Lecture 2

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Overview of the program

  1. Presentations

    EE4109 Lecture 2 agenda

    Presentation

    The presentation “EE4109 Lecture 2 Agenda ” shows the agenda for lecture 2.

    Poster

    Wrap-up: “Application of Negative Feedback

    Negative feedback can be regarded as a powerful error reduction technique. The transfer of a negative feedback amplifier can ideally be fixed with the aid of accurate (passive) components. Active components are only used in a controller or error amplifier that nullifies the error with respect to this ideal transfer.

    By doing so, the inaccuracy and the differentail gain error of the feedback amplifier can be much smaller than that of its controller, while the bandwidth of the feedback amplifier can be much larger than that of its controler.

    The load drive capability and the equivalent input noise sources of a negative feedback amplifier, at best equal those of its controller.

    The above results in a clear design sequence for negative feedback amplifiers in which the various performance aspects can be designed independently (orthogonal design).

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    Relevant presentations from EE3C11

    Below, the relevant presentations from EE3C11 including links to video recordings.

    Amplifiers: functions and requirements (wrap up)

    A short wrap up of the amplification function and performance limitations in amplifiers.

    Presentation

    The presentation “Amplifiers, functions and requirements (wrap up)” briefly summarizes the basic function of amplification, characteristic properties of amplifiers and performance aspects, environmental conditions and cost factors.

    Amplifiers: basic function design approach

    The design approach for basic functions is based upon the:

    • Definition of the function concept
    • Discovery of an operating mechanism and associated design parameters
    • Application of error reduction techniques for improvement of the performance-to-cost ratio

    Presentation

    The presentation “Amplification” briefly summarizes the approach of the design of basic functions, as advocated in structured electronic design.

    Amplifiers: application of negative feedback

    Negative (corrective) feedback can be regarded as a powerful error-reduction technique. It trades power gain for quality improvement and facilitates orthogonal design of the various performance aspects.

    Presentation

    The presentation “Amplifiers: application of negative feedback”shows that accurate, low-noise and power-efficient amplifiers can be realized through application of negative feedback.

    Videos

    1. Amplifiers application of negative feedback introduction (3:06)
    2. Brute-force fixing of port impedances (5:45)

    Study

    Chapter 7.1

    Feedback amplifiers: orthogonal design sequence

    In electronic information processing systems, amplification is one of the most important basic functions. Since the basic amplification mechanism, as it is found in biased ‘active’ devices, suffers from many imperfections, negative feedback is often exploited as powerful error reduction technique.

    The application of negative feedback, together with proper sequencing of the design of various performance aspects makes it possible to prevent or minimize design iterations and have an early awareness of possible show-stoppers.

    Presentation

    The presentation “Structured design of negative feedback amplifiers” gives the outline of the design sequence of high-performance negative feedback amplifiers.

    Video

    Feedback amplifiers orthogonal design sequence (6:12)

    Amplifiers: design procedure feedback configurations

    The design of negative amplifier configurations follows a strict procedure based on sensing and comparison techniques.

    Presentation

    The presentation “Feedback amplifiers: design procedure” illustrates the procedure for the design of a negative-feedback amplifier that accurately relates the desired electrical quantity at the load of the amplifier to that of the signal source.

    Study

    Chapter 7.2

    Amplifiers: design of single-loop feedback configurations

    Sensing of the load quantity and nullification of the difference between the feedback quantity with the source quantity form the basis of the design procedure of negative feedback amplifiers.

    Presentation

    The presentation “Design of Single-loop Negative Feedback Amplifier Configurations” illustrates the application of the design procedure for negative feedback amplifiers to the design of single-loop negative feedback amplifiers:

    • The voltage amplifier
    • The transadmittance amplifier
    • The transimpedance amplifier
    • The current amplifier

    It illustrates a number conflicts between design aspects for passive feedback amplifiers:

    • Amplifier type
    • Sign of the transfer
    • Port isolation

    Video

    Amplifiers design of single-loop feedback configurations (11:41)

    Study

    Chapter 7.2

    Feedback amplifiers: ideal gain

    The conceptual design or functional design of negative feedback amplifiers comprises the design of the feedback networks and their interconnection with the source, the load and nullors.

