Measurement With Negative Feedback - 6.4.4 | EXPERIMENT NO. 5: POWER AMPLIFIERS AND FEEDBACK ANALYSIS | Analog Circuit Lab
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6.4.4 - Measurement With Negative Feedback

Practice

Interactive Audio Lesson

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Understanding Negative Feedback

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

Today, we're discussing negative feedback in amplifiers. Can anyone tell me what they think negative feedback means?

Student 1
Student 1

I think it means taking some of the output and sending it back to the input, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly, Student_1! Negative feedback is when we feed back part of the output that is out of phase with the input, and it helps in stabilizing the gain.

Student 2
Student 2

How does that stabilize the gain?

Teacher
Teacher

Great question! It reduces the overall gain but enhances stability and linearity. We can remember this as the 'Feedback Balance'.

Student 3
Student 3

What's the main advantage then?

Teacher
Teacher

The main advantage is that it reduces distortion and improves performance parameters like bandwidth and input/output resistance. Let's summarize: negative feedback improves stability while reducing gain.

Types of Negative Feedback

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

Now, let's explore the different types of negative feedback. Does anyone remember the types?

Student 4
Student 4

There’s voltage-series and voltage-shunt feedback, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct, Student_4! Voltage-series feedback samples the output voltage and feeds it back into the input in series. Is anyone else familiar with the other types?

Student 1
Student 1

What about current-series feedback?

Teacher
Teacher

Absolutely! We also have current-series and current-shunt feedback, each differing in how they interact with the input signal. This variety allows engineers to tweak amplifier performance.

Student 2
Student 2

Can you give us an example?

Teacher
Teacher

Sure! Voltage-series feedback is often used in operational amplifier applications. Let's recap: there are four types, each serving distinct purposes in amplifier design.

Effects of Feedback on Performance Parameters

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

Next, we’ll discuss how negative feedback affects performance. What parameters do you think change with feedback?

Student 3
Student 3

I think gain changes a lot.

Teacher
Teacher

Yes, it does! Negative feedback reduces gain, but it also improves linearity and stability. This is a trade-off where we prioritize overall performance.

Student 1
Student 1

How do we measure these effects?

Teacher
Teacher

Excellent question! We measure input resistance, output resistance, and bandwidth changes using specific formulas.

Student 4
Student 4

Can you share any formulas?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! Remember, \( A_f = \frac{A}{1 + A\beta} \) calculates closed-loop gain. Let’s recap: feedback doesn’t just reduce gain; it modifies many parameters positively.

Practical Implications of Negative Feedback

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

Finally, let’s delve into the practical implications of negative feedback in circuit design. How do you think this is used in real circuits?

Student 2
Student 2

To make sure amplifiers don’t distort or go unstable?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Negative feedback is crucial for ensuring linear performance in audio amplifiers. Let’s think of feedback in amplifiers as a control system that stabilizes output against variations.

Student 4
Student 4

So, if the circuit design is more stable, it will last longer?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! More stable designs mean better reliability and longevity. To summarize: negative feedback enhances stability, reduces distortion, and is vital in amplifier design.

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

This section explores the role of negative feedback in enhancing the performance of power amplifiers.

Standard

The section outlines measurement techniques and analysis for evaluating the effects of negative feedback on various amplifier parameters, including its ability to reduce distortion, improve stability, and alter input/output resistance. Practical examples and theoretical insights depict the significance of feedback in amplifier design.

Detailed

Detailed Summary

This section focuses on the concept of negative feedback and its application in the context of power amplifiers. Negative feedback is a crucial mechanism that involves feeding a portion of the output signal back to the input with the intention of reducing gain but improving the overall performance. The section begins by defining negative feedback and discussing its principles, followed by the various types of feedback methods, including voltage-series feedback, voltage-shunt feedback, current-series feedback, and current-shunt feedback.

The implications of negative feedback are explored, particularly regarding its effects on amplifier characteristics such as gain, input resistance, output resistance, bandwidth, and distortion. Key formulas are presented that quantify these effects, highlighting how feedback affects the amplification process. For instance, the closed-loop gain can be calculated using \(A_f = \frac{A}{1 + A\beta}\), illustrating how feedback modifies the amplifier's performance. Additionally, the section discusses the potential for improved stability with negative feedback, which reduces the susceptibility of the amplifier to variations in component parameters and enhances reliability during operation.

