ELE3075

Microelectronic Circuits2

Chapter 12
Feedback
Fundamentals of Microelectronics

Ickhyun Song
Assistant Professor
Department of Electronic Engineering
Hanyang University
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12.0 Chapter Contents

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12.1 General Considerations (1)
• Feedback System
- A negative feedback system consists of four components:
1) feedforward system
2) sense mechanism
3) feedback network
4) comparison mechanism

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12.1 General Considerations (2)
• Example 12.1
- Analyze the noninverting amplifier below from a feedback point of view.

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12.1 General Considerations (3)
• Comparison Error
- As A1K increases, the error between the input and fed back signal decreases.
- Or the fed back signal approaches a good replica of the input.

X
E
1 A1 K

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12.1 General Considerations (4)
• Example 12.2
- Explain why in the circuit Y/X approaches 1 + R1/R2 as [R2/ (R1 + R2)]A1 becomes much
greater than unity.

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12.1 General Considerations (5)
• Loop Gain
- When the input is grounded, and the loop is broken at an arbitrary location, the loop gain
is measured to be KA1.

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12.1 General Considerations (6)
• Example 12.3
- Compute the loop gain of the feedback system by breaking the loop at the input of A1.

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12.1 General Considerations (7)
• Direction of Signal Flow
- Signal naturally flows from the input to the output of a feedforward/feedback system.
- If we apply the input the other way around, the “output” signal we get is not a result of
the loop gain, but due to poor isolation.

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12.2 Properties of Negative Feedback (1)
• Gain Desensitization
- A large loop gain is needed to create a precise gain, one that does not depend on A1,
which can vary by ±20%.

A1 K  1
Y 1

X K

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12.2 Properties of Negative Feedback (2)
• Ratio of Resistors
- When two resistors are composed of the same unit resistor, their ratio is very accurate.
Since when they vary, they will vary together and maintain a constant ratio.

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12.2 Properties of Negative Feedback (3)
• Example 12.4
- The following circuit is designed for a nominal gain of 4. (a) Determine the actual gain if
A1 = 1000. (b) Determine the percentage change in the gain if A1 drops to 500.

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12.2 Properties of Negative Feedback (4)
• Gain Desensitization Summary
- Gain reduction by a factor of 1+KA1

- Benefits
Any factor that influences the open loop gain has less effect on the closed loop gain

: Signal frequency  Bandwidth extension at the cost of gain

: Load resistance  Less sensitive to load variations
: Signal amplitude  Nonlinearity manifests itself to a lesser extent

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12.2 Properties of Negative Feedback (5)
• Bandwidth Extension
- Although negative feedback lowers the gain by (1+KA0), it also extends the bandwidth by
the same amount.

Open Loop Closed Loop

Negative
Feedback A0
A0
As   Y 1  KA0
s s  
1 X s
0 1
1  KA0 0

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12.2 Properties of Negative Feedback (6)
• Example 12.5
- Plot the closed loop frequency response given as below for K = 0, 0.1, and 0.5. Assume
A0 = 200.

A0
Y 1  KA0
s  
X s
1
1  KA0 0

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12.2 Properties of Negative Feedback (7)
• Example 12.6
- Prove that the unity gain bandwidth of the previous system remains independent of K if
1+KA0 >> 1 and K2 << 1.

A0
Y 1  KA0
s  
X s
1
1  KA0 0

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12.2 Properties of Negative Feedback (8)
• Modification of I/O Impedance
- Negative feedback makes the closed loop gain less sensitive to the load resistance.

• Example 12.7
- The following figure depicts a transistor level realization of the feedback circuit in a
feedback system. Assume λ = 0 and R1 + R2 >> RD for simplicity. (a) Identify the four
components of the feedback system. (b) Determine the open loop and closed loop
voltage gain. (c) Determine the open loop and closed loop I/O impedances.

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12.2 Properties of Negative Feedback (9)
• Modification of I/O Impedance
- Do the input and the output impedances always scale down and up, respectively?
- Is the modification of I/O impedances by feedback always desirable?

• Example 12.8
- The previous common gate stage must drive a load resistance RL = RD/2. How much
does the gain change (a) without feedback, (b) with feedback?

