Feedback Amplifier Topologies : As expected, there are four

basic single-loop feedback amplifier topologies, all of which have the structure given in figure below.

The basic structure of a single-loop feedback amplifier.

The ideal feedback amplifier :

The symbol indicated by the circle with the summation sign enclosed represents the summing network whose output is the algebraic sum of the inputs. Thus Xi = Xs + Xf The signal Xi, representing the output of the summing network, is the amplifier input X i . If the feedback signal Xf is 1800 out of phase with the input Xs, as is true in negative-feedback system, then Xi is a difference signal. That is, Xi decreases as |Xf| increases. The reverse transmission of the feedback network F is defined by

Xf F| Xo

The transfer ratio F is often a real number but, in general, is a function of frequency. The gain of the amplifier A is defined by

Xo Xo A| ! Xi Xi
The gain with feedback AF is obtained by substituting the above A Xo equations is

AF |

Xs

1  XF

The gain A in the above equations represents the transfer function without feedback. If F = 0, eliminating the fed-back signal, no feedback exists. Frequently, A is referred to as the open-loop gain (F = 0) and designated by AOL. When F { 0, a feedback loop exists and AF is open called the closed-loop gain. If |AF| < |A|, the feedback is termed negative; if |AF| > |A|, the feedback is positive (regenerative). We see that in the case of negative feedback |1 - AF| > 1.

Feedback Amplifier : Series-Shunt Feedback :

Series-shunt feedback configuration From the above figure

v0 ! avI v fb ! fv0 vI ! vi  v fb

Shunt-Shunt Feedback :
vo a! iI

where a is a transresistance f ! v o

i fb

where f is a transconductance

Shunt-shunt feedback configuration.

v0 ! aiI

iI ! ii  i fb
Substitution of ifb we get iI ! ii  fvo

vo ! ii  fvo a
Rearranging terms we find
vo a ! !A ii 1  af

The input impedance can be calculated as

iI !

ii 1  af
vi ii

The input impedance ZI with feedback is Substituting gives

Zi !

Zi !

vi 1 z ! i iI 1  af 1  T
Zo ! zo 1 T

It is easily shown that the output impedance in this case is

Shunt-Series Feedback : If zL zo it can be shown that

io a ! ii 1  af

Zi !

zi 1 T

Z o ! zo (1  T )

(a) Equivalent circuit of a shunt-shunt feedback amplifier. (b) Equivalent circuit of a shunt-shunt feedback amplifier for apw.

Shunt-series feedback configuration.

Series-series feedback configuration

Series-Series Feedback : If zL zo it can be shown that

io a ! vi 1  af

Z i ! zi (1  T ) Z o ! zo (1  T )

The number of poles in a transfer function is equal to the number of independent energy-storing elements in the network. Often, the high-frequency response of an amplifier has no finite zeros; that is, AH(S) contains only poles. For this situation an amplifier with three real poles has a transfer function

Ao AH s ! 1  s p1 1  s p2 1  s p3
Alternatively, equation can, by performing the indicated multiplication, be rewritten as
Ao AH s ! 1  a1s  a2 s 2  a3 s 3

where

1 1 1 a1 !   p1 p2 p3

1 1 1 a2 !   p1 p2 p1 p3 p2 p3
1 a3 ! p1 p2 p3

Consider the situation where p1<< p2 < p3; in other words, where p1 is the dominant pole. Then

1 a1 $ p1

or

1 p1 $ a1
a1 p2 $ a2
a2 p3 $ a3

1 a1 a2 $ ! p1 p2 p2

or

1 a2 a3 $ ! p1 p2 p3 p 3

or

The importance of previous equation is that we can approximate the pole locations by knowing the coefficients a1, a2, and a3 in AH(s). Furthermore, the dominant-pole approximation gives the value of the 3-dB frequency fH as

p1 1 ! fH $ 2T 2Ta1
The asymptotic Bode diagram is extremely useful for the penciland- paper calculations made by circuit designers. Again, computer simulations are used to obtain the accuracy required for the component values in the final design.

