FOURIER ANALYSIS KIT

INTRODUCTION

very often come across signals, which are not simple sine waves. The
In electronics we

complex. They contain number of harmonics. To process such

waveforms of such signals are a

to know their frequency components and their relative magnitudes. The

signals it is necessary
mathematical tool that does this type of analysis is the FOURIER THEOREM.

According to the Fourier theorem, any single valued complex periodic wavcform (V,) can be

frequency equal to
thought of as a sum of a series ofsimple harmonic waves, the first of which has a

that of the complex wave.

VG)=V de t sin (of +92) + ... +V, sin (not + pn). ..(1)

The term V de is called the dc level of the signal. The terms Vi, V2. Vn are the amplitudes of the

fundamental or the first harmonic (o), the second harmonic (20) and so on. The terms o1. 2

are the corresponding phase angles.

The Fourier series of a square wave is given by

4V
V)= (sino t + sin 3or+ sin 5ot+ sin 7 otsin 9ott ..) ...2)
3 5 9

This equation shows that the square wave is made up of sine waves of the fundamental and its odd
harmonics. If the amplitude of the fundamenta! is taken as unity, the amplitudes of the third
harmonics is 1/3, that of the fifth harmonic 1/5 and so on.

The Fourier series of a triangular wave is given by

V ()=
4 (cos ot +
1
cos 3ot+
1
cos Sot +...)
T 32 52 (3)

The triangular wave contains the fundamental and its odd harmonics. The amplitude
decreases as 1/n* where n is the number of the harmonic (odd).

The Fourier series of a

clpped sine wave (half-wave rectified) is given by
V () =cos/ot0.425 cos 20t -

0.085 cos 40t -0.03 cos 6t... (4)

hnstruction Manual of Fourier Analysis Kit

 The theoretical relative
amplitudes of the Fourier
components of the square,
clipped sine wave forms are given in table
triangular and

TABLE 1. FOURIER COMPONENTS

Harmonic
Amplitude (Relative)

Square Triangular Clippcd sine

Waves waves Waves
First
1.00.
1.00 1.00
Second
0.43
Third
0.33 0.11
Fourth
0.09
Fifth
0.20 0.04
Sixth
0.04
Seventh
0.14
0.02
METHOD OF ANALYSIS
The circuit used to
analyzed analyse complex waveforms is shown in
is given to the series
combination of a resistor and tuned Fig. 1. The waveform to be
(o)7.5 kHz. The tuned circuit is specially designed to achieve circuit whose resonant
It sclects this high selectivity at this
frequency
frequency and rejects all other
tuned circuit is given to the vertical frequencies with high efficiency. The frequency.
input of a CRO. voltage across the
When the frequency of the
circuit,the circuit accepts the
input waveform is equal to the resonant
fundamental component and frequency of the tuned
consequence, a sine wave
pure of that rejects all other harmonics. As
frequency is seen on the CRO. As the a

wave decreased, frequency of the input

a pure sine wave of
frequency is will
appear on the CRO whenever o'
n 2,3, 4, The integer n takes where
...

only odd
values for the
square and
only even values for the clipped sine wave. triangular waveforms. lt takes

A
measurement of the
out the
frequency of the harmonic and its
relative amplitude enables one
component harmonics. find

nS
Instruction Maual of Fourier Analysis Kit
 TIIE KITT

The kit consists of a

stabilized dual power
The power supply system, the supply unit, a function generator
function generator and and the
the analyser are
housed in main unit. analyser.
Square, triangular and sine
waveforms
circuit function generator whose output
are
generated by
The output level of the sine frequency can be
a
specially
varied in the range ofdesigned integrated
and
provided on the front triangular waves can be
varied using the
500 Hz to 15 kHz.
panel of the main unit. amplitude potentiometer
The frequency of the
Use of the TTP
generator can be varied using the
achieves smooth 100 kQ ten-turn
frequency variation. potentiometer (TTP).
The frequency of the generator for any
particular sctting of the TTP is given by
F(kHz)= 44.4
1+R .5)
where (1+ R) is in k2. R is the
resistance of the TTP. If
resistance is 10.2 kSQ and (1 + R) is the dial of the TTP reads 1.02. its
frequency of the equal to 11.2 kQ
leading to a value of 4.46
waveform. Equation (5) yields kHz for the
frequency values with an accuracy of + 5%.
FRONT PANEL

