REPORT TITLE:

Feedback Concepts

2019-2020

Department: Computer Engineering

Student Name: Janna Tammar Murtadha
Stage: Second Stage
Study: Morning Study
College of Engineering
Class: A Mustansiriyah University
Course Name: Electronics
Email: janna.alward8@gmail.com
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Contents:
 Introduction

 Types of Feedback

 Positive Feedback

 Negative Feedback

 Negative feedback connection types

 Series Current Feedback Amplifier

 Series Voltage Feedback Amplifier

 Parallel Current

 Parallel (Shunt) Voltage

 Some applications of feedback

 References

Introduction
Feedback is a process in which a fraction of the output energy of a system is
fed back to its input.
Most of the physical systems incorporate some or the other form of feedback.
The concept of feedback is used in areas like engineering applications and
modelling of biological systems.
Feedback plays an important role in electronic circuits and systems for
variety of reasons. Sometimes feedback through parasitic component is
unavoidable in electronic circuits but in most cases it is introduced
deliberately to obtain some desirable features. [1]

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Types of Feedback
Depending upon whether the feedback signal aids or opposes the input
signal, there are two basic types of feedbacks in amplifiers:
 Positive (or regenerative) feedback.
 Negative (or degenerative) feedback.

When application of feedback signal increases the input signal i.e. the signal
fed back is in phase with the input signal, it is called positive feedback.

Positive feedback increases the gain of the amplifier, but it also increases
distortion and instability of amplifier. So positive feedback is normally not
used in amplifier.
If the positive feedback in an amplifier is sufficiently large, it leads to
oscillation and hence it is used in oscillators.

On the other hand, if the feedback signal reduces the input signal, i.e. it is out
of phase with the input, it is called negative feedback.

When used in amplifiers, negative feedback stabilizes the gain, increases the
bandwidth, reduces distortion and changes input and output resistance. So
negative feedback is frequently used in amplifier circuits.

All these desirable properties of amplifier are obtained at the expense of a

reduction in gain. [1]

Fig. 1. Positive Feedback Fig. 2. Negative Feedback

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Negative Feedback Connection Types

1. Series Current Feedback Amplifier
Series-Series Feedback Systems (figure 3), also known as series current
feedback, operates as a voltage-current controlled feedback system.

In the series current configuration, the feedback error signal is in series with
the input and is proportional to the load current, Iout.

Actually, this type of feedback converts the current signal into a voltage
which is actually fed back and it is this voltage which is subtracted from the
input.

For the series-series connection, the configuration is defined as the output

current to the input voltage.

Because the output current Io of the series connection is fed back as a

voltage, this increases both the input and output impedances of the system.
Therefore, the circuit works best as a transconductance amplifier with the
ideal input resistance, Rin being very large, and the ideal output resistance,
Rout is also very large.

Then the “series-series feedback configuration” functions as

transconductance type amplifier system as the input signal is a voltage and
the output signal is a current. Then for a series-series feedback circuit the
transfer gain is given as: Gm = Vout ÷ Iin. [2]

Fig. 3. Series Current Feedback Amplifier

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2. Series Voltage Feedback Amplifier

Series-Shunt Feedback, also known as series voltage feedback (figure 4),
operates as a voltage-voltage controlled feedback system.

The error voltage fed back from the feedback network is in series with the
input. The voltage which is fed back from the output being proportional to the
output voltage, Vo as it is parallel, or shunt connected.

For the series-shunt connection, the configuration is defined as the output

voltage to the input voltage.

Most inverting and non-inverting operational amplifier circuits operate with

series-shunt feedback producing what is known as a “voltage amplifier”
(Tutorials).

As a voltage amplifier the ideal input resistance, Rin is very large, and the
ideal output resistance, Rout is very small.

