Filter Circuits

Passive filters with a single resistor and capacitor are called one-pole filters.
The high-pass filter selects frequencies above a breakpoint frequency B. = 1/RC.
vin

vout
C
R

R
jRC
v out = --------------------------- v in = ----------------------- v in
R + 1 jC
jRC + 1
2 2 2
v out
R C
A = ---------- = ---------------------------------2 2 2
v in
1+ R C

For small , A goes as or 6 dB/octave; = tan-1(1/RC); for small , approaches +90 .

The low-pass filter selects frequencies below a breakpoint frequency B. = 1/RC.
vin

vout
R
C

1 jC
1
v out = --------------------------- v in = ----------------------- v in
R + 1 jC
jRC + 1
v out
1
A = --------- = ---------------------------------2 2 2
v in
1+ R C

For large , A goes as 1/ or 6 dB/octave; = tan-1(RC); for large , approaches 90 .

LABORATORY ELECTRONICS II

1 of 13

Transfer Function
The complex gain for a filter is the transfer function.
For a high-pass filter it is,
v out
j B
R
- H ( j )
---------- = -------------------------- = -------------------------1 + j B
v in
R + 1 jC

with the breakpoint frequency B = 1/RC.

The transfer function describes behavior as a function of frequency.
Again for the high-pass filter, the real gain G() = |H(j)|
B
G ( ) = -----------------------------------2
1 + ( B )

falls off below B at 20 dB/decade or 6 dB/octave.

LABORATORY ELECTRONICS II

2 of 13

Speed-up Capacitor
Consider that a capacitor looks like an open connection to low f and like a short circuit at high f .
C

vin

R1

R2

R2
v out = ------------------- v in
R2 + Z1

vout

The circuit is a resistor divider with R1 replaced with Z1 which includes a capacitor.
R jC
R
Z 1 = --------------------------- = ----------------------R + 1 jC
jRC + 1

The expectation is that at high f, the divider has Z1 = 0.

R2
jR 1 R 2 C + R 2
v out = ------------------------------------------------------ v in = ------------------------------------------------- v in
jR 1 R 2 C + R 2 + R 1
R 2 + R 1 ( jR 1 C + 1 )
2

A =

( R 1 R 2 C ) + ( R 2 )
-------------------------------------------------------------2
2
( R 1 R 2 C ) + ( R 2 + R 1 )

For << 1/R1C, A = R2/(R1 + R2); >> 1/R1C, A = 1.

High frequencies are enhanced, so a pulse edge becomes sharper
LABORATORY ELECTRONICS II

3 of 13

Two-Pole Filters
Two RC high-pass filters can be placed in series.
vout

vin
C

C
R

R
1

H ( j ) = R ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------
2R + 1 jC
R ( R + 1 jC )
1 jC + ------------------------------------
2R + 1 jC
2

2 2 2
( B )
R C
H ( j ) = ------------------------------------------------------ = ---------------------------------------------------------------2 2 2
2
1 + 3jRC R C
1 + 3j ( B ) ( B )

The gain varies as 2.

2

( B )
G ( ) = --------------------------------------------------------------------2
4
1 + 7 ( B ) + ( B )

This is a second-order filter.

More poles further increase the rapidity of fall off and add phase shifts.
LABORATORY ELECTRONICS II

4 of 13

RLC Filter
A second-order low-pass filter can be made with a resistor and capacitor.
vin

vout
R

1 jC
1
H ( j ) = ------------------------------------------- = ----------------------------------------------------------2
jL + R + 1 jC
1 + j Q 0 ( 0 )

where 02 = 1/LC and Q = 0L/R.

The circuit is equivalent to a damped driven harmonic oscillator.
There is a damping factor d0 = 1/Q = R/0L.
1
H ( j ) = -----------------------------------------------------------------2
1 + jd 0 ( 0 ) ( 0 )
1
G ( ) = -----------------------------------------------------------------------------2

2 2

d0 ( 0 ) + [ 1 ( 0 ) ]

As a second-order filter, the gain varies as 2 above 0.

