An Overview of Analog Feedback Part I: Basic Theory

  • Authors:
  • G. Palumbo;J. Choma, Jr.

  • Affiliations:
  • Universita` Di Catania, Dipartimento Elettrico, Elettronico, e Sistemistico, Viale Andrea Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, Italy. E-mail: gpalumbo@ns2.cdc.unict.it;University of Southern California, Department of Electrical Engineering--Electrophysics, University Park, MC: 0271, Los Angeles, California 90089-0271. E-mail: j.choma@ieee.org

  • Venue:
  • Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing
  • Year:
  • 1998

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Abstract

This two part paper addresses the genuinely difficult problem of efficiently analyzing and designing high performance analog feedback networks. Part I focuses on theoretical considerations and is therefore independent of device technology. Part II exploits the results formulated in Part I to develop models, computationally efficient analytical methods, and design criteria for six types of commonly used feedback architectures. The utility of these models, methods, and criteria is applicable to monolithic bipolar junction transistor, MOS, CMOS, and other device technologies. Part I specifically overviews the traditional mathematics that underlie the study of the circuit transfer, driving point impedance, and frequency response characteristics of analog feedback networks. This review establishes a foundation for developing a computationally efficient form of signal flow theory that embellishes these analytical methods and illuminates design-oriented insights that are otherwise obscured by the tedium pervasive to traditional analyses. The new form of classical signal flow theory, which is a hybrid of signal flow and two-port network theories, is introduced in Part I and developed fully in Part II. This hybrid method of feedback circuit analysis allows for an efficient assessment of the gain, bandwidth, sensitivity, stability, and input/output impedance characteristics of a broad variety of global feedback loops. Additionally, the method complements the task of formulating engineering design guidelines for feedback network design by highlighting the attributes and limitations implicit to specific types of feedback configurations.