Aim
The course is a follow-up to Analog Electronics and give you deeper insight in design of negative feedback amplifiers. Amplifiers are the core of analog systems. This is why the theory is applicable on many analog systems. The course gives a complete design strategy for amplifiers. Several aspects on amplifier design are covered for example noise and frequency compensation methods. The course is a firm base for continuing studies in analog and radio related courses and it also touches some control theory.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• Gained deep understanding in feedback theory

• Be familiar with the transistor’s characteristics and its model in that the student is able to make design choices to optimize noise, bandwidth and bias parameters.

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

• From a given specification be able to design an amplifier that fulfills specifications on noise, bandwidth and bias, by calculating and implementing an ideal amplifier topology using at most three stages.

• Be able to characterize an amplifier using measured data, and suggest and design changes to meet a given specification

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• Be well prepared to discuss analogue amplifiers at research level

• Be able to express knowledge in feedback theory orally and in writing

Contents
In this course synthesis of high performance negative feedback amplifiers is presented using a structured design methodology. In order to optimise channel capacity the course covers noise, distortion and bandwidth.

Noise

• Origin of noise, calculation of input noise source and optimisation of noise performance.

• Origin of distortion, definition of useful figure of merit.

• Distortion is described by power series and clipping.

• Optimisation of current budget and effects of local feedback.

• Estimation of maximal bandwidth.

• Phantom-zero and pole-split is used as advanced methods in frequency compensation.

• Biasing of multi-stage amplifiers.

• Realization of bias sources and global bias feedback.

Literature
Gray, Hurst, Lewis och Meyer: Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits. Wiley ISBN 0-471-32168-0
or
Verhoeven C et.al.: Structured Electronic Design Kleuwer 2003 ISBN 1-4020-7590-1
Lecture notes 2007 Electroscience
Exercises, Laboratory manual 2007, Electroscience