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RC, RL, LC Passive Filter Calculator - DigiKey Electronics

This document describes a passive filter calculator that allows users to determine the cutoff frequency of low-pass and high-pass filters. It explains that passive filters use resistors, capacitors, or inductors to attenuate signal frequencies above or below a cutoff frequency. The calculator requires the user to select the filter type (RC, RL, or LC) and enter the component values to calculate the -3dB cutoff frequency. A low-pass filter passes low frequencies below the cutoff and blocks higher frequencies, while a high-pass filter does the opposite.

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272 views4 pages

RC, RL, LC Passive Filter Calculator - DigiKey Electronics

This document describes a passive filter calculator that allows users to determine the cutoff frequency of low-pass and high-pass filters. It explains that passive filters use resistors, capacitors, or inductors to attenuate signal frequencies above or below a cutoff frequency. The calculator requires the user to select the filter type (RC, RL, or LC) and enter the component values to calculate the -3dB cutoff frequency. A low-pass filter passes low frequencies below the cutoff and blocks higher frequencies, while a high-pass filter does the opposite.

Uploaded by

fxwired
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Low Pass/High Pass Filter Calculator

A passive filter (also known as a lumped element filter) is used to attenuate a signal above or below a determined frequency. This
passive filter calculator has you pick your composition (RC – Resistance/Capacitive, RL – Resistance/Inductance, or LC –
Inductance/Capacitive) and enter your values to calculate the cutoff/-3dB frequency. Depending on the configuration of the
components you can construct a low pass or high pass filter. The low-pass filter will pass a signal with minimal distortion up to the
cutoff frequency, at which point it will block the input signal. The high-pass filter will block the frequencies below the cutoff
frequency and pass the ones above.

Filter Type

Low Pass Filter High Pass Filter

Filter Configuration

RC - Resistor Capacitor

RL - Resistor Inductor

RC FILTER FORMULAS

Resistance

Enter Value Ω

Capacitance

Enter Value µF

-3dB Cutoff Frequency

Enter Value Hz
Bode plot image is a generalized example of response curve, actual results will vary with component selection

-3dB gain

Passive Filters Explained

Lumped element filters are composed of Resistors, Inductors and Capacitors. They allow frequencies to pass above or
below a predetermined level. The level at which the frequency is attenuated by -3dB (70.7%) is called the cutoff frequency.

While building lumped element filters it is important to understand the effect each element has on the signal. The resistor
element is mostly frequency independent. The inductor increases in impedance as the frequency increases, while the
capacitor decreases in impedance as the frequency gets faster. With these different dynamics in place consideration must
be paid to the configuration of the filter in order to achieve the desired frequency response.

A first order filter is one that contains only one active (inductor or capacitor) element. A second order filter will contain two
active elements and has twice the frequency roll off. RC filters are typically used for filtering lower power signals, while the
more expensive LC filter is better suited for higher power. The second order LC filter is also more efficient than RC filters as
ideally, they will not dissipate energy in the form of heat.

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