
101 mV and the negative feedback is 100 mV so
that
voltage
applied voltage
at the input
of the circuit,
amplifier
is
(iii) In
a negative
feedback
the
only 1 mV.
feedback fraction mv is always between 0 and 1.

(iv) The gain with feedback is sometimes called

closed-loop gain while the gain without feedback is
called open-loop gain. These terms come from the
fact that amplifier and feedback circuits form a
loop.
When
the
loop
is
opened
by
disconnecting the feedback circuit from the input,
the amplifier's gain is Av, the open-loop gain.
When
loop is closed by connecting the
Sincethe
with negative voltage feedback the voltage
feedback circuit, the gain decreases to Avf , the
gain is decreased and current gain remains
closed-loop gain.
unaffected, the power gain Ap (= Av Ai) will
decrease. However, the drawback of reduced power
gain is offset by the advantage of increased
bandwidth.

of Negative Voltage Feedback Amplifier

Consider the negative voltage feedback amplifier
shown in Fig. below
The gain of the amplifier
without feedback is Av.
Negative feedback is
then applied by feeding
a fraction mv of the
output voltage e0 back
toTherefore,
amplifier input.

the actual
input to the amplifier is
the signal voltage eg
minus
voltage =
Actual feedback
input to amplifier
mv e0 i.e.,

eg m v e0
Contd..

 The output

e0 must be equal to the input voltage

eg mv e0 multiplied by gain Av of the amplifier

i.e.,

It may be seen that the gain of the amplifier

without feedback is Av. However, when
negative voltage feedback is applied, the gain
is reduced by a factor 1 + Av mv. It may be
noted that negative voltage feedback does not

Example

The voltage gain of an amplifier without feedback

is 3000. Calculate the voltage gain of the amplifier
if negative voltage feedback is introduced in the
circuit. Given that feedback fraction m v = 0.01.

Example

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.

Example 13.3. When negative voltage feedback is applied

to an amplifier of gain 100, the overall gain falls to 50.
(i) Calculate the fraction of the output voltage fedback.
(ii) If this fraction is maintained, calculate the value of the
amplifier gain required if the overall stage gain is to be
75.

Advantages of negative
ect
of negative feedback on BANDWIDTH
feedback

Contd..

i) Gain Stability
An important advantage of negative voltage
feedback is that the resultant gain of the amplifier
can be made independent of transistor parameters
or the supply voltage variations
We know that,
For negative voltage feedback in an amplifier to be
effective, the designer deliberately makes the
product Av * mv much greater than unity.
Therefore, in the above relation, 1 can be
neglected as compared to Av * mv and the
expression becomes :
It may be seen that the gain now depends only
upon
feedback
fraction
mv i.e., on the
characteristics
of feedback
circuit.

As feedback circuit
is usually
a voltage divider (a
resistive network), therefore, it is unaffected by
changes in temperature, variations in transistor

Reduces non-linear distortion

A large signal stage has non-linear distortion because
its voltage gain changes at various points in the cycle.
The negative voltage feedback reduces the nonlinear
distortion in large signal amplifiers. It can be proved
mathematically that :

It is clear that by applying negative voltage

feedback to an amplifier, distortion is reduced by a
factor
1 + Av m
v.
(iv) Increases
input
impedance and decreases
output
impedance
The
negative
voltage feedback increases the input
impedance and decreases the output impedance of
amplifier. Such a change is profitable in practice as
the amplifier can then serve the purpose of
impedance matching.

(a) Input
impedance
The increase in input impedance with negative
voltage feedback can be explained by referring to
Fig.Suppose
below.

the input
impedance
of
the
amplifier is Zin without
feedback and Zin with
negative
feedback.
Let us further
assume

that input current is i1.

ferring to Fig. , we have,

Cont
d..

 It is clear that by applying negative voltage

feedback, the input impedance of the amplifier is
increased
by
a factor
+ A mthan
v.
As A m
v is
much 1
greater
unity, therefore,
input impedance is increased considerably.
(b) Output impedance.
Following similar line, we can show that output
impedance with negative voltage feedback is given
by :

It is clear that by applying negative feedback, the

output impedance of the amplifier is decreased by
a factor 1 + A m.

EEDBACK TOPOLOGIES
There are four basic feedback topologies, based
on the parameter to be amplified (voltage or
current) and the output parameter (voltage or
current).
The four feedback circuit categories can be
described by the types of connections at the input
and
output
of circuit.
The
four types
of connections are shown in

FigureThe
below. four
connections
are
referred to as:
seriesshunt
(voltage
amplifier), shunt
series
(current
amplifier),series
series(transconduc
tance
amplifier),and

 The first term refers to the connection at the

amplifier input, and the second term refers to the
connection
the output.
Also, theattype
of connection determines which

parameter (voltage or current) is sampled at the

output and
which parameter is amplified.
riesShunt
Configuration
The configuration of an ideal
seriesshunt feedback amplifier
is
in Figure
shown
The circuit
consists of a
basic voltage amplifier
input resistance Ri
open-loop
voltage
gain
The feedback
circuit

with an
and an
A
v .
samples
the output voltage
and produces a feedback voltage Vfb, which is in

series
with
theconfiguration,
input signal voltage
Vi. resistance to
In this
ideal
the input
the feedback circuit is infinite; therefore, there is
no loading effect on the output of the basic
amplifier due to the feedback circuit.