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12.2 Properties of Negative Feedback (10)
• Linearity Improvement
- Nonlinearity can be viewed as the variation of the slope (small-signal gain)

Before feedback

After feedback

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12.3 Types of Amplifier (1)
• Current or Voltage?
- Voltage: high input impedance, low output impedance
- Current: low input impedance, high output impedance

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12.3 Types of Amplifier (2)
• Simple Amplifier Models
- Models of ideal amplifiers
- Zero or infinite I/O impedances

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12.3 Types of Amplifier (3)
• Realistic Amplifier Models
- Voltage/current input  shunt impedance
- Voltage output  series impedance
- Current output  shunt impedance

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12.3 Types of Amplifier (4)
• Examples of Amplifier Types

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12.3 Types of Amplifier (5)
• Example 12.9
- With a current gain of unity, the following topology appears hardly better than a piece of
wire. What is the advantage of this circuit?

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12.4 Sense and Return Techniques (1)
• Sensing a Voltage
- A feedback system includes means of sensing the output and returning it to the input.
- In order to sense a voltage across two terminals, a voltmeter with ideally infinite
impedance is used.
- We place a voltmeter in parallel with the terminal.
- It has a high input impedance in order not to disturb the circuit

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12.4 Sense and Return Techniques (2)
• Sensing and Returning a Voltage
- Similarly, for a feedback network to correctly sense the output voltage, its input
impedance needs to be very large
- A1 should not feel the effect of the resistive divider.
- R1 and R2 also provide a mean to return the voltage.

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12.4 Sense and Return Techniques (3)
• Sensing a Current
- A current is measured by inserting a current meter with ideally zero impedance in series
with the conduction path.
- The current meter is composed of a small resistance r in parallel with a voltmeter.

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12.4 Sense and Return Techniques (4)
• Sensing a Current
- Similarly for a feedback network to correctly sense the current, its input impedance has
to be small.
- RS has to be small so that its voltage drop will not change Iout.

RS  0

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12.4 Sense and Return Techniques (5)
• Addition of Two Voltage Sources (Practical Circuits)
- To add two voltage sources, we place them in series.
- Thus, a feedback network returning a voltage must appear in series with the input signal.

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12.4 Sense and Return Techniques (6)
• Addition of Two Voltage Sources
- Although not directly in series, Vin and VF are being subtracted since the resultant
currents, differential and single-ended, are proportional to the difference of Vin and VF.

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12.4 Sense and Return Techniques (7)
• Addition of Two Current Sources
- In order to add two current sources, we place them in parallel.
- So the feedback network is placed in parallel with the input signal.

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12.4 Sense and Return Techniques (8)
• Addition of Two Current Sources (Practical Circuits)
- Since M1 and RF are in parallel with the input current source, their respective currents
are being subtracted.
- Note, RF has to be large enough to approximate a current source.

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12.4 Sense and Return Techniques (9)
• Example 12.10
- Determine the types of sensed and returned signals in the circuit below.

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12.4 Sense and Return Techniques (10)
• Example 12.11
- Compute the feedback factor, K, for the circuit depicted below. Assume λ = 0.

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12.4 Sense and Return Techniques (11)
• Input Impedance of an Ideal Feedback Network
- To sense a voltage, the input impedance of an ideal feedback network must be infinite.
- To sense a current, the input impedance of an ideal feedback network must be zero.

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12.4 Sense and Return Techniques (12)
• Output Impedance of an Ideal Feedback Network
- To return a voltage, the output impedance of an ideal feedback network must be zero.
- To return a current, the output impedance of an ideal feedback network must be infinite.

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12.5 Polarity of Feedback (1)
• Determining the Polarity of Feedback
1) Assume the input goes either up or down.
2) Follow the signal through the loop.
3) Determine whether the returned quantity enhances or opposes the original change.

• Simpler Steps
1) Set the input to zero
2) Break the loop
3) Apply a test signal, travel around
the loop, examine the returned signal,
and determine the polarity of the two.

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12.5 Polarity of Feedback (2)
• Example 12.12
- Determine the polarity of feedback in the circuit below.

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12.5 Polarity of Feedback (3)
• Example 12.13
- Determine the polarity of feedback in the circuit below.

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12.5 Polarity of Feedback (4)
• Example 12.14
- Determine the polarity of feedback in the circuit below.

