Active and Passive Filter Circuits

Exploration of Passive andActive Filters CircuitsBy,David.R.Gilson

Abstract

In this experiment, the properties of two types of passive filter circuit were investigated (Low Pass andBand Pass). Then the behaviour of an active filter circuit was analysed.The cut off frequency, roll off, and frequency response of both filter types were measured and comparedwith theory.Data from an active band pass filter was used to reconstruct a wave form from a Thandor signalgenerator. The active filter was interfaced with a BBC micro computer, so that it's analysis could bedisplayed.

1) Introduction

In many communication systems (radio, telecommunication) there is a constant need to separate differentfrequency components of an incoming signal. For example, in Amplitude Modulation (AM) radiocommunication. In AM systems a message signal is superimposed onto a

carrier wave

. The resultingwave form is one of constant frequency but and varying amplitude. A simple circuit, such as the oneshown in figure one, will separate a high frequency carrier signal from a lower frequency band messagesignal.

Figure One, a simple filter circuit

The circuit in figure one, is what is known as a

passive filter circuit.

There are many types of passivefilter circuit, all of which can be classified as variations of the following,

high pass

,

low pass

, and

bandpass

. In this experiment, high pass filters are not considered.

Figure Two, a simple low pass filter circuit

Combinations of filter circuits can be formed, which are known as

ladder networks

. In figure two, asimple low pass filter, the input is applied across AB and the filtered output is across CD. Only thefraction of low frequency components of the voltage AB is seen at CD. High frequency signals arerejected. The rejection effect is increased as the

ladder

of filter is built up. [1]

The Band Pass filter

The band pass filter, as it's name suggests, only filter out a

band

of frequencies. Hence, for higher andlower frequencies the impedance of the circuit is high. The terminology for this is that,

the high and low frequencies form the stop band

of the filter.

A simple band pass filter is shown in figure three.

Figure Three, a band pass filter circuit

It can be shown that the lowest frequency that a band pass filter will let through is [1],



1

=



LC

1



−

12

(1)and the highest frequency that it will let through is [1],



2



C

2



4

C

1



/



LC

1

C

2



12

(2)It can be seen that the

stop band

exists below

w

1

and above

w

2

. Conversely, the

pass band

is between

w

1

and

w

2

.

The Low Pass filter

A low pass filter, only allows low frequency signals through to it's output. Following the same principalas for the band pass filter, the pass band of the low pass filter is below the cut off frequency and the stop band is above the cut off frequency. It is obvious that the

cut off frequency

is the limiting frequency value between stop and pass bands. Considering the circuit in figure 2 it can be shown that the cut off frequencyis,



0

=

2



LC

1



−

12

(3)Comparing the similarity between equations one and three, it is easy to see that analogy that in the lower stop band, the band pass filter is behaving like a low pass filter.

Active Filters

These are introduced here because they are later used in the final part of the experiment. The active filter used in this experiment is simple an array of narrow band pass filters. Each band pass filter allows aspecific frequency through. This means that an incoming wave form can be frequency analysed andreconstructed (if required) based on it's readings.

Attributes of filters

There are certain attributes that can be measured for a filter that can used to describe it's performance.