EECS 210

BODE PLOTS: INTRODUCTION

Winter 2001

1 )...(jzM )
Given: Transfer function factored into form H(j) = (jz
(jp1 )...(jpN ) .
Goal: Plot gain |H(j)| and phase 6 H(j) vs. frequency = 2f
on a log-log scale: log |H(j2f )| vs. log(f ) express gain in decibels.

EX: Voltage source vS with internal resistance R connected to capacitor C.

Input: vS (t) = cos(2f t). Output: vC (t) = M cos(2f t + ).
1/(jC)
1
Phasors: VC = VS R+1/(jC)
= VS 1+jRC
(voltage divider)
1
6 tan1 (RC).
= 1
Then: Transfer function=H(j) = VVC = 1+jRC
2
1+(RC)

Plot: Gain=

1
1+(2f RC)2

vs. f ; Phase= tan1 (2f RC) vs. f .

Gain: Plot gain vs. frequency on regular plot and log-log plot, for RC =

1
2 :

10
Gain vs. freq.

Note:
1.
2.
3.

0.5

10

10

20

40

60

80

100

10

10

10

Advantages of using a log-log plot, instead of a regular plot:

Plot consists of two straight lines connected by a short curve;
Can depict gain values over a much broader range of frequencies;
Can extend easily to more complex transfer functions (see below).

Idea: Plot 20 log10 |H(j2f )|=gain in decibels vs. frequency on log scale:

10

50

20
1
10

10

10

100
2
10

10

10

Note: Following features of Bode gain and phase plots on semilog scales:
1. Gain plot lines have slopes of zero or -6db/octave=-20db/decade,
where octave=factor of 2 and decade=factor of 10 and 6 20 log10 2.
2. Sloped line intercepts 0 dB at corner frequency f = 1/(2RC) Hz.
3. AT the corner frequency, gain= 12 = 3 dB and phase=-45 degrees.

EECS 210

BODE PLOTS: REAL POLES AND ZEROS

2

Winter 2001
4

10

(j+10 )(j+10 )
+j(10 +10 )+10
Given: Transfer function H(j) = 10
2 +j(108 +100)+1010 = 10 (j+100)(j+108 ) .
Goal: Plot Bode magnitude plot for this transfer function.

Idea: 20 log10 |H(j)| = 20 log10 (10) + 20 log10 |j + 104 | + 20 log10 |j + 106 |

20 log10 |j + 100| 20 log10 |j + 108 | since dB of products add.

DEF: Zeros are roots of numerator polynomial of H(j) (zi overleaf).

DEF: Poles are roots of denominator polynomial of H(j) (pi overleaf).
Point:
1.
2.
3.

We can handle each individual term as we did overleaf. Procedure:

In H(j), let 0 and compute the DC gain |H(j0)| in dB.
At each zero frequency of H(j), add slope 20 dB/decade=6 dB/octave.
At each pole frequency of H(j), subtract 20 dB/decade=6 dB/octave.

The four smaller plots add together (since decibels) to give the larger plot.

400

300
4

20log|jw+106|

20log|jw+10 |
200
0
0
10
0
100
200
0
10
20

200

10

10

10

100
0
10
150

10

20log|jw+108|

20log|jw+102|
5

10

10

10

200
0
10

10

0
20
0
10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10