Introduction to Filters

Learning Objectives

 Become familiar with the frequency response of high-pass

and low-pass filters. Learn to calculate the cutoff frequency
and describe the phase response.
 Be able to calculate the cutoff frequencies and sketch the
frequency response of a pass-band or stop-band filter.
 Develop skills in interpreting and establishing the frequency
response of any filter.
Filters Introduction
 Filters are used extensively in communications
applications to either select a particular
frequency of interest or to ignore (reject)
frequencies that may be interfering with your
equipment.
 As the image of the antennas on the ship shows
there are many opportunities for interference to
occur during the transmitting and receiving of
signals.
 This is where the filter comes in…
Filters

• Some Types:
• Passive filters are those filters composed of series or
parallel combinations of R, L, and C elements.
• Low-Pass
• High-Pass
• Band-Pass
• Band-Stop
• Active filters are filters that employ active devices such as
transistors and operational amplifiers in combination with R,
L, and C elements.

• Some terms:
• Stop Band – are the frequencies
that are rejected.
• Pass Band – are the frequencies
which are accepted into the
system.
Stop Band Pass Band
Filters

• Any frequency in the pass band will ‘pass’ through

to the next stage of the circuit with at least 70.7%
of the maximum output voltage.
• Recall the use of the 0.707 level to define the
bandwidth of a series or parallel resonant circuit
(both with the general shape of the pass-band
filter).

Stop Band Pass Band

Low-Pass Filter

 Again, as the name would indicate, a low-pass

filter (LPF) will allow signals of some lower
desired frequency to ‘pass’ into the circuit, but at
the same time it rejects frequencies above the
cutoff frequency.
 The cutoff frequency is that point at which higher
frequencies are rejected.

Av is the normalized value of the ratio of Vo / Vi. The

maximum value of Av is 1 and the cutoff frequency is defined
at the 0.707 level.
Low-Pass Filter

 At very high frequencies the reactance (Xc) of the capacitor

is very small (and thus acts like a short) and can be it can
be shown that Vo = 0V in this case.
1
X C f HighH z   0
2 fC

• At very low frequencies the reactance (Xc) of the capacitor

is very large (thus acts like an open) and it can be shown
that Vo = Vi in this case. 1
X C f 0 H z   
2 fC

• To summarize, the magnitude of the ratio of Vo to Vi can be

found by:
High-Pass Filter

 A high-pass filter (HPF) allows signals of some

higher desired frequency to ‘pass’ into the circuit,
but at the same time it rejects frequencies below
the cutoff frequency.
 The cutoff frequency is that point at which lower
frequencies are rejected.

RC High-Pass Filter

Av is the normalized value of the ratio of Vo / Vi. The

maximum value of Av is 1 and the cutoff frequency is defined
at the 0.707 level.
High-Pass Filter

 At very high frequencies the reactance (Xc) of the capacitor

is very small (and thus acts like a short) and can be it can
be shown that Vo = Vi in this case.
1
X C f HighH z   0
2 fC
• At very low frequencies the reactance (Xc) of the capacitor
is very large (thus acts like an open) and it can be shown
that Vo = 0 in this case.
1
X C f 0 H z   
2 fC

• To summarize, the magnitude of the ratio of Vo to Vi can be

found by:
 Basic Low and High Pass
Filter Design
 For both a low pass and high pass filter response we can find
the inflection point called the cutoff frequency which is simply:
1
fc 
2 *
 Where τ is the time constant we discussed in RC and RL
circuits:
 R * C

 Therefore, to find the cutoff frequency:

1
fc 
2 * RC
Band-Pass Filter

 As the name would indicate, a band-pass filter (BPF) will

allow signals of a desired frequency to ‘pass’ into the
circuit, but at the same time it rejects all other unwanted
frequencies.
 The last lesson showed us that a series resonant circuit
has a frequency response characteristic similar to the one
appearing in the figure below.
Band-Stop Filter

 The band-stop filter will reject signals of some

specified bandwidth (i.e. frequency range) from
entering the circuit.
 ALL other frequencies (not within the specified
bandwidth) are accepted.
 Also known as a notch filter because it ‘notches out’
(rejects) a specific frequency.
Radio Spectrum

 The primary frequencies used in the Navy are:

 Example Problem 1
Design an RC Low Pass Filter for the HF band (3-
30MHz) using a resistor value of 5Ω. Draw the
circuit and label the frequency response curve.
From the problem statement we know that our cutoff frequency (fc)
is 30MHz and the R=5 Ω.
1
fc  ,  R * C
2 *
1
fc 
2 * R * C
1 1
C  1.06nF
2 * R * f c 2 *5 *30 MHz

R 5
C 1.06nF

30MHz
05/13/2
025
Introduction

In circuit theory, a filter is an electrical

network that alters the amplitude and/or
phase characteristics of a signal with
respect to frequency.
Ideally, a filter will not add new frequencies
to the input signal, nor will it change the
component frequencies of that signal, but it
will change the relative amplitudes of the
various frequency components and/or their
phase relationships.

16 Active and Passive May 13, 2025

Filters
 Filters and Signals: What Does a Filter Do?

Filters are electronic circuits that allow

certain frequency components and / or reject
some other.

Filters are often used in electronic systems

to emphasize signals in certain frequency
ranges and reject signals in other frequency
ranges. Such a filter has a gain which is
dependent on signal frequency.
17 Annual Review May 13, 2025
Filters and Signals: What Does a Filter Do?

18 Annual Review May 13, 2025

What is an Active Filter?
Active Filters Types of Active FIlters

Active filters are mainly classified into the following

Active filters are the electronic circuits, which four types based on the band of frequencies that
consist of active element like op-amp(s) along they are allowing and / or rejecting −
with passive elements like resistor(s) and
capacitor(s).
 Active Low Pass Filter
 Active High Pass Filter
 Active Band Pass Filter
 Active Band Stop Filter

19 Annual Review May 13, 2025

Active Low Pass Filter
Active High Pass Filter
Active Band Pass Filter
Active Band Stop Filter
What is an Passive Filter?
Passive Filters Types of Passive FIlters

Unlike Active filters, Passive filters do not Passive filters are mainly classified into the following four types based
on the band of frequencies that they are allowing and / or rejecting −
contain amplifying elements like op-amp(s),
transistor(s), etc. Instead, they are made up of
passive elements like resistor(s), capacitor(s),  Passive Low Pass Filter
and/or inductor(s).  Passive High Pass Filter
 Passive Band Pass Filter
 Passive Band Stop/Reject Filter
 Power Line Filters
 SAW Filters
 Sinusoidal Filters

24 Annual Review May 13, 2025

Passive Low Pass Filter
Passive Low Pass Filters
Essentially, These filters blocks
high frequencies and passes low
frequencies. Passive low pass
filters have two types: RL and RC
low pass filters.

Passive low pass filters are used in

electronic devices and are usually
used as "Treble" and "Tune"
controls.
Passive Low Pass Filter
Passive High Pass Filter
These filters are the same as
low passes but the opposite
instead. These filters blocks
low frequency and passes
high frequency signals. These
also have two types: RL-High
Pass and RC-High Pass.

These filters have been used

as "Bass-Cut" control on
amplifiers.
Passive High Pass Filter
Passive Band Pass Filter
Band pass filters allow certain
bands of frequency to pass
through and rejects
frequencies above and below
the band.
These are also called T-Filters.
Band filters consists of three
circuits, two series-connected
LC circuit and one parallel-
connected LC.
Passive Band Pass Filter
Passive Band Stop Filter
Band stop filters are the
opposite of band pass filters.
They have two parallel-
connected LC circuits to create
high impedence to block
unwanted signals.
Passive Band Stop Filter
Power Line Filter
A passive bi-directional
electrical equipment that is
installed in power lines to
block unwanted or certain
frequencies.
SAW Filter
Also called the Surface
Acoustice Wave filters. These
remove unwanted frequency
by converting electrical waves
to acoustic waves.
Sinusoidal Filter
Also known as Sine Wave
filters. These filter's function is
to send correct frequency to
other electrical components.
They are usually used to
protect motor windings and
bearings from sudden spikes.
05/13/2
025
Click icon to add picture
 References:
 https://www.iiitd.edu.in/~mshashmi/CTD_2016/
Lecture_Slides/Lect_17_1_2016.pdf
 https://www.slideshare.net/RaniaYousry1/
passive-filters
 https://www.slideshare.net/touqeerjumani/activ
e-filters-43112925
https://slideplayer.com/slide/12530935/
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05/13/2
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