The front panel of the main unit

shown in Fig. 2. containing the function generator and the analyser circuit is

The output waveforms of the function generator are

square wave is available at A. At C, the available at sockets A, C & D. The
waveform will be either a sine wave or a
depending upon the position of the toggle switch S. The triangular wave
be varied using the TTP
(ten turn
frequency of all the three waveforms
may
potentiometer).
FOURIER ANALYSIS KIT
TTP

C.R.O.
SINE RI.

AMPLITUDDE aA ERPRISES
ON FREQUENCY NEW DELHI -110008
NAGAR
-mail: mittienterpri [email protected]

Fig.2
Bis the input to the
analyser circuit. The sockets marked G is
of the analyser is available atsocket marked CRO. ground terminals. The output

Instruction Manual of Fourier

Analysis Kit
 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1. Connect the unit to the mains.

2. Connect CRO and to the Unit.

Wavetorm ofthe function generator can be seen between the respective terminals and G.

SQUARE WAVE
4 feeds the
Lonnect socket marked Ato B using the patch cord supplied with the kit, this
analyser with the square wave.

serving the pattern on CRO vary the TTP starting from the zero reading. This varies the
Trequency of the square wave. At f the natural frequency of the tuned circult, you wi
Pure Sine wave of maximum amplitude. Adjust TTP carefully to get maximum
de Note the reading of the TTP and measure the height of the pattern on the CRO.
height of the pattern may be measured in volts if your CRO has a valibratcd scale.
Otherwise measure the height using a scale or divider. The height is proportional to the
amplitude of the pure sine wavve.
6. Decrease the frequency of the waveforim and note the reading of the TTP for which you
observe pure sine waves of maximum amplitude on CRO. Measure their
would observe pure sine wave at amplitudes you
1/3, 1/5,
1/7 and 1/9 and so on of ø.

The result shows

that a square wave contains the fundamental and its odd harmonics.
Tabulate your resut[ as indicated in Table 2.

TABLE 2. WAVEFORM: SQUARE

TTP R (1+R) Frequency Harmonic

Amplitude
teading k2) (kQ) (kHz)

Disconnect A and B

TRIANGULAR WAVE'

7. Throw the toggie switch towards the sign of triangle.

as to get undistorted
Adjust the amplitude potentiomctcr so
triangular waves. Connect the CRO to terminal C and
waveform. You will now get triangular at the socket marked
observe the
wave
connection from C and connect it to the terminal marked CRO.
C. Remove the
CRO

Instruction Manual of Fourier Analysis Kit

Inst-
 8. Connec(C to Busing a patch cord.

9 Repcat steps 4 and 5 described above.

CLIPPED SINE WAVE

10. Throw the toggle switch towards sine sign. You will
now get sine wave
is a half-wave rectifier between C and B.
AtD we get the
output at C. There
clipped sine wave.
u.Connect D and B. The analyser is now fed
by the clipped sine wave.
12. Repeat steps 4 and 5 described above.
PRECAUTIONS

1. The frequency of the waveform should be adjusted carefully to obtain maximum

This is particularly important at the fundamental. amplitude.
amplitudes of other harmonics. Any mistake here leads to errors in the

2. At higher harmonics the amplitude decreases to low values. For some harmonics the error in
measurement may be comparable with the
amplitude that is being measured. So no
importance need be attached to exact agreement between the theoretical and experimental
relative amplitudes. We shouid only look for their existence.

3 Any distortion of the input waveform leads to erroneous results. If there is a large
discrepancy between the experimental and theoretical results examine the wavcforms using
the CRO. If you find serious distortion of the
Arrangements will be made to correct the waveforms.
waveform,
inform the company.

4 Do not use the function generator for other experiments. It may overload the generator and
distort the waveforms

SUGGESTION

You may use the analyser to analyse the waveforms from any other source. Feed the
wavcforms betwcen B and G.