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (1)
• Feedback Topologies
- Each topology includes one of four types of amplifiers.
- Feedback network must handle the same type of quantities as the feedforward system.
- We assume ideal feedback network for the following analysis.

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (2)
• Voltage-Voltage Feedback
- “Voltage amplifier” (or series-shunt)
- Feedback network senses the output in parallel and returns to the input in series.

Vout A0

Vin 1  KA0

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (3)
• Example 12.15
- Determine the closed-loop gain of the circuit shown below, assuming R1 + R2 is very large.

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (4)
• Input Impedance of a V-V Feedback
- We assume
1) the forward system is a nonideal voltage amplifier with finite I/O impedances.
2) the feedback network remains ideal.

Vin
 Rin (1  A 0 K )
I in

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (5)
• Example 12.16
- Determine the input impedance of the stage shown below if R1 + R2 is very large.

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (6)
• Output Impedance of a V-V Feedback
- We assume
1) the forward system is a nonideal voltage amplifier with finite I/O impedances.
2) the feedback network remains ideal.

VX Rout

I X 1  KA0 

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (7)
• Example 12.17
- Calculate the output impedance of the circuit shown below if R1 + R2 is very large.

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (8)
• Voltage-Current Feedback
- The output voltage is sensed by feedback network.
- Feedback network returns a current to the input.

V out RO

I in 1  KRO

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (9)
• Example 12.18
- For the circuit shown below, assume λ = 0 and RF is very large and (a) prove that the
feedback is negative; (b) calculate the open-loop gain; (c) calculate the closed-loop gain.

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (10)
• Input Impedance of Voltage-Current Feedback
- Feedforward system presents Rin.
- Closed-loop input impedance is lowered by the feedback.

VX Rin

IX 1  R0 K

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (11)
• Example 12.19
- Determine the closed-loop input impedance of the circuit studied in Example 12.18.

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (12)
• Output Impedance of Voltage-Current Feedback
- Feedforward system presents Rout.
- Closed-loop output impedance is lowered by the feedback.

VX Rout

IX 1  R0 K

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (13)
• Example 12.20
- Calculate the closed-loop output impedance of the circuit below.

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (14)
• Current-Voltage Feedback
- The output current is sensed in series by feedback network.
- Feedback network returns a voltage to the input.

I out Gm

Vin 1  KGm

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (15)
• Example 12.21
- We wish to deliver a well-defined current to a laser diode as shown in Fig. 12.40(a), but
the transconductance of M1 is poorly controlled. For this reason, we “monitor” the current
by inserting a small resistor RM in series, sensing the voltage across RM, and returning the
result to the input of an op amp [Fig. 12.40(b)]. Estimate Iout if the op amp provides a very
high gain. Calculate the closed-loop gain for the implementation shown in Fig. 12.40(c).

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (16)
• Input Impedance of a C-V Feedback
- Closed-loop input impedance increases by the factor of (1+KGm)

V in
 Rin (1  KGm )
I in

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (17)
• Output Impedance of a C-V Feedback
- Closed-loop output impedance increases by the factor of (1+KGm)

VX
 Rout (1  KGm )
IX

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (18)
• Example 12.22
- An alternative approach to regulating the current delivered to a laser diode is shown below.
A very small resistor RM monitors the current, generating a proportional voltage and
feeding it back to the subtracting device, M1. Determine the closed-loop gain and I/O
impedances of the circuit.

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (19)
• Example 12.23
- A student attempts to calculate the output impedance of the current-voltage feedback
topology with the aid of circuit depicted below. Explain why this topology is an incorrect
representation of the actual circuit.

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (20)
• Current-Current Feedback
- The output current is sensed in series by feedback network.
- Feedback network returns a current to the input.

I out AI

I in 1  KAI

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (21)
• Input Impedance of a C-C Feedback
- Input impedance of the forward amplifier is modeled by Rin.
- Closed-loop input impedance is reduced by the factor of (1+KAI)

VX Rin

I X 1  KAI

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (22)
• Output Impedance of a C-C Feedback
- Output impedance of the forward amplifier is modeled by Rout.
- Closed-loop output impedance increases by the factor of (1+KAI)

VX
 Rout (1  KAI )
IX

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12.6 Feedback Topologies (23)
• Example 12.24
- Consider the circuit below, where the output current delivered to a laser diode is regulated
by negative feedback. Prove that the feedback is negative and compute the closed-loop
gain and I/O impedances if RM is very small and RF very large.

