Negative-feedback amplifier

A negative-feedback amplifier (or feedback amplifier) is an electronic amplifier that subtracts a fraction of its output from its input, so that negative feedback opposes the original signal. The applied negative feedback can improve its performance (gain stability, linearity, frequency response, step response) and reduces sensitivity to parameter variations due to manufacturing or environment. Because of these advantages, many amplifiers and control systems use negative feedback.

An idealized negative-feedback amplifier as shown in the diagram is a system of three elements (see Figure 1):

• an amplifier with gain A_OL,
• a feedback network β, which senses the output signal and possibly transforms it in some way (for example by attenuating or filtering it),
• a summing circuit that acts as a subtractor (the circle in the figure), which combines the input and the transformed output.