    Presentation

    The presentation “Negative Feedback Amplifier Configurations: Ideal Gain and Controller” gives a definition of the gain of negative feedback amplifiers that have ideal controllers (nullors). The implications of controller imperfections will be discussed at a later stage.

    Video

    Negative Feedback Amplifier Configurations Ideal Gain and Controller (3:35)

    Study

    Chapter 7.3

    Amplifiers: multiple-loop feedback configurations

    Each transmission-1 two-port parameter of an amplifier can be given an accurate value with the aid of a feedback network around a high-gain controller.

    Presentation

    The presentation “Design of Multi-loop Negative Feedback Amplifier Configurations” briefly discusses the design of multiple-loop negative feedback amplifiers.

    Video

    Amplifiers multiple-loop feedback configurations (2:58)

    Study

    Chapter 7.3, 7.4.1

    Noise performance of feedback amplifiers

    In general, insertion of impedances in series and/or in parallel with the signal path should be avoided. They increase:

    • Energy storage and power losses
    • Noise

    Presentation

    The presentation “Influence of Feedback Networks on Noise Performance of Negative Feedback Amplifiers” shows that detrimental effects caused by impedances in the feedback networks can be kept low.

    Video

    Noise behavior of negative feedback amplifiers (19:42)

    Study

    Chapter 7.4, 7.5

  2. Discussion of homework: Lecture2SLiCAP.zip.

  3. Guidance with homework

color coded resistors

Study

Chapter 7

Homework

The theory presented in this lecture will be applied in the design of the active antenna. Please use SLiCAP as documentation tool.

Active antenna

  1. In which way does the length of the antenna affect the amplifier’s noise requirements?

  2. After having completed the exercises of the first lecture, we may conclude that the amplifier can be realized as a voltage amplifier with 50 \(\Omega\) output impedance, or as an integrating transimpedance amplifier with 50 \(\Omega\) output impedance. We have also seen that the antenna should not be longer than a quarter of the wavelength of the maximum frequency, because above this frequency the sensitivity will drop.

    1. Plot the magnitude characteristic of the antenna impedance: run the SLiCAP file: antenna.zip.
      1. Adapt the antenna length in such a way that the magnitude characteristic of the impedance matches within 3dB that of the antenna capacitance \(C_A\) over the frequency range of interest.
        1. Plot the magnitude characteristic of the source to load transfer of the active antenna for the voltage amplifier and the transimpedance integrator with this antenna.
        2. Determine the show-stopper values for the voltage noise and the current noise for these active antennas.
        3. Check your result with SLiCAP: plot the total source-referred noise with these show-stopper values.
  3. Design feedback configurations for the active antenna. You may use nullors as controllers and transformers and passive network elements as feedback elements.

  4. Evaluate the ideal values of the transmission-1 matrix parameters of the configurations from the previous exercise and verify the obtained results with SLiCAP.

  5. Consider the effect of the passive elements in your configurations on the noise performance.

  6. Consider the influence of the passive elements in your configurations on the power dissipation and the voltage and current-drive capability of the controller.

  7. The input of the amplifier for the active antenna should be protected against overdrive and ESD. Consider this will be done with ESD protection diodes in parallel with the input. Those diodes suffer from:

    • A strong nonlinear V-I characteristic
    • A strong nonlinear Q-V characteristic
    • Current noise associated with leakage current

    At this stage of the design, which of the your configurations shows the lowest impact of the input ESD protections on the signal processing quality? Please motivate your answer.

  8. Make a comparison table for the design configurations that shows a qualitative comparison of the most important performance aspects and cost factors at this stage of the design.