Republic of the Philippines

ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY

Cabagan Campus
COLLEGE OF COMPUTING STUDIES, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
CompEng315 FEEDBACK and CONTROL SYSTEM

CHAPTER 4: TYPES OF FEEDBACK

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Discuss meaning of feedback
• Know different types of feedback
• Solve problems about feedback
• Conceptualize block diagram of feedback

OVERVIEW
Feedback system
A feedback system is the one which utilizes presently achieved output of the system for
causing variation in the applied input signal in order to get the required output. More simply,
we can say that the presence of a feedback system allows getting the desired output with
continuous comparison from the reference input of the system.
Generally, these systems are used to provide more corrective response, by comparing the
achieved output with the applied input.
By the use of feedback in a control system, the system shows less sensitivity to the
unwanted internal and external disturbances.

What is feedback?
We know that in a control system the controller generates the required signal according to
input. However, we have already discussed previously, that control systems are majorly
classified as:
• Open-loop control system
• Closed-loop control system
In an open-loop control system, the present input is independent of the previously generated
output. Thus it is clear that here feedback loop is not present, as no signal is fed back to the
input for further considerations.
So, this causes the generation of such a system in which there exists a high possibility of
achieving such an output that shows deviation from the desired output. Thus in order to have a
system that provides a desired output, feedback systems are used.
Basically, a system incorporated with a feedback loop is known as a closed-loop control
system. In such a system, a portion of the output is provided back to the input. Further, the
generated output is compared with the present input and according to the fluctuation, the
controller generates the signal for achieving the desired value.

Prepared by: ENGR. JUN-JUN T. UDASCO, ME-ECE

 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Cabagan Campus
COLLEGE OF COMPUTING STUDIES, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
CompEng315 FEEDBACK and CONTROL SYSTEM

In the absence of a feedback system, the output and input show non-interdependency. This
means that in such a system, the present output does not put any effect on future output values.
As we have already discussed that the use of feedback in a system, reduces the chances of
fluctuation in the system parameters due to unwanted disturbances. This is so because, with
variable conditions, the parameters of the system may show variations.

And such variations can lead to cause adverse effects on the performance of the system.
Thus the feedback is incorporated in the system, in order to make it insensitive to unwanted
changes in the parameter.
Majorly electronics circuits like amplifiers, oscillators, etc. find applications of the
feedback systems.

Block Diagram of Feedback System

The figure here shows the block diagram of the control system with feedback:

The major concerning factors of a feedback system include sensing, controlling and
actuating the process inside the system. More specifically, the reasons for implementing
feedback in any electronic circuit are as follows:

Prepared by: ENGR. JUN-JUN T. UDASCO, ME-ECE

 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Cabagan Campus
COLLEGE OF COMPUTING STUDIES, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
CompEng315 FEEDBACK and CONTROL SYSTEM

• Feedback controls the gain as well as the response of the system.

• The use of feedback introduces the independence of the system’s characteristics with
the change in operating conditions like applied voltage and variable temperature.
• The non-linearity of the components present in the system leads to cause a great
reduction in signal distortion.

Types of Feedback Systems

In any control system, feedback can be provided in majorly two ways. Thus feedback is
generally classified as:
• Positive Feedback: A positive feedback system is the one in which the feedback signal
is in phase with the reference input signal. Thus the two get added and combinely the
generated response acts as input for further system operation.

As the two signals get added to give the resultant response in case of a positive feedback
system, thus this increases the overall gain of the system.
As the magnitude of the input signal gets increases in case of positive feedback, thereby
leading to generate oscillatory response in the system.
• Negative Feedback: The system in which the feedback signal is out of phase with the
reference input is known as a negative feedback system. Due to out of phase
relationship, the two signals are subtracted in order to produce the difference signal.

Prepared by: ENGR. JUN-JUN T. UDASCO, ME-ECE

 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Cabagan Campus
COLLEGE OF COMPUTING STUDIES, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
CompEng315 FEEDBACK and CONTROL SYSTEM

The introduction of negative feedback gives rise to a reduction in the overall gain. As
the difference in the two values specifies the error value which is needed to be compensated in
order to have the desired value. Thus it is always recommended that the system will have a low
value of error signal.
As such systems provide better stability and circuit response with an increase in
operating bandwidth. Thus most of the control systems utilize negative feedback so as to have
a reduction in the overall gain.
For a better understanding of the operation of two types of feedback systems, we can
consider an example of a room heater.
When positive feedback is utilized in a room heating system, then when the output
temperature is high and it is provided to the reference input then the two will get added and
this will lead to cause a further increase in the input signal. Hence the temperature will be raised
further above the reference value.
And if the temperature comes below the specified value then it will lead to cause the
turning off the system. Therefore, a large category of control system uses negative feedback.
Now let us understand, how the parameters show variation in a control system by
incorporating the feedback.

Prepared by: ENGR. JUN-JUN T. UDASCO, ME-ECE

 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Cabagan Campus
COLLEGE OF COMPUTING STUDIES, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
CompEng315 FEEDBACK and CONTROL SYSTEM

Effects of Parameter Variations on Output

Let us first consider the open-loop control system:

As we know that the transfer function of a system is specified as output by input. Thus for this
system, it is given as:

Prepared by: ENGR. JUN-JUN T. UDASCO, ME-ECE

 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Cabagan Campus
COLLEGE OF COMPUTING STUDIES, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
CompEng315 FEEDBACK and CONTROL SYSTEM

This is the change in output of the system, due to change in the transfer function of
the system because of parameter variation in an open-loop control system.
Suppose we have a closed-loop control system:

Let ΔG(s) be the change in the transfer function, due to parameter variation, thus the change
in output will be given as:

Since ΔG(s)H(s) is very small in comparison to G(s)H(s). Thus it can be neglected

from the denominator.

Prepared by: ENGR. JUN-JUN T. UDASCO, ME-ECE

 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
Cabagan Campus
COLLEGE OF COMPUTING STUDIES, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
CompEng315 FEEDBACK and CONTROL SYSTEM

This defines the change in output because of the variation in the parameter.
Since the magnitude value of 1 + G(s)H(s) is quite larger than unity. Thus on comparing
eq1 and eq2, it is noticed that due to parameter variation in case of closed-loop system the
change is output is reduced by factor 1 + G(s)H(s). This is the outcome of the presence of
feedback in the system.
While in the open-loop system, as the feedback is absent thus such a reduction is also
absent.

QUIZ:
Differentiate the types of feedback, give more examples, solve and explain.

Prepared by: ENGR. JUN-JUN T. UDASCO, ME-ECE