Through examples, the significance of these concepts in practical amplifier design is made clear, reinforcing the notion that while negative feedback reduces overall gain, its benefits often outweigh this tradeoff by improving linearity and stability.

Audio Book

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Overview of Negative Feedback

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Feedback involves feeding a portion of the output signal back to the input. If the fed-back signal is out of phase with the input signal, it's called negative feedback (or degenerative feedback). Negative feedback is widely used to improve amplifier characteristics.

Detailed Explanation

Negative feedback is a technique where a part of the output signal of an amplifier is fed back to its input in a way that it reduces the overall gain of the amplification system. When the feedback is out of phase, this negative feedback reduces any excessive output, leading to improvements in performance, such as lower distortion and enhanced stability.

Examples & Analogies

Think of negative feedback like a thermostat in a house. When the temperature goes above a certain point, the thermostat signals the heating system to reduce heat output. Just like the thermostat maintains a stable temperature, negative feedback in amplifiers helps maintain signal integrity by preventing distortion.

Types of Negative Feedback

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There are four basic types based on how the output is sampled (voltage or current) and how it's mixed at the input (series or shunt):
1. Voltage-Series Feedback: Output voltage is sampled, fed back in series with the input. (Often used for Op-Amp non-inverting amplifier).
2. Voltage-Shunt Feedback: Output voltage is sampled, fed back in shunt (parallel) with the input. (Often used for Op-Amp inverting amplifier).
3. Current-Series Feedback: Output current is sampled, fed back in series with the input.
4. Current-Shunt Feedback: Output current is sampled, fed back in shunt with the input.

Detailed Explanation

The four types of negative feedback are determined by how the output of the amplifier interacts with the input. Voltage-series feedback adds a portion of the output voltage in series with the incoming signal, which is commonly used in non-inverting configurations, resulting in higher input resistance. Voltage-shunt feedback adds feedback in parallel to the input, typical in inverting amplifiers, decreasing input resistance. Similarly, current feedback methods can either increase or decrease resistance depending upon how they are implemented.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a water tank where you control the water level. If you measure the amount of water currently in the tank (output) and use that measurement to adjust the water flow into the tank (input), that’s like current-feedback. Depending on how you adjust the inflow (series or parallel), you can control how quickly the tank fills—similar to how different feedback types control amplifier performance.

Key Feedback Formulas

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Let A be the open-loop gain (gain without feedback) and beta be the feedback factor (fraction of output fed back).
- Closed-Loop Gain (A_f): The gain with feedback.
A_f= A/(1 + A * beta)
For large Abeta (i.e., A * beta >> 1), A_f approximates to 1/beta. This means the gain becomes almost entirely dependent on the feedback network, making it very stable and predictable.

Detailed Explanation

The closed-loop gain formula captures how feedback modifies the gain of an amplifier. When feedback is applied, it significantly reduces the overall gain but increases the amplifier's stability and predictability. For very high initial gains (A) and feedback factors (beta), the gain of the overall circuit becomes nearly constant and dictated primarily by the feedback network rather than the amplifier itself.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a strict teacher applying rules to a classroom. When students misbehave, the teacher implements stricter rules to rein them in. Initially, the classroom may seem disruptive (high initial gain), but with these rules (feedback), the classroom environment becomes orderly and manageable, leading to a stable learning environment (predictable gain).

Input Resistance with Feedback

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  • For Series Input Feedback (like Voltage-Series or Current-Series): Input resistance increases.
    R_in(f) = R_in * (1 + A * beta)
  • For Shunt Input Feedback (like Voltage-Shunt or Current-Shunt): Input resistance decreases.
    R_in(f) = R_in / (1 + A * beta)

Detailed Explanation

The input resistance of an amplifier can change with negative feedback. In series configurations, the input resistance increases, which is beneficial for minimizing loading effects on the previous stage. Conversely, shunt configurations result in decreased input resistance, which can be used strategically depending on the design requirements.

