Feedback Amplifier

 Feedback amplifier contains two component namely feedback circuit

and amplifier circuit.

 Feedback circuit is essentially a potential divider consisting of

resistances R1 & R2
 The purpose of feedback circuit is to return a fraction of the output
voltage to the input of the amplifier circuit.

feedback fraction β

V2 R2
β= =
V1 R1 + R2

Feedback amplifier Feedback circuit

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Feedback
 Both negative feedback and positive feedback are used in amplifier
circuits.

 Negative feedback returns part of the output to oppose the

input, whereas in positive feedback the feedback signal aids the input
signal.
If Vf = 0 (there is no feedback)
Vo Vo
A= =
VS Vi
If feedback signal Vf is connected in
series with the input, then Vi = VS- Vf

Vo = AVi = A(Vs − V f ) But V f = βVo

Feedback amplifier Vo = A(Vs − βVo ) Vo (1 + βA) = AVs

Af : closed-loop gain of the amplifier Vo A

Af = =
A: Open-loop gain of the amplifier gain Vs (1 + βA)
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Feedback
For negative feedback: βA > 0 ; For positive feedback: βA < 0

Advantages of Negative feedback

 Negative feedback can reduce the gain of the amplifier, but it has many
advantages, such as gain stabilization, reduction of nonlinear distortion
and noise, control of input and output impedances, and extension of
bandwidth.

 Gain stabilization

A dA f 1 dA f 1 dA
Af = = =
(1 + β A) A (1 + β A) 2 Af (1 + βA) A

Therefore percentage change in Af (due to variations in some circuit

parameter) is reduced by (1+βA) times compared to without feedback.

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 Advantages of Negative feedback
 Reduction of nonlinear distortion

(a) Open loop gain

(b) Closed loop gain

 Bandwidth extension

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Basic Feedback Topologies
 Depending on the input signal (voltage or current) to be amplified
and form of the output (voltage or current), amplifiers can be
classified into four categories. Depending on the amplifier
category, one of four types of feedback structures should be used.

Voltage series feedback (Af = Vo/Vs) – Voltage amplifier

Voltage shunt feedback (Af = Vo/Is) – Trans-resistance amplifier

Current series feedback (Af = Io/Vs) - Trans-conductance amplifier

Current shunt feedback (Af = Io/Is) - Current amplifier

 Here voltage refers to connecting the output voltage as input to the

feedback network. Similarly current refers to connecting the output current
as input to the feedback network.

Series refers to connecting the feedback signal in series with the input
voltage; Shunt refers to connecting the feedback signal in shunt (parallel)
with an input current source.
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Feedback topologies

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 Feedback topologies: Voltage Shunt Feedback
 Output resistance of the
amplifier and output resistance
of the feedback circuit are in
parallel hence effective output
resistance of the feedback
amplifier will reduce.
Similarly overall input
resistance of the feedback
amplifier will reduce due to
parallel connection of amplifier
and feedback resistor.

 Since effective input resistance is small hence input should be a current.

(for ideal voltage source – input resistance is very high compare to internal source resistance, if not then, lot of voltage will be dropped at internal
source resistance and voltage source won’t be a ideal voltage source )

 Effective output resistance is also small compare to the resistance of

amplifier without feedback hence less voltage will drop at Ro-eff and most of
the voltage occurs at RL. Hence output ckt will behave like a voltage source.
Thus voltage shunt feedback ckt behave like a current controlled voltage
source. 9
 Feedback topologies: Voltage Shunt Feedback
Voltage Gain :
Vo = A ⋅ I i = A( I S − I f )
I f = β ⋅ Vo
A( I S − βVo ) = Vo
AI S = (1 + β A)Vo
Vo A
Af = =( )
IS 1 + βA

Input Impedance : Output Impedance :

Vo
V Vi Z out |VS =0 =
Z in = i = Io
I S Ii + I f
from input port, Vo ro
I i ⋅ ri I i ⋅ ri Z out = =
= = I i = − I f = − β Vo I o (1 + β A)
I i + βVo ) I i + βAI i
from output port,
ri
Z in = Vo − AI i Vo + βAVo
(1 + βA) Io = = 10
ro ro
Feedback topologies: Voltage Series Feedback

Input resistance of the amplifier and feedback network are in series

hence effective input resistance will increase.

 Output resistance of the amplifier and output resistance of the feedback

circuit are in parallel hence effective output resistance of the feedback
amplifier will reduce.

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Feedback topologies: Voltage Series Feedback
Voltage Gain : Input Impedance : Output Impedance :
Vo
Vo = A ⋅Vi = A(VS − V f ) VS Vi + V f Z out |VS =0 =
Z in = = Io
V f = β ⋅Vo IS IS
Vo − A ⋅ Vi
Vi + βVo Vi + βAVi Io =
A(VS − β Vo ) = Vo = = ro
IS IS
AVS = (1 + βA)Vo Vi + β ⋅ Vo = VS = 0
Vi (1 + βA)
V A Z in = = ri (1 + βA) Vi = − β ⋅ Vo
Af = o = ( ) IS
VS 1 + βA Vo + A ⋅ β ⋅ Vo
Io =
ro
Vo ro
Z out = =
Io 1+ A ⋅ β

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 Feedback topologies: Current Series Feedback

 Output resistance of the amplifier and output resistance of the feedback

circuit are in series hence effective output resistance of the feedback amplifier
will increase.

Input resistance of the amplifier and feedback network are in series hence
effective input resistance will increase.

 Thus Current series feedback circuit behave like a voltage controlled current
source. 13
 Feedback topologies: Current Series Feedback
Basic amplifier Voltage Gain :
IS Iο
+ AV i I o = A ⋅ Vi = A(VS − V f )
Vi ri V f = β ⋅ Io
VS − ro
A(VS − β I o ) = I o
+
− Vο AVS = (1 + β A) I o
Io A
Af = =( )
Vf=βIo + VS 1 + βA
−
Input Impedance :

VS Vi + V f
Feedback network Z in = =
IS IS
Output Impedance : Vi + βVo Vi + βAVi
Vo V − A ⋅ Vi
Z out |VS =0 = ; Io = o = =
Vi + V f = VS = 0 Io ro IS IS
V + A ⋅ β ⋅ Io V ro Vi (1 + βA)
Io = o Z out = o = Z in = = ri (1 + βA)
ro Io 1 + A ⋅ β IS 14
Feedback topologies: Current Shunt Feedback

Effective output resistance of the feedback amplifier will increase.

Effective input resistance will decrease.

 Thus current shunt feedback circuit behave like a current controlled

current source.

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