Example The return ratio of a two-pole amplifier is

100 T s !   s / 106 1  s / 107 1 

(a) Determine the phase margin. (b) Is the amplifier stable? Solution: (a) The asymptotic Bode diagram is diagram is displayed in the figure, from which [G = 107.5 = 3.16 v 107 rad/s. On the phase curve, we see that T= -157.50, and use of equation gives

J M ! 157.5  180 ! 22.5

as indicated on figure.

(b) As JM > 0, the amplifier is stable. Calculation of [G and JM using the actual Bode diagram, and verified by MICROCAP II, gives [G = 3.09 v 107 rad/s and JM = 20.20. These are in good agreement with the values obtained from the asymptotic Bode diagram.

Figure. Asymptotic Bode diagram .

Example The return ratio of a three-pole amplifier is

TO T s ! 1  s [1   s 107 1  s 108 1 
(a) Determine the gain and phase margins for TO = 104 when (1) [1 = 106 rad/s and (2) [1 = 100 rad/s. (b) Is the closed-loop amplifier stable for each case in part a? ( c) Repeat parts a and b for [1 = 106 rad/s, but when TO is reduced to 10.

Figure. The asymptotic Bode diagram for the three-pole amplifier.

Figure. Asymptotic Bode diagram for a three-pole amplifier illustrating compensation by narrow-banding the amplifier.

Example The compensated return ratio of a single-loop amplifier is

10 T s ! 7 8 ?1  s / [1 A1  s / 10 1  s / 10

? A 

Determine [1 so that the phase margin is approximately 67.50.

(b)

Figure. Bode diagrams used to compensate the amplifier.

Impedance in Feedback Amplifiers

Circuits for the calculation of the input resistance to a feedback amplifier : (a) series connection (b) shunt connection.

Input Resistance : The KVL for the loop gives Vi = Vs + Vf . The feedback signal is Vf = FXo is the output signal and Xo = AVi. Combination of these relationships gives

Vs Vi ! IR i ! 1  AF
from which the resistance with feedback RIF is

R IF

Vs | ! R i (1  AF) ! R i (1  T ) I

For this circuit

Ii ! Is  If
R IF

I f ! FX o ;

X o ! AI i

Combination of these equations and use of V = IiRi yields

Ri Ri V | ! ! I s 1  AF 1  T

Output Impedance :

Pertaining to the calculation of the output resistance to a feedback amplifier : (a) shunt connections; (b) series connection.

A Vo ! Xs 1  AF

AX i AX s I sc ! ! Ro Ro

With Vo = 0 (short circuit), no signal is fed back, Xf = 0, and Xi = Xs. Formation of the ratio Vo/Isc yields Vo Ro Ro R OF | ! ! I sc 1  AF 1  T The output impedance is increased when a negative-feedback amplifier employs a series-connection output.

A We obtain I o ! I sc ! Xs 1  AF
With terminals 1 and 2 open-circuited, no signal is fed back (Xf = 0) and Xi = Xs and the open-circuit voltage Voc = -AXiRo. Combining these relations and forming Voc/Isc, we obtain

ROF = Ro(1 - AF) = Ro(1 + T)

Example Determine AF, T, and ROF for the common-source stage with source resistance in the figure below.

(a)

(b)

(a) Common-source amplifier with source resistance. (b) Schematic diagram and (c) equivalent circuit of the amplifier without feedback.