LABORATORY ELECTRONICS II

5 of 13

Series RLC Circuit

An RLC circuit can form a notch filter that only negates a narrow band of frequency.
R
vin

L
vout

Z LC
-------------------v
v out =
R + Z LC in
2

1 LC
Z LC = 1 j C + jL = ----------------------jC

2
v out
LC
1
The series impedance can be calculated and inserted to find the gain. A = ---------- = -------------------------------------------2
v in
jRC + 1 LC

L
L The width of the filtered region is the Q value. Q = -------0- = ---------0- = R --

A graph of the behavior shows the notch.

v out
---------v in

LABORATORY ELECTRONICS II

= R L

0 = 1 LC

6 of 13

Twin-T Filter
A notch filter can be built with Combines two 2-pole passive filters. One is low pass, and one is
high pass.
R

2C

vin

1 jC 2
v out LP = --------------------------- v in
R + 1 jC
vout

R/2

2
R

-------------------------v out HP =
v
R + 1 jC in

The combined effect of the two filters is:

2
1
jRC 2
v out = ----------------------- + ----------------------- v in
1 + jRC
1 + jRC
2

1 ( RC )
v out = ------------------------------- v in
2
( 1 + jRC )

At = 1/RC, the gain is 0.

Low frequencies are shifted by 90
High frequencies are shifted by +90

LABORATORY ELECTRONICS II

7 of 13

Parallel RLC Circuit

If the inductor and capacitor are in parallel there is a positive resonance.
jL jC
jL
Z LC = --------------------------------- = ----------------------2
1 j C + jL
1 LC
Z LC
-------------------v
v out =
R + Z LC in

R
vin

L
C

vout

The impedance can be calculated and inserted to find the gain.

2 2
v out
jL
L

---------- = ------------------------------------------------- = --------------------------------------------------------2

2
v in
2
2
2
2
R ( 1 LC ) + jL
R ( 1 LC ) + L

The filter selects only a narrow range of frequencies.

v out
--------v in
1 LC

LABORATORY ELECTRONICS II

8 of 13

Filter Jargon - Time Domain

There are a number of terms used to describe the
behavior of signals as a function of time.
Risetime: time to get to 90% of the signal value.
Overshoot: percent signal passes signal value.
Settling time: time to stay within of signal value.

overshoot
V risetime
90%

settling time

10%

The effect of filter damping in the time domain is like a damped harmonic oscillator.
V

underdamped

overdamped

Overdamped ( d 0 > 2 ) rises slowly.

Underdamped ( d 0 < 2 ) rises quickly, but there is a ringing overshoot.

LABORATORY ELECTRONICS II

9 of 13

Filter Jargon - Frequency Domain

Filter bahaior is also studied as a function of
frequency.

ln A

passband

-3 dB

Passband: Unattenuated region 0 to -3 dB.

Cutoff frequency: edge of passband.

-40 dB

Ripple band: passband that is not flat in frequency.

skirt
stopband

ln f

Skirt: transistion region from -3 to -40 dB.

Stopband: frequencies with attenuation greater than -40 dB.
Steeper skirts require more poles - higher order filter
Damping has an effect in frequency as well as time.
ln A

underdamped
overdamped

ln f

High frequency ringing shows up as extra gain at resonant frequency.

Overdamped circuits have extra non-uniform gain in the passband.

LABORATORY ELECTRONICS II

10 of 13

Butterworth Filter
Certain transfer functions give special properties to the behavior and have special names.
A Butterworth filter is designed to give maximum flattness in the passband, so there is a critically
damped response (d02 = 2) in the frequency domain.
This creates ringing in time domain in exchange for uniform frequency response.
The gain of a Butterworth filter is an approximation in terms of a cutoff frequency C:
2

G ( j ) = H ( j )

A
= -------------------------------------2
2 n
1 + ( C )

A butterworth filter can be made as a passive 3-pole circuit.

vin

H ( j )

vout

L2

L1

2
R
1 jC
1
= ------------------------------------ ---------------------- = ------------------------------------- jL + 1 jC jL + R
2
2 3
1
2
1 + ( C )

For (L2/R)2 = 2L1C, C = R2/L12L22C2.

LABORATORY ELECTRONICS II

11 of 13

Chebyshev Filter
A Chebyshev fileter is designed to maximize the
sharpness at the edge of the passband.

ln A

ln f

The transfer function takes the following form.

H ( j )

A
= --------------------------------------------2 2
1 + Cn ( 0 )

Cn is an n-th order Chebyshev polynomial: C n ( x ) = cos [ n acos x ]

This gives an underdamped response (d0 = 0.767)
There is substantial ringing in the time domain.
V

LABORATORY ELECTRONICS II

12 of 13

Bessel Filter
The Bessel filter gives an equal rise time independent
of pulse height.

The transfer function is as follows.

H ( j )

A
= -------------------------------------------2 2
1 + Bn ( 0 )

where Bn is an n-th order Bessel function.

This gives an overdamped response (d0 = 1.736)
There is the softer rise in the frequency domain.
ln A

ln f

LABORATORY ELECTRONICS II

13 of 13