High Pass Filter

Introduction

A high pass filter will allow the frequencies which are higher than the cut-off frequency
and attenuate the frequencies lower than the cut off frequency. In some cases, this filter
is also termed as ‘Low-Cut’ filter or ‘Base-cut’ filter. The amount of attenuation or the
pass band range will depend on the designing parameters of the filter.

The pass band gain of an active filter is more than unity gain. The operation of the
active high pass filter is same as passive high pass filter, but the main difference is that
the active high pass filter uses operational amplifier, which provides amplification of the
output signals and controls gain.

The ideal characteristics of the high pass filter are shown below.

We know that the high pass filter will pass the frequencies from cut-off frequency point
to ‘infinity’ frequency which does not exist in practical considerations. Besides passive
high pass filter in this active high pass filter the maximum frequency response is limited
by the open loop characteristics of the op-amp.

Active High Pass Filter Circuit

By connecting a passive RC high pass filter circuit to the inverting or non-inverting

terminal of the op-amp gives us first order active high pass filter. The passive RC high
pass filter circuit connected to the non-inverting terminal of the unity gain operational
amplifier is shown below.
The gain Amax = 1 and cutoff frequency fc = 1/2πRC

Active High Pass Filter with High Voltage Gain

The operation is same as that of the passive high pass filter, but the input signal is
amplified by the amplifier at the output. The amount of amplification depends on the
gain of the amplifier.

The magnitude of the pass band gain is equal to 1 + (R 3/R2). Where R3 is the feedback
resistor in Ω (ohms) and R2 is the input resistor. The circuit of active high pass filter with
amplification is given below.

This first-order high pass filter, consists simply of a passive filter followed by a non-
inverting amplifier. The frequency response of the circuit is the same as that of the
passive filter, except that the amplitude of the signal is increased by the gain of the
amplifier.
 For a non-inverting amplifier circuit, the magnitude of the voltage gain for the filter is
given as a function of the feedback resistor ( R2 ) divided by its corresponding input
resistor ( R1 ) value and is given as:

Gain for an Active High Pass Filter

 Where:
 AF = the Pass band Gain of the filter, ( 1 + R2/R1 )
 ƒ = the Frequency of the Input Signal in Hertz, (Hz)
 ƒc = the Cut-off Frequency in Hertz, (Hz)
Just like the low pass filter, the operation of a high pass active filter can be verified from
the frequency gain equation above as:

1. At very low frequencies, ƒ < ƒc

2. At the cut-off frequency, ƒ = ƒc

3. At very high frequencies, ƒ > ƒc

Then, the Active High Pass Filter has a gain AF that increases from 0Hz to the low
frequency cut-off point, ƒC at 20dB/decade as the frequency increases. At ƒC the gain
is 0.707*AF, and after ƒC all frequencies are pass band frequencies so the filter has a
constant gain AF with the highest frequency being determined by the closed loop
bandwidth of the op-amp.
When dealing with filter circuits the magnitude of the pass band gain of the circuit is
generally expressed in decibels or dB as a function of the voltage gain, and this is
defined as:
Magnitude of Voltage Gain in (dB)

For a first-order filter the frequency response curve of the filter increases by
20dB/decade or 6dB/octave up to the determined cut-off frequency point which is
always at -3dB below the maximum gain value. As with the previous filter circuits, the
lower cut-off or corner frequency ( ƒc ) can be found by using the same formula:

The corresponding phase angle or phase shift of the output signal is the same as that
given for the passive RC filter and leads that of the input signal. It is equal to +45o at the
cut-off frequency ƒc value and is given as:

A simple first-order active high pass filter can also be made using an inverting
operational amplifier configuration as well, and an example of this circuit design is given
along with its corresponding frequency response curve. A gain of 40dB has been
assumed for the circuit.

High Pass Filter Frequency Response or High Pass Filter Bode Plot
In high pass filter, all frequencies lying below the cutoff frequency ‘fc’ are attenuated. At
this cut off frequency point we get -3dB gain and at this point reactance of the capacitor
and resistor values will be same .i.e. R = Xc. Gain is calculated as

Gain (dB) = 20 log (Vout/Vin)

The slope of high pass filter curve is +20 d B/ decade .i.e. after passing cutoff frequency
level the output response of the circuit increases from 0 to Vin at a rate of +20 dB per
decade which is 6 dB increase per octave.
High Pass Filter Frequency Response

The region from the initial point to cutoff frequency point is known as stop band as no
frequencies are allowed to pass. The region from above the cutoff frequency point. i.e. -
3 dB point is known as the passband. At cutoff frequency, point output voltage
amplitude will be 70.7% of the input voltage.
Here bandwidth of the filter denotes the value of frequency from which signals are
allowed to pass. For example, if the bandwidth of the high pass filter is given as 50 kHz
it means that only frequencies from 50 kHz to infinity are allowed to pass.
The phase angle of the output signal is +450 at the cut off frequency. The formula to
calculate the phase shift of high pass filter is

∅=arctan(1/2πfRC)
 Phase Shift Curve

In practical application, the output response of filter does not extend to infinity. The
electrical characteristic of the filter elements applies the limitation to the filter response.
By proper selection of filter components, we can adjust the range of frequencies to be
attenuated, the range to be passed etc…