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12.7 Effect of Nonideal I/O Impedances (1)
• Loading due to Feedback Network
- In the previous section, ideal I/O impedances of the feedback network were assumed.
- In practice, the finite impedance may considerably alter the performance of the circuit.
 The feedback network “load” the forward amplifier.

• Example 12.25
- Suppose in the circuit below, R1 + R2 is not much greater than RD. How should we analyze
the circuit?

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12.7 Effect of Nonideal I/O Impedances (2)
• Breaking a Feedback Loop
- The correct way of breaking a loop is such that the loop does not know it has been broken.
- Therefore, we need to present the feedback network to both the input and the output of the
feedforward amplifier.

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12.7 Effect of Nonideal I/O Impedances (3)
• Step-by-Step Methodology
1) Identify the forward amplifier
2) Identify the feedback network
3) Break the feedback network (Rules will be given later)
4) Calculate the open-loop parameters
5) Determine the feedback factor (Rules will be given later)
6) Calculate the closed-loop parameters

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12.7 Effect of Nonideal I/O Impedances (4)
• Rules for Breaking the Feedback Network
- “Duplicating” the feedback network at both the input and the output.
- How to terminate the input and the output port of the feedback network?

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12.7 Effect of Nonideal I/O Impedances (5)
• Calculation of Feedback Factor
- The input of the FB network is of the same type as the output of the FF amplifier.
- The output of the FB network is opened/shorted depending on the input of the FF amp.

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12.7 Effect of Nonideal I/O Impedances (6)
• Example 12.26
- Analyze the following amplifier if R1 + R2 is not much less than RD (open-/closed-loop gain
and impedance).

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12.7 Effect of Nonideal I/O Impedances (7)
• Example 12.27
- Analyze the following circuit if R1 + R2 is not much greater than rOP || rON (open-/closed-
loop gain and impedance).

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12.7 Effect of Nonideal I/O Impedances (8)
• Example 12.28
- Analyze the following the circuit (open-/closed-loop gain and impedance).

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12.7 Effect of Nonideal I/O Impedances (9)
• Example 12.29
- Analyze the circuit, assuming that RF is not very large (open-/closed-loop gain and
impedance).

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12.7 Effect of Nonideal I/O Impedances (10)
• Example 12.30
- Analyze the circuit below, assuming RM is not small, rO1 < ∞, and the laser diode has an
impedance of RL (open-/closed-loop gain and impedance).

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12.7 Effect of Nonideal I/O Impedances (11)
• Example 12.31
- Analyze the following circuit, assuming RM is not small, and the laser diode exhibits an
impedance of RL (open-/closed-loop gain and impedance).

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12.7 Effect of Nonideal I/O Impedances (12)
• Example 12.32
- Analyze the circuit below, assuming RF is not large, RM is not small, and the laser diode is
modeled by a resistance RL. Also, assume rO2 < ∞.

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12.7 Effect of Nonideal I/O Impedances (13)
• Example 12.33
- The following figure (left) depicts a circuit similar to that in Example 12.32 (right), but the
output of interest here is Vout. Analyze the amplifier and study the differences between the
two.

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (1)
• Review of Bode’s Rules
- Pole (zero): slope of the magnitude of transfer function decreases/increases by 20 dB/dec.
- Phase of the transfer function also changes.

- Phase begins to decrease (increase) at 1/10 of the pole (zero) frequency.

- At the pole (zero) frequency, H(s) will exhibit -45° (+45°).
- At 10x of the pole (zero) frequency, H(s) experiences a total change of nearly -90°(or -90°).

- Unlike magnitude response, phase changes significantly at earlier frequencies.

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (2)
• Example 12.34
- The following figure depicts the magnitude response of an amplifier. Using Bode’s rule,
plot the phase response.

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (3)
• Example 12.35
- Construct the magnitude and phase response of an amplifier having (a) one pole, (b) two
poles, or (c) three poles.

