UNIT 3

ACTIVE FILTERS

Introduction

 A filter is a circuit that is designed to pass a specific band of frequencies while attenuating all the
signals outside that band. It is a frequency selective circuit.
 The filters are classified as Active Filters and Passive Filters.
 The passive filters use only passive elements such as resistors, inductors and capacitors. On the other
hand, active filter circuits use the active elements such as OPAMPs, transistors along with inductors,
capacitors and resistors.

CSVTU - (2022 Nov –Dec) / (2021 Nov-Dec) : Write advantages of active filters over passive filters (4 Marks)

Advantages of Active Filters

1. Flexibility in Gain and Frequency Adjustment : The OPAMP gain can be easily controlled in the closed
loop fashion hence active filter input signal is not attenuated. The passive filters need the attenuation.
Active filters can be easily tuned.
2. No Loading Effect : The OPAMP has high input impedance and low output impedance . Hence active
filter using OPAMP does not cause loading of the source or load.
3. Cost : Due to availability of modern ICs, a variety of cheaper OPAMPs are available. The inductors are
absent which makes the modern active filters more economical than passive filters.
4. Performance : Active filters have better signal isolation hence their performance is better than passive
filters.
5. Adaptability : Active filters can automatically adapt changes in the network and load fluctuations. In
this manner these are better than passive filters.

The most commonly used filters are :

1. Low Pass Filter (LPF)

2. High Pass Filter (HPF)
3. Band Pass Filter(BPF)
4. Band Reject Filter(BRF). This is also known as Band Stop Filter (BSF)
Frequency Response Characteristics of Filters :

1. Low pass Filter (LPF)

CSVTU - 2023 Apr-May : Frequency response of LPF (4 Marks)

Figure shows frequency response of LPF. ALPF has constant gain from 0 Hz to high cutoff frequency f H
hence bandwidth of this filter is also fH.

2. High Pass Filter (HPF)

Figure shows the frequency response of ideal and practical high pass filter. For a HPF, fL is the low cut off
frequency. The operating frequency is f. The range of frequency 0 < f < f L is the stop band while f > fL is the
pass band.
 CSVTU - 2022 Nov-Dec : What is filter? Define Pass band filter and stop band filter. (4 Marks)

3. Band Pass Filter (BPF)

4. Band Stop Filter (BSF)/Band Reject Filter/ Band Elimination Filter

 5. All Pass Filter (APF)

CSVTU- 2022 Apr-May/2021 Nov-Dec : Design of first order low pass butterworth filter (8 Marks)

First Order LOW PASS BUTTERWORTH FILTER

 The first order low pass butterworth filter is realized by RC circuit alongwith an OPAMP, used in a non-
inverting configuration.
 First order butterworth filter is alos known as One Pole Low Pass butterworth Filter.
 The circuit diagram is shown below:
Analysis of the filter
CSVTU 2023 Apr-May : Design of first order low pass butterworth filter with a cut off frequency 15.9 KHz
and with a pass band gain of 1.5 db. (8 Marks)
SALLEN & KEY CIRCUITS

CSVTU - 2023 Apr-May / 2023 Nov-Dec / 2022 Apr-May / 2022 Nov-Dec / 2021 Nov-Dec

Question related to this topic asked for 8 marks as well as for short notes.

 Sallen & Key filter design is a second order active filter topology which is used to filter unnecessary
frequencies from an audio signal. This topology can be used as a basic building block for implementing low
pass filter, high pass filter and band pass filter circuits.
 The Sallen and Key topology is an active filter design based around a single OPAMP, two resistors and two
capacitors with feedback loop thus creating a voltage-controlled voltage-source (VCVS) design with filter
characteristics of high input impedance, low output impedance and good stability.
 Sallen-key LPF is discussed below.

Sallen Key Low Pass Filter

 In the Sallen-Key LPF, better filter performance can be achieved by properly selecting the RC components.
 The main features of this filter are; voltage amplification & voltage gain control with stable filter operation.
 Sallen-key LPF circuit is shown below.

Fig : Sallen-Key LPF

 Transfer Function

 The circuit is connected in non-inverting mode where positive feedback is employed through C1.
 Applying KCL at node A, we have
Advantages of Sallen-Key Circuits

1. The Sallen-Key filter design is very simple including single op-amp & RC components.

2. These filters are capable of increasing the output voltage higher than the input voltage.

3. The high input & low output impedance makes the Sallen-Key filters cascading much easier

4. These filter’s frequency range is wide.

5. The op-amp within this filter can be arranged either as a non-inverting amplifier or a unity gain buffer.

6. The Sallen-Key filter stability is good.

7. The utilization of a non-inverting amplifier can increase voltage gain.

Disdvantages of Sallen-Key Circuits

1. The Sallen-Key filter is not easily tuned.

2. Sallen key filter is very sensitive to component variations & tolerances. This can affect the stability &
accuracy of the filter.
3. It is susceptible to distortion & noise from the OPAMP. So the characteristics & quality of the OPAMP
can affect the performance as well as output of the Sallen key filter.

Applicationss of Sallen-Key Circuits

1. A Sallen-Key filter is preferred usually whenever a small Q factor is required, noise rejection is
prioritized, & filter stage’s non-inverting gain is necessary.
2. This filter is used as the basic building block used to implement higher-order filter circuits like LPF, HPF,
and BPF circuits.
3. This filter can be utilized for different applications within audio signal processing like tone control,
equalization, synthesis, modulation, and noise reduction.
4. This filter is used for modulating/synthesizing an audio signal.
CHEBYSHEV FILTER CSVTU - 2023 Apr-May : Notes on Chebyshev filter (8 Marks)

 Chebyshev filters are used to separate one band of frequencies from another and also they are
adequate for many applications.
 The primary attribute of Chebyshev filters is their speed. This is because they are carried out by
recursion rather than convolution.
 When the rate of cut off required is not too high and a good stop band is required, then a Chebyshev
filter should be considered.
 Chebyshev filters are classified into two types, namely type-I Chebyshev filter and type-II Chebyshev
filter.

Type-I Chebyshev Filters

 This type of filter is the basic type of Chebyshev filter. The amplitude or the gain response is an angular
frequency, function of the nth order of the LPF (low pass filter) is equal to the total value of the
transfer function H (jw).

Here -> Ripple Factor

And wp -> Cut off frequency
Applications of Chebyshev filter

 Chebyshev filters are used in communication systems because they provide a steep roll-down slope
that suppresses high-frequency noise and interference signals.
 Chebyshev filters are used in audio processing due to their efficient performance characteristics.
 Chebyshev filters are used in control systems due to their efficient performance characteristics.
 Chebyshev filters are used in image processing to extract useful data from images.
 Chebyshev Type II filters are used in DC and low frequency measurement applications, such as bridge
sensors.