Examples & Analogies

Visualize a crowded bus load (the input resistance) being suddenly given more space (series feedback). Passengers need more room to enter and exit, so the bus doesn’t become overloaded, which in turn stabilizes the entire system.

Output Resistance with Feedback

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  • For Voltage Output Feedback (like Voltage-Series or Voltage-Shunt): Output resistance decreases.
    R_out(f) = R_out / (1 + A * beta)
  • For Current Output Feedback (like Current-Series or Current-Shunt): Output resistance increases.
    R_out(f) = R_out * (1 + A * beta)

Detailed Explanation

With negative feedback, voltage output resistance decreases, which enhances the amplifier's ability to drive loads effectively. In contrast, for current output feedback, output resistance increases, impacting load-driving capability in a different way. The choice between these configurations depends on application needs.

Examples & Analogies

Think of a water pipeline. If you add a feedback system to increase water flow effectiveness (decreasing resistance), the water (output) moves faster and more efficiently to its destination, while in cases where flow resistance is intentionally amplified, it may curtail delivery speed for specific engineering controls.

Bandwidth with Feedback

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Negative feedback generally increases the bandwidth.
BW_f = BW * (1 + A * beta)

Detailed Explanation

Applying negative feedback tends to broaden the bandwidth of amplifiers, allowing them to operate effectively over a greater range of frequencies. This relationship reflects the fundamental trade-off between bandwidth and amplifier gain, where increasing one typically decreases the other due to the gain-bandwidth product being relatively constant.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine tuning a guitar: when you adjust the tension of the strings (feedback), the notes (bandwidth) resonate clearer across more frequencies without distortion. However, if you tighten them too much (increasing gain), the range of notes weaken, demonstrating the delicate balance needed in amplifier design.

Distortion and Noise Reduction

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Negative feedback significantly reduces non-linear distortion (e.g., harmonic distortion) and noise generated within the amplifier.
Distortion with feedback = Distortion without feedback / (1 + A * beta)
Noise with feedback = Noise without feedback / (1 + A * beta)

Detailed Explanation

By implementing negative feedback, the amplifier's sensitivity to non-linearities is lowered, improving fidelity of the signal and cutting down noise. This is critical in audio applications where clarity and precision are key, and the formulas show just how effective the feedback can be at minimizing unwanted artifacts.

Examples & Analogies

Consider the way a noise-canceling headphone works. They pick up background sound (noise) and produce sound waves that are the exact opposite (feedback) to cancel out the noise. This same principle applies to amplifiers, where feedback reduces distortions and enhances signal clarity.

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • The role of negative feedback in amplifiers.

  • Types of negative feedback and their applications.

  • Effects of feedback on amplifier performance parameters.

  • Stability improvement of amplifiers through negative feedback.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • In an operational amplifier configured for gain, feedback may be used to control the levels and reduce distortion.

  • A Class B amplifier may exhibit crossover distortion, which can be mitigated by using Class AB design that employs a small quiescent current.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • Feedback, feedback, let it flow, reduces gain but makes our signals glow.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a conductor leading an orchestra. The conductor listens to the audience's reaction and adjusts the music accordingly, just like feedback adjusts amplifier performance based on output.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • To remember the types of feedback, think V-C-C: Voltage-Series, Voltage-Shunt, Current-Series, Current-Shunt.

🎯 Super Acronyms

FINGER

  • Feedback Improves Noise and Gain Enhancement Responsiveness.

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

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  • Term: Negative Feedback

    Definition:

    A process where a portion of the output signal is fed back to the input to reduce gain and improve stability.

  • Term: ClosedLoop Gain

    Definition:

    The gain of an amplifier when feedback is applied, typically lower than the open-loop gain.

  • Term: Impedance Modification

    Definition:

    Changes in the input/output resistance of an amplifier due to feedback.

  • Term: Crossover Distortion

    Definition:

    Distortion that occurs in Class B amplifiers at the zero-crossing point due to biasing.

  • Term: Bandwidth

    Definition:

    The range of frequencies over which an amplifier operates effectively.