Then the “series-shunt feedback configuration” works as a true voltage

amplifier as the input signal is a voltage and the output signal is a voltage, so
the transfer gain is given as: Av = Vout ÷ Vin. [2]

Fig. 4. Series Voltage Feedback Amplifier (Tutorials)

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3. Parallel Current
For the shunt-series connection, the configuration is defined as the output
current to the input current.

In the shunt-series feedback configuration (figure 5) the signal fed back is in

parallel with the input signal and as such it’s the currents, not the voltages
that add (Tutorials).

This parallel shunt feedback connection will not normally affect the voltage
gain of the system, since for a voltage output a voltage input is required.

Also, the series connection at the output increases output resistance, Rout
while the shunt connection at the input decreases the input resistance, Rin.

Then the “shunt-series feedback configuration” works as a true current

amplifier as the input signal is a current and the output signal is a current, so
the transfer gain is given as: Ai = Iout ÷ Iin. [2]

Fig. 5. Shunt-series configuration

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4. Parallel (Shunt) Voltage

Shunt-Shunt Feedback Systems, also known as shunt voltage feedback,
operates as a current-voltage controlled feedback system, figure 6.

In the shunt-shunt feedback configuration the signal fed back is in parallel

with the input signal.

The output voltage is sensed and the current is subtracted from the input
current in shunt, and as such it’s the currents, not the voltages that subtract.

For the shunt-shunt connection, the configuration is defined as the output

voltage to the input current.

As the output voltage is fed back as a current to a current-driven input port,

the shunt connections at both the input and output terminals reduce the input
and output impedance.

Therefore, the system works best as a transresistance system with the ideal
input resistance, Rin being very small, and the ideal output resistance, Rout
also being very small.

Then the shunt voltage configuration works as transresistance type voltage

amplifier as the input signal is a current and the output signal is a voltage, so
the transfer gain is given as: Rm = Iout ÷ Vin. [2]

Fig. 6. Shunt-Shunt Feedback Systems

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Some Applications of Feedback

Oscillation
Regenerative circuits were invented and patented in 1914 [3] for the
amplification and reception of very weak radio signals. Carefully controlled
positive feedback around a single transistor amplifier can multiply its gain by
1,000 or more. [4] Therefore, a signal can be amplified 20,000 or even
100,000 times in one stage, that would normally have a gain of only 20 to 50.
The problem with regenerative amplifiers working at these very high gains is
that they easily become unstable and start to oscillate.

The radio operator has to be prepared to tweak the amount of feedback fairly
continuously for good reception.

Modern radio receivers use the superheterodyne design, with many more
amplification stages, but much more stable operation and no positive
feedback.

The oscillation that can break out in a regenerative radio circuit is used in
electronic oscillators. By the use of tuned circuits or a piezoelectric crystal
(commonly quartz), the signal that is amplified by the positive feedback
remains linear and sinusoidal. There are several designs for such harmonic
oscillators, including the Armstrong oscillator, Hartley oscillator, Colpitts
oscillator, and the Wien bridge oscillator. They all use positive feedback to
create oscillations. [5]

Amplifying
Many electronic circuits, especially amplifiers, incorporate negative feedback.
This reduces their gain, but improves their linearity, input impedance, output
impedance, and bandwidth, and stabilizes all of these parameters, including
the closed-loop gain. These parameters also become less dependent on the
details of the amplifying device itself, and more dependent on the feedback
components, which are less likely to vary with manufacturing tolerance, age
and temperature.

The difference between positive and negative feedback for AC signals is one
of phase: if the signal is fed back out of phase, the feedback is negative and
if it is in phase the feedback is positive.

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One problem for amplifier designers who use negative feedback is that some
of the components of the circuit will introduce phase shift in the feedback
path.

If there is a frequency (usually a high frequency) where the phase shift

reaches 180°, then the designer must ensure that the amplifier gain at that
frequency is very low (usually by low-pass filtering). If the loop gain (the
product of the amplifier gain and the extent of the positive feedback) at any
frequency is greater than one, then the amplifier will oscillate at that
frequency (Barkhausen stability criterion). Such oscillations are sometimes
called parasitic oscillations. An amplifier that is stable in one set of conditions
can break into parasitic oscillation in another.

