A Digitally Programmable Voltage-Mode Multi-

function Filter Using CCDVCCs

Chaiyan Chanapromma*, Winai Jaikla** and Montree Siripruchyanun†
*
Computer Engineering Program, Faculty of Industrial Technology,
Uttaradit Rajabhat University, Muang, Uttaradit, 53000, THAILAND
Tel: +66-5-541-1096 Ext. 1635, Fax: +66-5-541-1296 Email: tony_1182912@hotmail.com
**
Electric and Electronic Program, Faculty of Industrial Technology,
Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Dusit, Bangkok, 10300, THAILAND
Tel: +66-2-243-2240 Ext. 317, Fax: +66-2-241-5935, E-mail: winai.ja@ssru.ac.th
†
Department of Teacher Training in Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Technical Education,
King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, 10800, THAILAND
Tel: +66-2- 913-2500 Ext. 3328 Fax. +66-2-587-8255, E-mail: mts@kmutnb.ac.th

Abstract— This article presents a voltage-mode multi-function
filter performing completely standard functions: low-pass, high-
pass, band-pass, band-reject and all-pass functions, current
controlled differential voltage current conveyors (CCDVCCs).
The features of the circuit are that: the quality factor and pole
frequency can be tuned independently via the input bias
currents: the circuit description is very simple, consisting of
merely 2 CCDVCCs, 1 resistor and 2 capacitors. Only one
external resistor and without any component matching
conditions, the proposed circuit is very appropriate to further
develop into an integrated circuit. Additionally, each function
response can be selected by suitably selecting input signals with
digital method. The PSPICE simulation results are depicted. The
given results agree well with the theoretical anticipation.
I. INTRODUCTION
In analog signal processing applications it may be desirable
to employ active filters. They can be found in many
applications: e.g., communication, measurement and
instrumentation and control systems [1-2]. One of most
popular analog filters is a multi-function filter since it can
provide several functions, depending on desired selections.
The literature surveys show that the voltage-mode multi-
function filter circuits [3-12] have been reported.
Unfortunately, these reported circuits suffer from one or more
of following weaknesses:
• Excessive use of the active and/or passive elements
[3, 5-6, 7, 9, 11].
• Requirement for changing circuit topologies to
achieve several functions [4, 9, 12].
• Lack of electronic adjustability 3-9, 11-12].
• The pole frequency and quality factor can not be
tuned independently [8-9].
The differential voltage current conveyor (DVCC) is a
reported active component, especially suitable for a class of
analog signal processing [13]. The fact is that the device can
operate in both current and voltage-modes, provides
flexibility and enables a variety of circuit designs. In addition,
it can offer advantageous features such as high slew-rate, high
speed, wide bandwidth and simple implementation [13-14].
However, from our investigations, there are seen that the
DVCC can not be controlled the parasitic resistances at
current input ports so when it is used in a circuit, it must
unavoidably require some external passive components,
especially the resistors. This makes it not appropriate for IC
implementation due to occupying more chip area, consuming
high power and without electronic controllability. On the
other hand, the introduced current controlled differential
voltage current conveyor (CCDVCC) [15] has the advantage
of electronic adjustability over the DVCC.
The aim of this paper is to propose a voltage-mode multi-
function filter, emphasizing on use of the CCDVCCs. The
features of proposed circuit are that: the proposed multi-
function filter can provide completely standard functions
(low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, band-reject and all-pass)
without changing circuit topology: the circuit description is
very simple, it uses only 1 resistor and 2 capacitors as passive
elements, which is suitable for fabricating in monolithic chip
or off-the-shelf implementation: quality factor and pole
frequency can be independently adjusted. The performances
of proposed circuit are illustrated by PSPICE simulations,
they show good agreement as mentioned.
II. PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
A. Basic Concept of CCDVCC
CCDVCC properties are similar to the conventional DVCC,
except that the CCDVCC has finite input resistance Rx at the
x input terminal [15]. This parasitic resistance can be
controlled by the bias current IB as shown in
VT
RX = , (1)
2I B
where VT is the thermal voltage, equal to 26mV at room
temperature. The relationship between the voltage and current
variables among X, Y1, Y2 and Z ports of an ideal CCDVCC
can be described by

978-1-4244-4522-6/09/$25.00 ©2009 IEEE 897 ISCIT 2009

 Vin1 I B1 IB2
⎡VX ⎤ ⎡ RX 1 − 1 0⎤ ⎡ I X ⎤ C1
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎢ ⎥
⎢ IY 1 ⎥ = ⎢0 0 0 0 ⎥⎥ ⎢VY 1 ⎥ Y1 Z Y2 Z VO
. (2) Vin 2
⎢ IY 2 ⎥ ⎢ 0 0 0 0 ⎥ ⎢VY 2 ⎥ RQ CCDVCC CCDVCC
⎢ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥⎢ ⎥ Y2 X C2 Y1 X
Vin3
⎣⎢ I Z ⎦⎥ ⎣1 0 0 0 ⎦ ⎣⎢VZ ⎦⎥

The symbol and the equivalent circuit of the CCDVCC are

illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Proposed Voltage-mode Multi-function Filter

IB TABLE I
The Vin1, Vin2 and Vin3 values selection for each filter function response
IY 1
VY 1 Y1 Filter Responses Input selections
IZ
IY 2 CCDVCC Z VO Vin1 Vin2 Vin3
VZ
VY 2 Y2 X BP 0 1 0
IX HP 1 0 0

VX BR 1 0 1
AP 1 -1 1
(a)
LP 0 0 1
IY 1 = 0 IZ = I X
Y1 1 Z
where Rx = VT / 2 I B , Eqs. (4) and (5) are subsequently
IY 2 = 0 Vd Rx modified to
Y2
2 I B1 I B 2
IX ω0 = , (6)
Vd = VY 1 − VY 2 X VT C1C2
(b)
2 RQ C1 I B1 I B 2
Fig. 1. CCDVCC (a) Symbol (b) Equivalent circuit Q0 = . (7)
VT C2

B. Proposed Voltage-mode Multi-function Filter From Eqs. (6) and (7), we found that the quality factor can be
adjusted independently from the pole frequency by varying
The proposed voltage-mode multi-function filter is shown
in Fig. 2, where IB1 and IB2 are input bias currents of RQ. Furthermore, the pole frequency can be adjusted by IB1
CCDVCC1, and CCDVCC2, respectively. By routine analysis and IB2. Thus bandwidth (BW) is given by
of the circuit in Fig. 2, the output voltage can be obtained to
be ω0 1
BW = = . (8)
Q0 C1 RQ
1 1
Vin1 s 2 + s Vin 2 + Vin 3
C1 RQ C1C2 Rx1 Rx 2 In the same view, the bandwidth can be linearly tuned by RQ.
VO = . (3) Another advantage of the proposed circuit is that the high Q0
1 1
s2 + s + circuit can be obtained by setting RQ.
C1 RQ C1C2 Rx1 Rx 2

From Eq. (3), Vin1, Vin2 and Vin3 can be chosen as in Table I C. Circuit Sensitivities
to obtain a standard function of the 2nd–order network. The sensitivities of the proposed circuit can be found as
Moreover, it is found in Table I that each function response
can be selected by digital method. The pole frequency (ω0) 1 1
and quality factor (Q0) of each filter response can be S IωB01 = S IωB02 = ; SCω10 = SCω20 = − ; SVωT0 = −1 , (9)
expressed as 2 2

1 1
1 S IQB01 = S IQB02 = SCQ10 = ; SCQ20 = − ; S RQQ0 = 1 , (10)
ω0 = , (4) 2 2
C1C2 Rx1 Rx 2
S RBW = SCBW = −1 . (11)
C1 Q 1

Q0 = RQ , (5)
C2 Rx1 Rx 2 Therefore, all the active and passive sensitivities are equal or
less than unity in magnitude.

898
 VCC
Q10 Q11 Q23 Q24 Q25
Q12 Q26

Q21 Q22
Y2 Y1
Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9 X Z

IB Q19 Q20
IA
Q3 Q4 Q14 Q17
Q2
Q1 Q13 Q15 Q16
VEE

Fig. 3. Internal Construction of CCDVCC

III. SIMULATION RESULTS

D. Non-Ideal case
For non-ideal case, the CCDVCC can be respectively To prove the performances of the proposed circuit, the
characterized with the following equations PSPICE simulation program was used. The PNP and NPN
transistors employed in the proposed circuit were simulated
VX = β VY 1 + γ VY 2 + RX I X , (12a) by respectively using the parameters of the PR200N and
NR200N bipolar transistors of ALA400 transistor array from
AT&T [16]. Fig. 3 depicts schematic description of the
IZ = α I X , (12b)
CCDVCC used in the simulations. All CCDVCCs were
biased with ±1.5V power supplies, C1=C2=1nF, RQ=1kΩ,
where α is the frequency dependent current gain, besides β IA=IB1=IB2=50µA are chosen to obtain intrinsic resistances
and γ are the frequency dependent voltage gains. These gains values of 260Ω. It yields the pole frequency of 558kHz, while
are ideally equal to unity. In practical, they depend on the calculated value of this parameter from Eq. (6) is 612kHz
frequency of operation, temperature and transistor parameters (deviated by 8.82%). The results shown in Fig. 4 are the gain
of the CCDVCC. and phase responses of the multi-function filter obtained from
In the case of non-idea and reanalyzing the proposed filter Fig. 2. There are clearly seen that the proposed filter can
in Fig. 2, it yields the output voltage to be provide low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, band-reject and all-
pass functions, dependent on digital selection as shown in
1 αα γ γ Table I, without modifying circuit topology. Fig. 5 display
Vin1 s 2 + s Vin 2 + 1 2 1 2 Vin 3
C1 RQ C1C2 Rx1 Rx 2 gain responses of band-pass function for different RQ values.
VO = , (13) It is shown that the quality factor can be adjusted by RQ as
1 α1α 2 β1γ 2
2
s +s + depicted in Eq. (7) without affecting the pole frequency.
C1 RQ C1C2 Rx 2 Rx 3 Maximum power consumption is about 1.72mW.

In this case, the ω0 and Q0 are changed to

100d 0
Gain (dB)

α1α 2 β1γ 2
ω0 = , (14)
Phase

C1C2 Rx 2 Rx 3 0d -40

Gain
Phase
α1α 2 β1γ 2 C1 -100d -80
Q0 = RQ . (15) 1.0k 10k 100k 1.0M
Frequency (Hz)
10M 100M
C2 Rx1 Rx 2
(a)
Gain (dB)

Practically, the α, γ and β originate from intrinsic resistances

Phase

and stray capacitances in the CCDVCC. These errors affect

the sensitivity to temperature and high frequency response of
the proposed circuit, then the CCDVCC should be carefully
designed to achieve these errors as low as possible.
Consequently, these deviations are very small and can be
ignored. (b)

899
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[10] M.A. Ibrahim, S. Minaei, and H.A. Kuntman “A 22.5 MHz current-
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IV. CONCLUSIONS
The digitally controllable voltage-mode multi-function
filter based on CCDVCCs has been presented. The
advantages of the proposed circuit are that: it performs low-
pass, high-pass, and band-pass functions from the same circuit
configuration without component matching conditions: the
quality factor and the pole frequency can be independently
controlled. The circuit description comprises only 2
CCDVCCs, 1 resistor and 2 capacitors, which is attractive for
either IC or off-the-shelf implementation. With ±1.5V
supplies, the total power consumption is about 1.72mW for all
bias currents of 50µA.

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mode KHN-biquad using differential voltage current conveyor and
grounded passive elements,” Int. J. Electron. Commun. (AEU), vol. 59,
pp. 311-318, 2005.

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