Frequency Filters

Department of Physics Analysis and Design of Analog Circuits 1

 Filters
Filters are used to pass or block a certain range of frequencies. They are used extensively in
communication circuits. Frequency filtering may be carried out in the analog or digital domain (DSP).
This class will introduce some of the basics of analog filtering.

Frequency Response
For a R-C circuit, the cut-off frequency is defined as the region where Xc = R. i.e. 1/2fC =R.
therefore:
1
f cut off  The filter function has value 1/(1+j1) 1/root 2 = 0.707 =
2RtotalC
the half power frequency

To emphasis thus, lets look at the frequency

response plot of a RC type network:

The filter function can be expressed in

terms of cut-off frequency

1 1 1
F ( )   
1  jRC 1  j (  c ) 1  j ( f f c )

Department of Physics Analysis and Design of Analog Circuits 2

 Passive Analog Filters
Analysis of a Simple LCR Filter At the resonant frequency XL = XC, thus
1 1
j L  or 0 
j C LC
The quality factor, Q, of an Inductor is defines as
I
XL  L 1 L 1 0
Q  0   
R R R C 2 BW
V Substituting into the voltage equation, we get
I  damping
R  j L  1 Vout vc A002
factor
j C  
Vin v 
s 2  0 s  02
Q
1
V
1 j C I I0
VC  I 
j C R  j L  1 XL
j C

V  j L R
VL  I  j  L 
R  j L  1
j C
XC

V R
VR  I  R 
R  j L  1
j C
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 Passive Filter
The circuit below represent a simple RC or RL or LC circuit

If Z1 is a Capacitor and Z2 a Resistor, then

Vo sCR

Vi 1  sCR

Vo sCR jCR CR

Vo Z2   
  transfer _ function Vi 1  sCR 1  jCR 12  CR 
2
Vi Z1  Z 2

If Z1 is a Resistor and Z2 a Capacitor, then Filter Networks

Vo 1
 A low pass filter
Vi 1  sCR

Vo 1 1 1
   T-Filter - Filter
Vi 1  sCR 1  jCR 12  CR 
2

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 Active Filters
Active filters are so called because they use an active gain element (usually an op
amp) in addition to resistors and capacitors. They do not use inductors so for lower
frequency responses (like audio tone controllers) they are less bulky. Unlike passive
filter circuits, active filter circuits requires a dc power supply to power (or bias) the
active element (op amp or transistor) 1
f cut _ off 
Basic Active Filters Vo Vo
2RC
Vi -20 dB/decade Vi

1 -Pole High Pass,

-40 dB/ -20dB/decade Roll off
1 -Pole Low Pass, decade
-20dB/decade Roll off f
f

2-Pole Low Pass,

-40dB/decade Roll off 2-Pole High Pass,
-20dB/decade Roll off

What is the volatge gain for each circuit?

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 General Designs of Active Filters
Active filters are usually design using one of three
main configurations:
1. The infinite gain feedback Low Pass example:
2. The voltage controlled voltage source
3. The state variable (ring of three or bi-quad)
1
Vout R1 R3C2C5
A 
Vin 1  1 1 1  1
1 V
s2  s     
C2  R1 R3 R4  R3 R4C2C5

Vout vc A002
  A0  Gain  0
Taking KCL at Point A Vin v 
s 2  0 s  02
(V  Vin )Y1  (V  Vout )Y4  VY2  VY3  0 Q
equating _ terms
Y5 1 0 1  1 1 1 
VY3  VoutY5  0 or V  Vout 02  ;     
Y3 R1 R3C2C3 Q C2 R
 1 R3 R4 

Vout Y1Y3 1

Vin Y5 (Y1  Y2  Y3  Y4 )  Y3Y4 R1 R3C2C5 R4
DC _ gain   
1 1 1 R1
Where Y  YC  jC  sC YR  R3 R4C2C5
Z R

Department of Physics Analysis and Design of Analog Circuits 6

 General Designs of Active Filters
The voltage controlled voltage source
Low Pass Filter example:

V1

Voltage controlled
voltage source: 1
Av
Gain = K = 1 + RB/RA Vout R1 R3C4C5
Taking KCL at Point A 
Vin  1 1 1  1
s 2  s   (1  Av )  
(V1  Vin )Y1  V1Y2  (V1  V2 )Y3  (V1  Vout )Y4  0  R1C4 R3C4 R4C5  R1 R3C4C5

1
 Y   R  0  and A0  Av at very high frequencies
V1  V2 1  5  and Vout  V2 1  B   V2 Av R1 R3C4C5
 Y3   RA 
1
Q
Vout AvY1Y3 R4C3 R4C1 RC
   (1  Av ) 5 3
Vin Y5 (Y1  Y2  Y3  Y4 )  Y3 (Y1  Y2  Y4 (1  Av ) R5C1 R5C3 R4C1

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 Other Types of Filters
Surface Acoustics Wave (SAW) Filters
• Electro-acoustic transducer where stress and strain patterns are created from AC
signals, the reciprocal of piezoelectric energy conversion in quartz crystal
• Changes of strain are converted to changes of voltage
• Frequency response of the band pass type and is determine by their physical
dimensions
• Applications ranges from low tens to hundreds of MHz
• Very suitable for mass production
• Very cheap, reliable, stable and robust
• Widely used in consumer electronics: TV, radio, and mobile communication

Switched Capacitor Filters

• Used in voice frequency range where small light weight designs are required
• Resistors and capacitors are replaced by MOS transistors
• The MOS is switched on and off and charge and discharge the capacitor
• Very ideal for Integrated Circuits

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 Impedance Matching Techniques
Impedance matching is important for two main reasons: (1) It ensures maximum power transfer
Z Load  Z in
from source to load and (2) It eliminates signal reflections of high frequency signals 
Z Load  Z in
Example:
For the values shown,
Matching
network R
 50  C  0.69 pF
1   2 R 2C 2
thus
R 2C
 34.7  10 9 H
 1  Z 1  R C
2 2 2

R
 j C 
Z   
1
R
j C
Inserting the matching network
R R 2C
Z   j
1   2 R 2C 2 1   2 R 2C 2

Resistive .. Goal is
to make this equal Units of inductance. 50Ω
to desired value (50 Goal is to cancel with
ohms) +ve inductance 50Ω - j(34.7nH)

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