Fehlerverstärker

A Fehlerverstärker, or error amplifier, is a component in control systems designed to amplify the difference between a desired setpoint and the actual measured value of a system. This amplified error signal is then used to drive an actuator, which in turn attempts to correct the system and reduce the error. Fehlerverstärker are fundamental to many feedback control loops, ensuring that systems can maintain a stable output despite disturbances or changes.

The core function of a Fehlerverstärker is to take two input signals, the reference signal (setpoint) and the feedback signal (measured output), and produce an output that is proportional to their difference. This difference is the error. The amplification factor determines how strongly the actuator responds to even small errors. A higher amplification leads to a faster response but can also increase the risk of instability or oscillations. Conversely, a lower amplification results in a slower response but generally greater stability.

These amplifiers are commonly found in electronic circuits, particularly in operational amplifier configurations. They can be designed with specific characteristics to achieve desired performance, such as proportional, integral, or derivative control actions. The choice of control action, often implemented within or alongside the Fehlerverstärker, dictates how the system responds to different types of errors. For instance, integral action helps eliminate steady-state errors, while derivative action anticipates future errors. In essence, the Fehlerverstärker is the central processing unit for error correction within a feedback loop.