Solution : The input circuit is analogous to that for the emitter follower and is thus series-connected. Making Vo = 0 does not eliminate the feedback because Io and, hence, Vf do not become zero. When Io = 0, Vf = 0 and the output is also series connected. (This amplifier is a series-series type.) To determine the input circuit of the amplifier without feedback, open-circuit the output (Io = 0). The feedback resistance Rs appears in series with Vs. To find the output circuit, set Ii =0. Again, as indicated in the figure Rs appears in the outer loop. The equivalent circuit in Figure b is depicted in Figure c. In Figure c, Vo = -IoRD and Vf = -IoRs; hence F = Vf/Io = -Rs. Since no current exists in the gate loop, Vgs = Vs. Use of KVL for the drain loop gives Io = QVs/(rd + RD + RS). It follows that

A OL

Io Q ! ! Vs rd  R D  R S
T ! FA OL QR S ! rd  R D  R S

The return ratio is

Combination of these equations and clearing fractions yields A OL Q AF ! ! 1  T rd  R D  (1  Q)R D

Since Vo = -IoRD, Vo/Vs is the same result. Inspection of Figure shows that ROD, the output resistance with the controlled source suppressed, is RS + rd. The return ratios TOC and TSC are obtained by setting RD = w and RD = 0, respectively. Thus TOC = T |RD pw = 0 and TSC = T | RD p0 = QRS/(rd + RS). The output resistance with feedback ROF = ROD(1 + TSC) = (RS + rd) [1 + Q RS/(rd + RS)]. Clearing fractions and rearranging terms, we obtain ROF = rd + RS (1 + Q) } rd(1+gmRS) for Q 1.

Example (a) Determine the input resistance RIF of an inverting Op-Amp stage. Include the Op-Amp input resistance Ri in the model for the stage. (b) Evaluate RIF for Ri p w. Solution :

Equivalent circuit for the inverting Op-Amp stage.

(a) The equivalent circuit of the stage is displayed in figure. The dead-system input resistance RID obtained by setting Vi = 0, is

R ID ! R1  Ri || R 2
With the input terminals open-circuited, no current exists in R1, and consequently RiAv  Vi TOC ! ! Ri  R2 Vi The resistance R1 and Ri are in parallel when the input terminals are short-circuited. Hence R1 || Ri

TSC !

( R1 || Ri )  R 2

Av

Observe that neither TOC not TSC is zero in this amplifier. Substitution of these values into Equation gives
R IF 1  (R i || R 1 )A v /[(R 1 || R i )  R 2 ] R 2R i ! [R 1  R i || R 2 ] ! R1  1  [R i A v /(R i  R 2 )] R i (1  A v )  R 2

In figure, it is clear that RIF =R1 + Rxx; therefore

R 2 Ri Ri [ R 2 /(1  Av )] R xx ! ! Ri (1  Av )  R 2 Ri  [ R 2 /(1  Av )]
The resistance Rxx can be recognized as Ri||R2/(1 + AV); the resistance R2/(1 + Av) is exactly that which is reflected across the X-X terminals by using Millers theorem. (b) From part a, allowing Ri pw, gives

R IF

R2 ! R1  ! R 1  R xx 1 Av

For a large value of Av (Av p w), the input resistance is simply R1 as Rxx p 0. However, this is the expected result, for when Av p w, the inverting terminal is a virtual ground.

Series-shunt configuration fed from a finite source impedance. From the previous equations
v0 a ! vi 1  af vi ! Zi vs Z i  zs

where Zi is the input impedance seen by

Series-shunt configuration with finite impedances in the basic amplifier.

v0 ! avI vi ! vI  fvo

Substituting the above equations gives

vi ! vI  afvI ! vI (1  af )

Also

vI ii ! zi
ii ! vi 1 zi 1  af

Substituting we get

Thus, from the previous equation input impedance Zi with feedback applied is
Zi ! vi ! (1  T ) zi ii

Series feedback at the input always raises the input impedance by (1+T).
ve  f v ! 0

v  ave i! zo

Circuit for the calculation of the output impedance of the series-shunt feedback configuration.

(a)

(b)

(a) Equivalent circuit of a series-shunt feedback amplifier. (b) Equivalent circuit of a series-shunt feedback amplifier for apw. Substituting we get

v  afv i! zo
From the above equation the output impedance Zo with feedback applied is

v zo Zo ! ! i 1 T