Definition Feedback
1. The process of combining a fraction of the output (of a Device-amplifier) back to its input is
called feedback.
2. The process of injecting a fraction of output energy of some device back to
3. the input
4. A process where a portion of the output signal is taken from the output of the amplifier and is
combined with the normal input signal. Feedback is a part of output is sampled and fedback
to the input of the amplifier.
Reasons why feedback is applied in electronic circuits:
Circuit characteristics, such as gain, can be precisely controlled, and made relatively
independent of wide variations in active device parameters (Desensitize the gain)
Circuit characteristics can be made relatively independent of operating conditions such as
supply voltages or temperature;
Signal distortion, which is a result of the nonlinear nature of active devices, can be
signicantly reduced;
Frequency response and the gain/bandwidth trade-off can be controlled.
Types of Feedbacks
1. Positive feedback
2. Negative feedback.
1. Positive feedback.
When input signal and part of the output signal are in phase, the feedback is called Positive
feedback. This type of feedback is called positive or regenerative feedback. If the feedback
voltage (or current) is so applied as to increase the input voltage (i.e. it is in phase with it), then it
is called positive feedback. Other names for it are : regenerative or direct feedback. Since
positive feedback produces excessive distortion, it is seldom used in amplifiers. However,
because it increases the power of the original signal, it is used in oscillator circuits.
Positive feedback with a phase shift of 180°
Vi V`O
Amplifier
A
βV`O
Positive feed back
VO
A=
VI
The gain A is called open loop gain
A ( V i + βV o )=V O
A V i + βAV i ¿V O
A V i=V O−βAV O
A V i=V O ( 1−βA )
Divided both sides by 1-βA
AV i
=V O
1−βA
Divide both sides by Vi
VO A
=
V i 1−βA
Advantages
• Increased in gain.
Disadvantages of Positive Feedback
1. Low fidelity i.e. more linear operation,
2. Low stabilized gain,
3. Decreased bandwidth
4. High amplitude distortion,
5. High harmonic distortion,
6. High frequency distortion,
7. High phase distortion,
8. Increased noise,
2. Negative feedback.
When input signal and part of the output signal are in out of phase, the feedback is called
negative feedback. This type of feedback is called negative or degenerative feedback.
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 output impedances. It is due to these advantages that negative feedback is frequently
employed in amplifiers
Negative feedback with a phase shift of 0°
Vi V`O
Amplifier
A
βV`O
Negative Feedback
VO
A=
VI
The gain A is called open loop gain
A ( V i−βV o )=V O
A V i−βAV i ¿ V O
A V i=V O + βAV O
A V i=V O ( 1+ βA )
Divided both sides by 1-βA
AV i
=V O
1+ βA
Divide both sides by Vi
VO A
=
V i 1+ βA
Advantages of Negative Feedback
The numerous advantages of negative feedback outweigh its only disadvantage of reduced gain.
Among the advantages are :
1. higher fidelity i.e. more linear operation,
2. highly stabilized gain,
3. increased bandwidth i.e. improved frequency response,
4. less amplitude distortion,
5. less harmonic distortion,
6. less frequency distortion,
7. less phase distortion,
8. reduced noise,
9. input and output impedances can be modified as desired.
Disadvantages
• Reduction in gain.
• Reduction in input resistance in case of voltage shunt and current shunt type amplifiers.
• Increase in output resistance in case of current shunt and current series feedback amplifiers.
Summary
Negative feedback Positive feedback
In negative feedback the input signal and In positive feedback the input signal and the
the feedbac are out of phase by 1800 feedback signal are in phase (00 or 3600 )
Open loop Gain is given by VO A
VO Open loop Gain is given by A= =
A V i 1−βA
A= =
V i 1+ βA
Increases stability Decreases stability
Reduces distortion Increases distortion
Bandwidth increases Bandwith decreases
Used in Amplifiers Used in Oscillators
References
1. Thompson, S. E.; Chau, R. S.; Ghani, T.; Mistry, K.; Tyagi, S.; Bohr, M. T. (2005). "In
search of "Forever," continued transistor scaling one new material at a time". IEEE
Transactions on Semiconductor Manufacturing. 18 (1): 26–36.
2. Roland, J. (2016). How Transistors Work. Lerner Publications ™. ISBN 978-1-5124-
2146-0.
3. Pulfrey, D. L. (2010). Understanding Modern Transistors and Diodes. Cambridge
University Press. ISBN 978-1-139-48467-1.
4. Kaplan, D. (2003). Hands-On Electronics. pp. 47–54, 60–61. Bibcode:
2003hoe..book.....K. doi:10.2277/0521815363. ISBN 978-0-511-07668-8.
5. Streetman, B. (1992). Solid State Electronic Devices. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-
Hall. pp. 301–305. ISBN 978-0-13-822023-5.
6. Lojek, B.O. (2007). History of Semiconductor Engineering. Springer Science & Business
Media. p. 120. ISBN 9783540342588.
7. Horowitz, P. and Hill, W. (2015). The Art of Electronics (3 ed.). Cambridge University
Press. ISBN 978-0521809269.
8. Amos, S.W. and James, M. R. (1999). Principles of Transistor Circuits. Butterworth-
Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-7506-4427-3.
9. Thiele A. G. in Loyd P. H. (1970). Handbook of Semiconductor Electronics, Low
Frequency Amplifiers, ISBN -07-031305-9,
10. General Engineering. (1964). Transistor Manual ISBN -07-031305-10
11. Victor, J. R. (2001). Basic BJT Amplifier Configurations, November 7,
[Link] [Link]
bjt_amps.html
12. Theraja, B.L. and Theraja, A.L. (2008). Electrical Technology, 2nd edition. New Delhi: S.
Chand & Company
13. Platt C. (2012). Encyclopedia of Electronic Components Volume 1: Resistors, Capacitors,
Inductors, Switches, Encoders, Relays, Transistors 1st Edition, Kindle Edition.
14. Salivahana, S. and Kumar Suresh N. (2011). Electronic circuit analysis, 4th Edition.
McGraw Hill education.
15. Jacob Millman, J. and Halkias, C. C. (2008). Integrated Electronics, 1st Edition. Tata
McGraw Hill.
16. Sedra, A. S. and Smith, K. C. (2013). Micro Electronic Circuits, 6th Edition. Oxford
University Press