5
Instruction Mamual ofFourier Analysis Kit
TYPICAL RESULTS

Square wave

Amplitude
Harmonic
TTP R (1+R) f

Reading in k2 in k2 (kHz)
8.80/
049 4.9 5.9 7.52
2.85
1.68 16.8 17.8 2.49
1.75
2.87 28.7 29.7 1.49
1.20
40.5 41.5 1.07 VII
4.05
IX 0.99
5.25 52.5 53.5 0.83

Triangular Wave
f Harmonic Amplitude
TTP R (1 +R)

Reading in k2 in k2 (kHz)
3.20
049 4.9 5.9 7.52
2.50 III 0.33
1.67 16.7 17.7

2.886 28.6 29.6 1.50 V 0.125

Clipped Sine Wave.

TTP R (1 +R) Harmonic Ampliude

Reading in k2 in kQ (kHz)
4.9 5.9 7.52 0.66
0.49
1.07 10.7 11.7 3.79 0,25
22.6 23.6 1.88 IV 0.058
2.26

References

1. Mathematics of physics and modern Engineering by I.S. Sokolnikoff and R.M.

Redheffer.

Experinments" in Electronics by S.V. Subrahmanyam, Mac Millan, India, 1983.

Instruction Manual of FourierAnalysis Ki 6

 T T E ON
AN THE PROCEDURE ADOPTED TO STUDY FOURIER COMPONENT
OF A COMPLEX WAVE
ht forward method of studying the Fourier components of a complex waves like the
A straight forwa

wave is described below:

square

In this setup, a square wave of fixed frequencyf feeds the series combination of a tuned

ircuit consisting of an inductance L, a variable capacitance C and a resistance R. The voltage

developed across the tuned circuit is displayed on

C.R.O.

A square wave consists of pure sine wave of fundamental third harmonic 3 f , fifth

harmonic 5 j, seventh harmonic 7 fand so on. Their amplitude decreases in the order

1/3,1/5,1/7 etc.

If we now tune the tuned circuit to f we will observe a pure sine wave of frequency f. Its
8.77
amplitude depends on the Q-factor of the circuit i.e. on If L and R remains
R
constant the fundamental will be unity.

Let us now tune the circuit to 3f, then a pure sine wave of frequency 3f will be observed. It

indíeates the existence of the 3 harmonic. However, its amplitude will not be the 1/3 of its
fundamental due to the fact that the Q of the circuit is 3 times the Q of the fundamental.

Same thing happens when the circuit was tuned for 5f. 5t" harmonic will be observed but its

amplitude will not be 1/5 of its fundamental.

Thus the procedure gives wrong idea of the relative amplitudes of the Fourier
described above
harmonics in a straight forward
components even though it shows the existence of the higher
manner.

that is not so straight forward but

To avoid the above difficulty, we have adopted a procedure
amplitudes. relative In the
existence of harmonics and their
clearly and accurately shows the
of f. Since
of the tuned circuit at a fixed value
we

KIT, we have kept the resonant frequency

are not changing its resonant frequency, its Q remains constant.

of the input square wave is f, will

the input frequency. When the frequency
While varying
C.R.O. Let its amplitude be unity.
Observe a sine wave of the frequency fon
lf we now decrease the trequency of the input wave to f/3, you will again obscrve a pure si

wave of frequency f on C.R.O. This indicate the existence of the third harmonic 1/3/ x 5/J:
does not
Since the frequency of the wave appearing across the tuned circuit is again f, its Q
the theory
amplitude will be 1/3" of the amplitude of the fundamental,
as
change. Hence its

predicts

pure sine wave of frequency

If we now decrease the frequency to f/5, you will again observe a

fwill be observed i.e. 5" harmonic (1 x

5f =f) and so on.
5f
The above explanation justifies the procedure adopted in the KIT for Fourier Analysis of
complex waves.

"Grnd", adjust
Incase of Clipped Sine wave, while connecting the C.R.0. between "D" and
better
amplitude of the signal to 2mV P-P using the "Amplitude" knob provided on the kit for
results.