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Basi c Feedbac k Conc ept s

in
V
Consider an ideal gain stage with negative feedback
Feedback
network
Summing
junction
Here we are representing the signals
as voltages, so A(s) and (s) are
voltage transfer functions, but other
combinations (e.g. current feedback
and transimpedance amplifiers)
( ) s |
( ) A s
Ideal
amplifier
( )
1 ( ) ( )
in
out
V A s
V s A s |
=
+
| |
( ) ( )
out in out
V A s V s V | =
( )
out
s V |
+

Negative sign
indicates that
feedback signal
subtracts from
input signal
( )
in out
V s V |
A(s) Is the open-loop gain . It is the gain of the
amplifier by itself, with no external feedback path
The gain of the system with feedback is given by:
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Basi c s of Feedbac k , c ont i nued
When the amplifier gain is very large,
( ) 1
1 ( ) ( ) ( )
in
out
V A s
V s A s s | |
=
+
Thus the gain of the system is determined by the feedback components.
In transistor amplifiers, feedback allows us to stabilize the gain with
respect to parameter variations
In op-amp circuits, most gain stages do not depend on the actual op-amp
gain as long as the op-amp has a large gain and high input impedance)
+
-
V
out
V
in
R
2
R
1
2
1
1
out
in
V R
V R
= +
1
1 2
( )
R
s
R R
| =
+
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Basi c Op-Amp Gai n St ages
Inverting Amplifier
+
-
V
out
V
in
R
2
R
1
2
1
2
1
1
1 1
out
in
v
R
V R
V
R
A R

=
| |
+ +
|
\ .
+
-
V
out
V
in
R
2
R
1
2
1
1
1
out v
v
in
V A
A
V
R
R
=
+
+
Non-Inverting Amplifier
2
1
out
in
V R
V R

2
1
1
out
in
V R
V R
+
For large gain
Replacing the op-amps by the simple equivalent circuit (dependent source) gives:
V
A
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Negat i ve Resi st anc e Ci r c ui t
+
-
V
out
V
in
R
2
R
1
R
f
I
in
1
2
1 2
1
1
1 /
v f
in
f
v
in
A R
V R
R
A
I R
R R
| |
= +
|
\ .

+
A negative resistance means that the input current flows out of the terminal, thus
the circuit can supply energy to an external circuit.
Negative resistance circuits are often used in oscillators
Use positive feedback to create a negative resistor :
Positive feedback is often associated with potential instabilities and usually
avoided for that reason. But it can be exploited. This is an interestign example: