CHAPTER

3
SYNTHESIS OF
ONE-PORT
REACTANCE
CIRCUITS

INTRODUCTION
Four simple canonical forms for the realization of one-port reactance functions
are the first and second Foster forms and the first and second Cauer forms. These
four topologies are canonical in that they can always be realized, and they are
also minimal in that they realize the driving point immittance with the least number
of elements. The four canonical forms described in this chapter indicate that there
is more than one way to synthesize a one-port driving point immittance.
The two Foster forms involve a sequential removal of the poles of an
immittance function by first putting it into a partial fraction form. If the pole is
at the origin or at infinity the order of the function is reduced by unity. If it is at
s = ±jwi the order of the function is reduced by two. The two Cauer canonical
forms involve the removal of poles exclusively at the origin or at infinity. It is of
note that the zeros of the immittance function are not involved in the construction
of one-port networks.
In many instances it may be desirable to extract a pole at a finite frequency
from a reactance function that does not coincide with its pole zero diagram. One
way this may be achieved is by employing a zero shifting technique. This principle
is separately outlined in this chapter.

28
 SYNTHESIS OF ONE-PORT REACTANCE CIRCUITS 29

FIRST FOSTER
CANONICAL FORM
The first Foster form realization of a one-port immittance function is obtained by
expanding Z(s) by partial fractions and identifying terms in the summation with
impedances of simple networks:

(3-l)

The general fonn for Eq. (3-l) is obtained by combining Eqs (2-44) and (2-45) in
Chapter 2:

(3-2)

The residues are given by

K0 = sZ(s)l.=o (3-3)
s1. + w�
2 K1 = --' Z(s)i.•= -wi (3-4)
s

(3-5)

The firs t term in the partial fraction expansion is recognized as the reactance
of a series capacitance C0 having a value

F (3-6)

The second term is recognized as the reactance of a parallel tuned circuit with
capacitance and inductance C; and L;:

l
C.=- F (3-7)
' 2K;
2K.
L,=-' H (3-8)
(JJl�

respectively. The las t term m this expansion represents the reactance of an

inductance with a value

H (3-9)

If the function in Eq. (3-2) has a pole at s = 0 and at s = jw its order is

reduced by one if either of these poles is extracted from Z(s). If the function Z(s)
has a pair of conjugate poles at s±jw1 the order is reduced by two if these poles
are extracted in the form of a tank circuit. Figure 3-1 gives the schematic diagram
of the first Foster form realization of an impedance function.
30 SYNTHESIS OF LUMPED ELEMENT. DISTRIBUTED AND PLANAR FILTERS

I
2K.

I o--f

2K1 2K.
w: w!

r o------J

Z(s)

FIGURE 3-l

To demonstrate the realization of a one-port reactance function in the first

Foster form consider the following reactance fu nction:

(sz + 1 )( sz + 9)
Z(s)
s(s2 + 4)
=

Z(s) is a reactance function in that it satisfies the properties of an LC function

listed in Chapter 2. Its poles and zeros are interlaced in the manner shown in
Fig. 3-2.
The residues of the poles in the partial fraction expansion of Z(s) are given
by Eqs (3-3) to (3-5) as

Ko = sZ(s)l.�o = t
sz+4
2K2 = -- Z(s)I •'"' -4 =
15
4
s

Each residue is positive in keeping with the p.r. condition in Chapter 2. The partial

0 .. 0
0 2 C()

FIGURE 3-2
Pole zero diagram or
(s1 + l)(s z + 9)
Z(s) = "---,---:-­
s(sl + 4)
 SYNTHESIS OF ONE-PORT REACTANCE CIRCUITS 31

!fH

1H tF
o-----1flnr----�� �----�

Z(s)

FIGURE 3-3
First Foster one-port network of

(s2 + l)(s2 + 9)
Z(s)
+4)

fraction expansion of Z(s) is therefore

9/4 15s/4
Z(s) + +s
s2 +4
= --

Figure 3-3 shows the one-port equivalent circuit of Z(s). It is observed that
this equivalent circuit may be obtained by a sequential extraction of the poles of
Z(s) in Fig. 3-2.
If Z(s) is p.r., 1/Z(s) is also p.r. Defining such a new reactance function yields

s(sl +4)
Z(s)
2
(s + l )(s2 +9)
=

The pole zero diagram for this reactance function is depicted in Fig. 3-4. Its residues
are

o�-----•----�oe---�•�---0
0 2 ro

FIGURE J...4
Pole zero diagram of

s(s2 + 4)
Z(s)
(s1 + l)(s1 + 9)
32 SYNTHESIS OF LUMPED ELEMENT, DISTRIBUTED AND PLANAR FILTERS

IF

IH f.:H

Z(s)

FIGURE 3-5
First Foster one-port network of
s(s2 + 4)
Z(s) = -
--=-- ---=--
(s2 + l)(s' + 9)

Thus

3s/8 �s/8
Z(s) = +
s + 1 s2 + 9
2

It is again observed that the poles of Z(s) in Fig. 3-4 have been extracted in forming
the equivalent one-port circuit in Fig. 3-5.

SECOND FOSTER
CANONICAL FORM

The second Foster form realization of a one-port immittance function is the dual
of the first one except that it involves a partial fraction expansion of an admittance
function instead of an impedance one:

(3-10)
The general form for the above equation is deduced by duality from Eq. {3-2) as
K0 � 2Kis
+ � ---2 + + K00s
Y(s) --- (3-11)
i=ls2 +wi
= · · ·

where

K0 = sY(s)is=O (3�12)
sl + w2
2Ki = ----'- Y(s)is>= -ror (3-13)
s
 SYNTHESIS OF ONE-PORT REACTANCE CIRCUITS 33

K -I-tm�-
00-
Y(s) l (3-14)
s "'-oo

The term K0/s is recognized as the susceptance of a shunt inductance L0 having

a value

H
1
Lo=­ (3-15)
Ko
The second term represents the reactance of a series tank circuit with elements C1
and L1 in shunt with the network:

- 2K1
C= 2 F (3-16)
W;
I

H
1
L-=---·- (3-17)
I 2K,
respectively. The term K00s is recognized as the susceptance of a shunt capacitance
given by

F (3-18)
The second Foster realization of a one-port immittance function has the form
depicted in Fig. 3-6. lt is observed that it is the exact dual of that in Fig. 3-l.
The order of the function in Eq. (3-11) is reduced by one if it has a pole at
s= 0 or s = joo removed in the form of shunt inductance or capacitance. lt is
reduced by two if it has a pair of conjugate poles at s = ± jw1 extracted in the
form of a shunt tank circuit in shunt with the input terminals.
To illustrate the synthesis of a one-port admittance function in the second
Foster form, consider the susceptance function obtained by taking the reciprocal
of Z(s) used in the first Foster form problem.

Y(s)

[ 1
-
2�. ---- 2�.
K, K�

2K, 2K.
_J w!
o-----..1-----'-----_,JL.----_,JL.--w:__
__

-
Y(s)

FIGURE J..{i
Second Foster realization of a one-port admittance function.
34 SYNTHESIS ot· LUMPED ELEMENT, DISTRIBUTED AND PLANAR FILTERS

o�----�M�----�0�--o
0 2 J 00

FIGURE J.-7
Pole zero diagram of
s(s2 + 4)
Y( s) = --:-
- ---:
:--­
(s2 + l)(s2 + 9)

The pole zero diagram for this susceptance function is depicted in Fig. 3-7. The
residues of the poles of Y(s) in Eq. (3-ll) are given with the help of Eqs (3-12) to
(3-14) by
s2 + 1
2K1 = -- Z(s)j•'=-1 =i
s
s2 + 9
2K3 = -- Z(s)j,,= -9 = i
s
The partial fraction expansion of Y(s) has the following form:

3s/8 Ss/8
Y(s)=- -+ ­ -

s2 + 1 s2 + 9
The one-port circuit formed in this way is iilustrated in Fig. 3-8. The tank circuits
in this network are recognized as the poles of the susceptance function.
As a final example consider the synthesis of the admittance function below
in the second Foster form

(s2 + 1 )(s2 + 9)
Y(s) =

s(s2 + 4)
The pole zero diagram for this function is shown in Fig. 3-9.

o__i"1----.
0
_,.- l".. I
'F
T
6F
Y(s)

FIGURE J.-8
Second Foster one-port network of
s(s1 + 4)
Y(s)
(s2 + I )(s2
= ---·-··---

+ 9)
 SYNTHESIS OF ONE· PORT REACTANCE CIRCUITS 35

00
0 2

FIGURE 3-9
Pole zero diagram of
(s2 + l)(s2 + 9)
Y{s)=---­
s(s2 + 4)

IF

Y(s)

FIGURE 3-10
Second Faster one-port network of
. (s2 + I )(s2 + 9)
Y(s) = ---::----
s(s1 + 4)

The partial fraction expansion for this susceptance f unction is readily

determined as

4/9 l5sj4
y(s)= +
s +4

The one-port circuit for this admittance is illustrated in Fig. 3-lO.

FIRST CAVER FORM

(REMOVAL OF POLES AT INFINITY)

A useful property of a reactance or susceptance function is that it has either a

pole or zero at s = joo. An immittance function has a pole at infinity if the degree
of the numerator polynomial P(s) is of degree one higher than that of the
denominator polynomial Q(s). If Z(s) or Y(s) have no poles at infinity <heir
reciprocals do. One ladder network due to Cauer is obtained by a repeated removal
of poles at infinity. If such a pole is removed .from an reactance function there
is now a zero there. However, the susceptance function obtained by inverting Z(s)
has now a pole there which can be again extracted. This process is repeated until
the degree of the polynomial is reduced to zero.
J6 SYNTHESIS OF LUMPED ELEMENT, DISTIUBVTED "ND PL"N"R FILTERS

To illustrate this synthesis technique consider the reactance in the example

in the previous section:
4
s + 10s2 +9
Z(s)= _

--s3::-+ 4_s_

Z(s) has a pole at infinity since the degree of P(s) is one larger than that of Q(s).
The residue of this pole can be obtained by dividing P(s) by Q(s):

6s2 + 9
Z(s) = s+ --

s3 +4s

Thus

Z1(s)=s

6s2 + 9
Z2 (s)= -­

s3 + 4s

Extracting the pole at infinity from Z(s)yields the equivalent circuit in Fig. 3-11a.
Z 2(s) has now a zero at infinity instead of a pole there. However, Y2(s) has
a p ole there. Forming Y2(s) gives

1 s3 + 4s
Y2 (s)=--=-----­ -,-
Z2(s) 6s 2 +4s

The residue of the pole of Y2(s) is now evaluated by dividing P(s) by Q(s):

s 5s/2
Y2(s)=-+
6s2 + 9
--

or Y2(s) = Y3(s) + Y4( s)

where
s
Y3(s) = -

5s/2
Y4(s)
6s2 + 9
=

Extracting the pole of Y2(s) at infinity produces the equivalent circuit in Fig. 3-11b.
Y4(s) has now a zero at infinity. Forming Z4(s) =1/Y4(s)locates a pole there:

1 6s2 + 9
Z4(s)= -- =--
Y4(s) 5s/2

The residue of the new pole at infinity may now be evaluated by dividing P(s) by
Q(s):

12s 18
Z4(s)=-+-
5 5s
 SYNTHESIS OF ONE-PORT REACTANCE CIRCUITS 37

�
z,

(a)
I Z(s)o--:_
After removal of first pole at
_

infinity
___,

IH

r
tF z,

I Z(s)C--L-----1'-------'
(b) After removal of second pole at infinity

[ Z(s) ----
>---
IF

--1
.....____,
z.

(c) After removal of third pole at infinity

F1GURE 3-11
First Cauer form of one-port network of
+ 10s1
s4
Z(s)=--c-- -
+
-9
(d) After removal of fourth pole at infinity s3 +4s
38 SYNTHESIS OF LUMPED ELEMENT, DISTRIBUTED AND PLANAR FILTERS

or

where
12s
Z5(s) = ·-

18
Z6(s)=-
5s
Figure 3-llc depicts the equivalent circuit of Z(s) with this pole removed.
Z6(s) has a zero at infinity but Y6(s) has a pole there which may again be extracted.
Forming Y6(s) by inverting Z6(s) gives
5s
Y6(s)=-
18
The residue of the pole of Y6(s) is 5/18 by definition. Thus the final equivalent
circuit for Z(s) has the form shown in Fig. 3-lld.
A similar procedure indicates that the equivalent circuit in Fig. 3-12
corresponds to the susceptance function below:

s4 + l0s2 + 9
Y(s) =
s3 + 4s
-- ---­

The realization of a one-port reactance or susceptance function in the first

Cauer form involves the extraction of a pole at infinity by long division, inverting
the remainder and dividing again to remove the next pole there (and so on). It is
therefore concluded that it is possible to synthesize an LC ladder network by a

continued fraction expansion of the reactance or susceptance function. This method

may be illustrated by repeating the synthesis of Z(s) in Fig. 3-ll:
s4 + 10s2 + 9
Z(s)=- ­
-

s3 + 4s
Forming a continued fraction expansion of Z(s) indicates that
S3 + 4s)s4 +10s2 + 9(s-> z
s4 + 4s2
6s2 + 9)s3 + 4s(s/6-> y
3s
s 3 +-
2

5s
-)6s2 + 9(12s/ 5-> z
2
6s
5s
9) 2- (5s/18-> y

5s
2
0 (3-19)
 SYNTHESIS OF ONE-PORT REACTANCE CIRCUITS 39

(a)

�H
ooo-

::1 F

[
Y,

(b)

1H

MF Y,

[ (c)

�H {�H

FIGURE 3-12:
First Cauer form of one-port network of
s• + 10s2 + 9
(d) Y(s)=-� - -

s' +4s
40 SYNTHESIS OF LUMPED ELEMENT, DISTRIBUTED AND PLANAR FILTERS

The first element of the ladder network is an impedance s, the next one is a shunt
admittance s/6, the third element of the ladder network is a series impedance 12s/6
and the last element of the network is a shunt admittance 5s/18. These elements
of the continued fraction expansion are in keeping with those of the ladder network
3-11.
in Fig.
Z(s) is replaced by Y(s) in the above example the first element of the ladder
If
network would be a shunt element, as indicated in Fig. 3-12.

SECOND CAUER FORM

(REMOVAL OF POLES AT THE ORIGIN)
Another useful property of an LC function is that it has always a pole or zero at
the origin. If Z(s) or Y(s) has no pole there its reciprocal does. The second Cauer
ladder synthesis of an immittance function consists of the successive extraction of
such poles. If a pole is removed at the origin there is now a zero there. However,
inverting the function introduces a new pole there which may once more be
extracted. This process is repeated until the degree of the function is reduced to zero.
Synthesis of a ladder network in the second Cauer form proceeds as in the
case of the first Cauer form except that it is necessary to arrange bothP(s) and
Q(s) in ascending order before division to identify the residue of the pole. This
will now be illustrated for the reactance function used in the earlier example:

s4 +10s2 +9
Z(s) = -- --=-_ _ _
s3 +4s
Rearranging P(s) and Q(s) in ascending order and forming a continued fraction
expansion of Z(s) yields
4s +s3)9+10s2 +s4(9/4s--+ z
9s2
9+-
4

15s3 31s2
-)- +s4(961/15s-+z
31 4
31s2
31

15s3
s4)- (15/31s--+ y
31
15s3
31

0 (3-20)
The ladder network obtained in this way is depicted in Fig. 3-13.
 SYNTHESIS OF ONE-PORT REACTI\NCE CIRCUITS 41

[
z,

>----
� -
--­
Z(s)
(a)

tF

o----1

flH z,

[ (b)

tF /AF

o----1

z,

[ (c)

;F /ftF

o-----J I-----r--11---,

FIGURE 3-13
Second Cauer form of one-port network of
s4 + !Os2 + 9
Z(s)= ----
-

s 3 + 4s
42 SYNTHESIS OF LUMPED ELEMENT, DISTRIBUTED AND PLANAR FILTERS

ZERO SHIFTING AND

POLE REMOVAL

The poles of the input immittance of a two-port reactance network terminated in

a resistive termination correspond to the transmission zero (attenuation poles) of
the circuit. Much of modern filter synthesis therefore involves extracting the poles
of an LCR rational function in such a way that the ensuing circuit has the proper
topology and exhibits the required attenuation poles of the transfer function. If
all the poles either reside at the origin or at infinity then a first or second Cauer
synthesis procedure will directly display them without further ado. If the
attenuation poles of the two-port network lie at finite frequencies, as in the case
of a transfer function that has equal ripple in the pass- and stopbands, then some
other procedure is necessary. Scrutiny of this problem suggests that whereas it is
not possible to directly extract a pole at a specified frequency, it may in fact be
done indirectly by zero shifting followed by inversion in order to interchange the
positions of the poles and zeros of the immittance function. This technique may
be understood by noting that the extraction of a pole in one or other of the two
Cauer forms moves a zero to the origin or infinity to replace whichever pole has
been extracted, since one or the other must always appear there in a rational
reactance function. In fact, all the zeros of the rational function are shifted by the
removal of a pole, although the other poles are left unperturbed. A procedure
based on zero shifting and inversion is one common technique utilized in practice
for the removal of poles at finite frequencies.

ZERO SHIFTING BY
POLE REMOVAL

The technique of zero shifting and inversion to enable the extraction of poles at
finite frequencies will now be demonstrated by way of an example for the reactance
function associated with the pole zero diagram in Fig. 3-9:
s4 + 10s2 + 9
Y(s)=---=--­
s(s2 + 4)
This susceptance function has a pole at the origin and at infinity which may be
removed in a first and second Cauer manner; the remainder functions are

Y1(s)= Y(s)-s
9
Y1(s) = Y(s)--
4s
respectively. Evaluating these two quantities gives

6s2 + 9
Y1(s)= -- -
s(s2 + 4)

s(s2 + 31/4)
Y1(s)= -------
s2 + 4
 SYNTHESIS OF ONE-PORT REACTANCE CIRCUITS 43

X 0 )( 0 ><
0 2

��------�0+---,x�---o
o VI 2
FIGURE 3-14
Pole zero diagrams for

s4+10s2+9
Y(s)=---=--­
s(s2+ 4)

and for same after removal of pole at infinity and at origin.

In the first remainder a zero has been shifted to infinity to replace the pole that
has been removed there; in the second one a zero has been moved to the origin
to replace the pole that has been extracted. In both instances the other poles of
the function have been left unperturbed as asserted. Since the numerator
polynomials are also altered all the zeros have in fact been perturbed. Scrutiny of
some typical pole zero diagrams suggests that the zeros move in every instance
towards the pole being removed; if it is at infinity the zero shifts to infinity and
if it is removed at the origin it moves to the origin. Figures 3-14 and 3-15 depict
the two situations here. Indeed, the two Cauer forms have realized, in this manner,
all the poles of the reactance function at either the origin or at infinity. Since the
poles and zeros of reactance functions are interlaced on the jw axis it is not possible
to shift a zero past an adjacent pole; it is therefore always necessary to partially
remove the pole nearest to the zero that must be shifted.

ZERO SHIFTING BY
PARTIAL POLE REMOVAL
The extraction of a pole at a specified frequency with the aid of zero shifting or
partial pole removal will now be illustrated by way of an example

s4+ 10s2 +9
Y(s) = -----=-
--
s(s2 + 4)
This admittance has a pole at infinity but has no pole or zero at s2 = - 10 (say).
A pole may, however, be extracted from it by first placing a zero there by a partial
removal of the nearest pole which happens in this'case to lie at infinity such that

Y(s)- ksl,z= -to= 0

44 SYNTHESIS OF LUMPED ELEMENT, DISTRIBUTED A.ND PLA.NAR ALTERS

This equation may now be solved for the residue k of the pole which must be
partially extracted:

k=
s4+ 10s2+9
=to
1
s2(s2+4) •>=-Io
Extracting this partial pole at infinity in the form of a shunt capacitor from Y(s)
gives
17s4+188s2+180
yl ( s) = ---�---
20s(s2+4)
Y1 (s) has still a pole at s equal to infinity but it now also has a zero at s2 =- 10,
as is readily verified. Forming Z1(s) gives a pole there which may be removed:
-� 20s(s2+4)
Z1(s) = =
Y1(s) 17s4+188s2 +180
The pole of Z1(s) at s2 =-10 may now be extracted by expanding it in partial
fractions:

15s/19 250sf38
21(s) = +
2
s +10 17s2+ 18
A pair of conjugate poles may now be removed at s2 = -10 in the form of a
parallel LC circuit in series with the network giving a remainder reactance

250s/38
Z2(s)=----
17s2+ 18
This reactance has a zero at infinity but its reciprocal has a pole there:

1 646s 684
Y (s) = = +
2 Z (s) 2 50 250s
2
The remaining susceptance may now be realized by inspection by removing a pole
at both the origin and at infinity in the form of a shunt capacitor and series inductor.
3-15 illustrates the development of the circuit. This circuit has one
Figure
pole at s2 =-10 and a pair of poles at infmity. It is noted that the network in
Fig. 3-15 is no longer canonical in that it requires one more element for its
realization than was necessary to synthesize the same rational function using either
the two Foster or Cauer forms. Indeed, whenever a pole at either the origin or
at infinity is partially removed, one additional element is required. If an internal
pole is partially removed, two additional elements are required. Thus, where
possible, partial pole removals usually only involve poles at the origin or at infinity.
If it is desired to remove a pole ats2 = ! (say) from the rational function
-

in Eq. (3-1) a partial removal of a pole at the origin is required and the first step
takes the following form:

Y1(s)= Y(s)-�
1
=0
s ,.0=-t
 SYNTHESIS OF ONE-PORT REACTANCE CIRCUITS 45

)( 0 )( 0 )(
0 2

0------�x�--o�--�x
0 2 ./¥
F1GURE 3-15
Pole zero diagrams for

s4+ l0s2 +9
Y(1) = --:--­
s(s2 + 4)

1howing zero shifting to remove pole at s2 = -10.

As another example, the following susceptance associated with a degree 3

be realized with a pair of complex poles at s2 - 1.742 292:
elliptic filter is to =

s(2s2 + 3.68633)
Y(s)- ---=----
- 2.272 67s2 + 3.007 52

The first step in the realization of this circuit is to move a zero to s2 = -1.742 292
by partially removing a pole at infinity:

Y1 (s) = Y(s) - ksls'= -3.035 58

The residue is

I
= 2s2 + 3.68633
k = 0.6129
2.272 61s2 + 3.007 52 sl=- 3.035 58

and the first element is a shunt capacitor

C1 = 0.6129 H

. and the remainder susceptance is

s(s2
_:_
+ 3.035 58)
Y1 (s) -.
2 - __ --, -
, _ __()()_
_ _ _
27 2 67 s2 + 3 752
=

The required complex poles may now be extracted by forming Z 1 (s) and either
expanding it in partial fractions or evaluating the required residue. Employing the
latter approach gives

s2 + 3.03558
2k = Z1(s)ls'= _3_03558 = 2.11177
s
46 SYNTHESIS OF LUMPED ELEMENT, DISTRIBUTED AND PLANAR FILTERS

r=-
Z(s)
'-------'

�
/oF Y1(s)

..___

I :--
Z( _ --:_ __ __.

Y,(s)

r=�
Z(s)
L-------'

FIGURE 3-16
Schematic diagram for

2s3 + 3.68633s
Y(s)- -,--c--:-:--:----
2.27267s2 + 3.00752
 SYNTHESIS OF ONE-PORT REACTANCE CIRCUITS 47

The reactance assoc iated with the pair of complex conjugate poles at
s2 -3.035 58,

2.111 77s

+ 3 .035 58

may be realized as a parallel LC network in series with the circuit with elements

C2 =0.4735 F
L2 = 0.6955 H
The remainder reactance is

Z3(s)= Z1(s) Z2(s)

1.63 184
or Z3s)=
( --­

s
Y3(s) has a pole at infinity:
Y3(s)= 0.6129s
which may be realized as a shunt element given by

C3 = o.6129 F
The required circuit is given in Fig. 11-llb in Chapter 11.

PROBLEMS
J-1 Obtain the two Fosler canonical realizations for each of the following two immittance functions:
s' + 8s
+9
(s 2 + 1)(s2 + 3)(s2 + 5 )
s(s2 + 2)(s1 + 4)
J.l Synthesize the two Cauer forms for each of the functions in Prob. 3-1.
J-3 Deduce the upper and lower bounds on the coefficient Q in order for the following function to
be a positive real one:
s3 + Qs
s4 + 10s1 + 9

BffiLIOGRAPHY
Cauer, W 'The realization of impedance with prescribed frequency dependence', Arch. Eleclrolech.,
.,

15, pp. 355--388, 1926.

Vol.
Foster, R. M., 'A reactance theorem', Bell System Tech. J., No . 3 pp. 259-267, 1924.
,