 Voltage V is the difference between the input

signal voltage and the feedback voltage and is
called
an error
signal.
The error
signal
is amplified in the basic voltage
amplifier.
We can recognize the series connection on the
input and the shunt connection of the output for
this
configuration.
The
feedback circuit is a voltage-controlled
voltage source and is an ideal voltage amplifier.
The feedback circuit samples the output voltage
and provides a feedback voltage in series with the
source
voltage. an increase in the output voltage
For example,
produces an increase in the feedback voltage,
which in turn decreases the error voltage due to
the
negative
Then,
the feedback.
smaller error voltage is amplified
producing a smaller output voltage, which means
that the output signal tends to be stabilized.

 If the output of the feedback network is an open

circuit, then the output voltage is
---(1)
and the feedback voltage is
---(2)v is the voltage feedback transfer
Parameter
function, which is the ratio of the feedback voltage
to
the output
voltage
The
notation
is similar to the voltage gain Av ,
which is also the ratio of two voltages.
The error voltage, assuming the source
resistance RS is negligible, is
----(3)
Combining Equations (1), (2), and (3),
we find the
closed-loop voltage transfer function is
---(4)
Equation (4) is the closed-loop voltage gain of
the feedback amplifier, and it has the same form as
the
ideal
feedback
transfer
function
by
thecequation as
----(5)

The input resistance including feedback is denoted by Ri

f . Starting with Equation (3), using Equations (1)and (2),
we find that
----(5a)
---(5b)
--

---(6)

-----(7)
Equation (7) shows that a series input connection
results in an increased input resistance compared
to that of the basic voltage amplifier. A large input
resistance is a desirable property of a voltage
amplifier. This eliminates loading effects on the

 The output resistance of the feedback circuit can be

determined from the equivalent circuit in Figure below.
The input signal voltage source is set equal to zero (a
short circuit), and a test voltage is applied to the output
terminals.

Equation (8) shows that a shunt output

connection results in a decreased output resistance
compared to that of the basic voltage amplifier.

The equivalent circuit of this feedback voltage

amplifier is shown in Figure below.

untSeries Configuration
The configuration of an ideal shuntseries
feedback amplifier is shown in Figure. below
The circuit consists of a
basic current amplifier with
an input resistance Ri and
an open-loop current gain
AiThe
.

feedback circuit samples

the output current and produces
a feedback current Ifb, which is
in shunt with an input signal
current
Ii. I is the difference between the input

Current
signal current and the feedback current and is the
error
Thesignal.
error signal is amplified in the basic current
amplifier.
We can recognize the shunt connection on the
input and the series connection on the output for
this configuration.

 An increase in output current produces an

increase in feedback current, which in turn
decreases
the error
current.

The smaller
error
current is then amplified,
producing a smaller
output
stabilizing
output
signal.
If thecurrent
output and
is essentially
a the
short
circuit,
then
the output current is

----(1)

----(2)
The parameter i is the feedback current transfer
function. The input signal current, assuming RS is
large, is
----(3)
Combining Equations (1), (2), and (3) yields the closedloop current transfer function
-----(4)

 Equation (4) is the closed-loop current gain of

the feedback amplifier.
The form of the equation for the current transfer
function of the current amplifier (shuntseries
connection) is the same as that for the voltage
transfer function of the voltage amplifier (series
shunt

We connection).
will show that this will be the same for the
remaining two feedback connections.
The input resistance of the shuntseries
configuration
is REquation
if .
Starting with
(3), using Equations (2)
and (3), we find that
---5a
---(5b)
----(6)

Equation (7) shows that a shunt input connection

decreases the input resistance compared to that of
the
A basic
smallamplifier.
input resistance is a desirable property
of a current amplifier, to avoid loading effects on
the
input
signalresistance
current source.
The
output
of
the feedback circuit can be
determined
from
the
equivalent circuit in Figure
below.
The input signal current is
set equal to zero (an open
circuit) and a test current is
applied
to
the
output
terminals.
Since the input signal current source is assumed
to be ideal we have RS =.
--(8a)

--- (9)
Equation
(10) shows that a series output
---(10)
connection increases the output resistance
compared
to that of
the basic
amplifier.
The equivalent
circuit
of this
feedback current
amplifier is shown in Figure below.

riesSeries Configuration
The configuration of an ideal seriesseries
feedback amplifier is shown in Figure below.
The feedback samples a
portion
of
the
output
current and converts it to a
voltage.
This
feedback
circuit can therefore be
thought

of asconsists
a voltage-toThe circuit
of a basic
current
amplifier.
amplifier
that converts the error
voltage to an output current
with a gain factor Ag and that
has
an feedback
input resistance
Ri .

The
circuit samples
the output current
and produces a feedback voltage Vfb, which is in
series with the input signal voltage Vi.
Assuming the output is essentially a short circuit,
the output current is

--- (1)

The units of the transfer function given by

Equation (1) are amperes/volt, or conductance. We
may note that the term zAg is dimensionless. This
particular feedback circuit is therefore called a
transconductance
amplifier.
The input resistance
for the series connection
increases and the output resistance for the series
connection also increases.

The equivalent circuit for the seriesseries

feedback amplifier is shown in Figure below.

untShunt Configuration
The configuration of the ideal shuntshunt
feedback amplifier is shown in Figure below.
The feedback samples a
portion
of
the
output
voltage and converts it to a
current.
This
feedback
circuit can therefore be
thought of as a current-toAssuming
the
output
is
voltage amplifier.
essentially an open circuit, the
output voltage is

Combining these equations yields the closed-loop

voltage-to-current transfer function,
---(1)
The units of the transfer function given by
Equation (1) are volts/ampere, or resistance.
The equivalent circuit
for
the
shuntshunt
feedback
amplifier
is
shown in Figure.

ummary of Results
Table below summarizes the ideal relationships,
including the transfer functions, input resistances,
and output resistances, obtained in the analysis of
the four types of feedback amplifiers.