This may be due to changes in temperature, supply voltage, adjustment of

front-panel controls, or even the proximity of a person or other conductive
item. Amplifiers may oscillate gently in ways that are hard to detect without
an oscilloscope, or the oscillations may be so extensive that only a very
distorted or no required signal at all gets through, or that damage occurs.
Low frequency parasitic oscillations have been called 'motorboating' due to
the similarity to the sound of a low-revving exhaust note. [6]

In Digital Electronics
Digital electronic circuits are sometimes designed to benefit from positive
feedback. Normal logic gates usually rely simply on gain to push digital signal
voltages away from intermediate values to the values that are meant to
represent boolean '0' and '1'. When an input voltage is expected to vary in an
analogue way, but sharp thresholds are required for later digital processing,
the Schmitt trigger circuit uses positive feedback to ensure that if the input
voltage creeps gently above the threshold, the output is forced smartly and
rapidly from one logic state to the other.

One of the corollaries of the Schmitt trigger’s use of positive feedback is that,
should the input voltage move gently down again past the same threshold,
the positive feedback will hold the output in the same state with no change.
This effect is called hysteresis: the input voltage has to drop past a different,
lower threshold to 'un-latch' the output and reset it to its original digital value.
By reducing the extent of the positive feedback, the hysteresis-width can be
reduced, but it can not entirely be eradicated. The Schmitt trigger is, to some
extent, a latching circuit. [7]

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Fig. 7. The effect of using a Schmitt trigger (B) Fig. 8. Illustration of an R-S ('reset-set') flip-flop
instead of a comparator (A) made from two digital nor gates with positive
feedback. Red and black mean logical '1' and '0',
respectively.

An electronic flip-flop, or “latch”, or “bistable multivibrator", is a circuit that due

to high positive feedback is not stable in a balanced or intermediate state.

Such a bistable circuit is the basis of one bit of electronic memory. The flip-
flop uses a pair of amplifiers, transistors, or logic gates connected to each
other so that positive feedback maintains the state of the circuit in one of two
unbalanced stable states after the input signal has been removed, until a
suitable alternative signal is applied to change the state. [8] Computer
random access memory (RAM) can be made in this way, with one latching
circuit for each bit of memory. [9]

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References
 [1] Kal, S. (2006), Basic Electronics: Devices, Circuits and IT Fundamentals,
Prentice-Hall of India Private Limited, New Delhi.

 [2] Oyebola, B. O. (2018) Feedback Amplifier, Its Operation, Effect Importance and
Connecting Types: A Review, Gateway (ICT) Polytechnic Saapade, Nigeria.

 [3] Armstrong, E. H., U.S. Patent 1,113,149, Wireless receiving system, 1914.

 [4] Kitchin, Charles. “A SHORT WAVE REGENERATIVE RECEIVER PROJECT”.

Retrieved 23 September 2010.

 [5] “Sinewave oscillators”. EDUCYPEDIA - electronics. Retrieved 23 September

2010.

 [6] Self, Douglas (2009). Audio Power Amplifier Design Handbook. Focal Press. pp.
254–255. ISBN 978-0-240-52162-6.

 [7] “CMOS Schmitt Trigger—A Uniquely Versatile Design Component” (PDF).

Fairchild Semiconductor Application Note 140. Fairchild Semiconductors. 1975.
Retrieved 29 September 2010.

 [8] Strandh, Robert. “Latches and flip-flops”. Laboratoire Bordelais de Recherche

en Informatique. Retrieved 4 November 2010.

 [9] Wayne, Storr. “Sequential Logic Basics: SR Flip-Flop”. Electronics-Tutorials.ws.

Retrieved 29 September 2010.

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