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (4)
• Problem of Instability
- KH(s): loop transmission (to emphasize its frequency dependence)
- Substitute of jω for s.
- For a certain ω1, KH(jω1) reaches -1, the closed loop gain becomes infinite.
- This implies for a very small input signal at ω1, the output can be very large.
 The system becomes unstable.

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (5)
• Barkhausen’s Criteria for Oscillation
- The polarity of the feedback loop becomes a positive feedback network
- The feedback circuit has sufficient loop gain for the circulating signal to grow.
- Without any signal at the input, electronic noise may lead the circuit to oscillation.

| KH ( j1 ) | 1
KH ( j1 )  180

- Can a two-pole system oscillate?

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (6)
• Time Evolution of Instability
- The input signal incurs a sign reversal at the output of the forward amplifier.
- An inverted replica of the input is produced as a returned signal.

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (7)
• Example 12.37
- A three-pole feedback system exhibits the frequency response as below. Does this system
oscillate?

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (8)
• Stability Condition
- In the example below, the frequencies at which |KH|=1 and ∠KH=-180° are different.
- The system on the left is still unstable because at ∠KH=-180°, |KH|>1, whereas the system
on the right is stable because at ∠KH=-180°, |KH|<1.

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (9)
• Stability Condition
- ωPX, (“phase crossover”), is the frequency at which ∠KH=-180°.
- ωGX, (“gain crossover”), is the frequency at which |KH| = 1.
- Assume gain and phase response is monotonic along the frequency axis.
- For stability, the loop gain should fall to unity before the phase shift reaches -180°.
 Barkhausen’s criteria do not hold at the same frequency!

GX   PX

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (10)
• Example 12.38
- We wish to apply negative feedback with K = 1 around the three-stage amplifier.
Neglecting other capacitances and assuming identical stages, plot the frequency response
of the circuit and determine the condition for stability. Assume λ = 0.

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (11)
• Example 12.40
- Repeat Example 12.38 if the target value of K is 1/2, i.e., the feedback is weaker.

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (12)
• Marginally Stable vs. Stable
- For stability, ωPX < ωGX. But how much do we need?
- If the difference is small, the feedback system displays almost-oscillatory response.
- At the input, a step signal is applied. (Ringing is observed in a marginally stable system)

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (13)
• Phase Margin
- The larger the phase margin, the more stable the negative feedback becomes.
- For a well-behaved response, a phase margin of 60° is required.

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (14)
• Example 12.41
- The following figure plots the frequency response of a multipole amplifier. The magnitude
drops to unity at the second pole frequency. Determine the phase margin of a feedback
system employing this amplifier with K = 1.

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (15)
• Frequency Compensation
- Shift ωGX toward the origin without changing ωGX.
- In other words, force |KH| to drop to unity at a lower frequency (Phase margin increases).
- Move the dominant pole to lower frequencies.

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (16)
• Example 12.42
- The amplifier shown below employs a cascode stage and a CS stage. Assuming that the
pole at node B is dominant, sketch the frequency response and explain how the circuit can
be “compensated.”

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (17)
• Frequency Compensation Procedure
1) We identify a PM, then -180° + PM gives us ωPM.
2) On the magnitude plot at ωPM, we extrapolate up with a slope of +20dB/dec until we hit
the low-frequency gain then we look “down” and the frequency we see is our new
dominant pole, ω’P1.

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (18)
• Example 12.43
- A multipole amplifier exhibits the following frequency response. Assuming the poles are far
apart, compensate the amplifier for a phase margin of 45° with K = 1.

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12.8 Stability in Feedback Systems (19)
• Miller Compensation
- Instead of a shunt capacitor, to save chip area, Miller multiplication of a smaller
capacitance creates an equivalent effect.

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 Summary
• Chapter 12
- Negative feedback regulates the behavior of poorly controlled systems.
- Four components: Feedforward system, output sense mechanism, feedback network, and
input comparison mechanism
- Loop gain, open-loop gain, closed-loop gain
- Negative or positive feedback
- Four types of amplifiers and four types of feedback topologies
- Loading effects of feedback network must be absorbed in the analysis.
- Sufficient phase margin is required to stabilize an amplifier.
- Frequency compensation should be applied, lowering the dominant pole.
- Miller multiplication of capacitors can be used.

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