ECE 113 Lecture 06:

Resonant Circuits
THE CONCEPT BEHIND FREQUENCY SELECTIVITY

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 1

Resonance
• Occurs when a system is able to store and easily
transfer energy between two or more storage modes. –
Wikipedia
• A basic oscillatory system with an output function 𝑥 𝑡
is defined by the characteristic equation:
𝑑2𝑥 2
2
+ 𝑘 𝑥=0
𝑑𝑡
• The general solution is an oscillating function.
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝐴 cos 𝑘𝑡 + 𝐵 sin 𝑘𝑡

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 2

Resonance in Communications
• Resonant circuits play an important role in majority of
the communication blocks.
◦ Filters
◦ Oscillators
◦ Frequency Meters
◦ Tuned Amplifiers

• The behavior of a circuit at resonance enables the

selection of frequencies to be passed by system.
• Pass and Rejection: Imagine a guitar in standard
tuning. Play a 110 Hz tone on your phone near the
guitar strings. Observe the 2nd string from the top – it
is vibrating; it “passes” the sound wave through.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 6

Electromagnetic Resonance
• Occurs when capacitors and inductors; or reactive
components are connected together in a circuit.
• In resonance, the effects of the inductor and the
capacitor cancels out giving out the optimum behavior.
• In resonance, the capacitor and inductor continuously
exchange energy and completely ignores the circuit
beyond them.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 7

Electromagnetic Resonance
• Capacitor initially charged. All system energy in
capacitor.

𝑊𝐸 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑊𝐻 = 0

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 8

Electromagnetic Resonance
• Capacitor discharges E-field and inductor creates H-
field.

0 < 𝑊𝐸 < 𝑚𝑎𝑥

0 < 𝑊𝐻 < 𝑚𝑎𝑥

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 9

Electromagnetic Resonance
• Capacitor transfers most of its energy to inductor.

0 < 𝑊𝐸 < 𝑚𝑎𝑥

0 < 𝑊𝐻 < 𝑚𝑎𝑥

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 10

Electromagnetic Resonance
• All energy is in the magnetic field of the inductor.

𝑊𝐸 = 0
𝑊𝐻 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 11

Electromagnetic Resonance
• Current charges capacitor and discharges inductor.

0 < 𝑊𝐸 < 𝑚𝑎𝑥

0 < 𝑊𝐻 < 𝑚𝑎𝑥

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 12

Electromagnetic Resonance
• Inductor continues to lose energy and capacitor gains.

0 < 𝑊𝐸 < 𝑚𝑎𝑥

0 < 𝑊𝐻 < 𝑚𝑎𝑥

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 13

Electromagnetic Resonance
• Capacitor is fully charged again but with a different
polarity.

𝑊𝐸 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑊𝐻 = 0

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 14

Electromagnetic Resonance
• However, this case is ideal. In reality, nonzero
resistance consumes the power stored in the circuit.
This is called damping.

𝑊𝐸 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑊𝐻 = 0

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 15

In the presence of dampers
• Spring system: friction
𝑑2𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2𝑥 = 0
+ 𝜇 + 𝑘
𝑑𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡
• LC system: resistance
𝑑2 𝑖 𝑅 𝑑𝑖 1
2
+ + 𝑖=0 Series RLC
𝑑𝑡
2
𝐶 𝑑𝑡 𝐿𝐶
𝑑 𝑣 1 𝑑𝑣 1 Parallel RLC
2
+ + 𝑣=0
𝑑𝑡 𝑅𝐿 𝑑𝑡 𝐿𝐶

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 16

Series RLC Circuit

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 17

Series RLC Circuit
• Impedance seen by the source:
1
𝑍Ԧ𝐼𝑁 = 𝑅 + 𝑗𝜔𝐿 +
𝑗𝜔𝐶
• Complex power:
1 ∗ 1 2
Ԧ
𝑆𝐼𝑁 = 𝑉𝐼Ԧ = 𝐼Ԧ 𝑍Ԧ𝐼𝑁
2 2
1 2 1
𝑆Ԧ𝐼𝑁 = 𝐼Ԧ 𝑅 + 𝑗𝜔𝐿 +
2 𝑗𝜔𝐶
1 2 1 2 1
𝑆Ԧ𝐼𝑁 = 𝐼Ԧ 𝑅 + 𝑗𝜔 𝐼Ԧ 𝐿 − 2
2 2 𝜔 𝐶

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 18

Energy Loss and Stored
• Energy dissipated by resistor.
1 2
𝑃𝑅 = 𝐼Ԧ 𝑅
2
• Energy stored in a capacitor.
2
1 2 1 𝐼Ԧ
𝑊𝐸 = 𝐶 𝑉𝐶 =
2 2 𝜔2𝐶
• Energy stored in an inductor
1 2
𝑊𝐻 = 𝐿 𝐼Ԧ
2

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 19

Complex Power
• In terms of storage and loss.
1 2 1 2 1
Ԧ Ԧ
𝑆𝐼𝑁 = 𝐼 𝑅 + 𝑗𝜔 𝐼 Ԧ 𝐿− 2
2 2 𝜔 𝐶
1 2 1 2 1 2 1
Ԧ
𝑆𝐼𝑁 = 𝐼 𝑅 + 𝑗𝜔 𝐿 𝐼 − 𝐼Ԧ
Ԧ Ԧ
2 2 2 𝜔2𝐶
𝑆Ԧ𝐼𝑁 = 𝑃𝑅 + 𝑗𝜔 𝑊𝐻 − 𝑊𝐸
• At resonance, 𝑊𝐻 = 𝑊𝐸 .

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 20

Impedance at Resonance
• Frequency at resonance (𝜔0 ):
1 1
𝑊𝐻 = 𝑊𝐸 → 𝐿 = 2 → 𝜔0 =
𝜔0 𝐶 𝐿𝐶
• Substitute with the impedance.
1 𝐿𝐶
𝑍Ԧ𝐼𝑁 = 𝑅 + 𝑗 𝐿−𝑗
𝐿𝐶 𝐶
𝐿 𝐿
𝑍Ԧ𝐼𝑁 = 𝑅 + 𝑗 −𝑗 → 𝑍Ԧ𝐼𝑁 = 𝑅
𝐶 𝐶

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 21

Normalized 𝑍𝐼𝑁 𝜔Τ𝜔0

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 22

Circuit Q
• The ratio of the maximum energy stored in one cycle
to the energy lost per cycle at resonance.
• Measure of loss in the circuit.
• Also a measure of selectivity.
• Greater Q means less loss or more selectivity.
𝑀𝑎𝑥 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑
𝑄 = 2𝜋 ×
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑡

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 23

Series RLC Circuit Q Factor
𝑊𝐸,𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑊𝐻,𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑄 = 2𝜋 × = 2𝜋 ×
𝑃𝑅 /𝑓0 𝑃𝑅 /𝑓0
• The period at resonance is 1/𝑓0 . The energy lost is the
average power times the period.
1 Ԧ2 2
𝐼 ൗ𝜔0 𝐶 1 𝑋𝐶
𝑄= 2 = → 𝑄=
1 Ԧ2
𝐼 𝑅 /𝜔0 𝜔0 𝑅𝐶 𝑅
2
1 Ԧ2
𝐼 𝐿 𝜔0 𝐿 𝑋𝐿
𝑄= 2 = → 𝑄=
1 Ԧ 2 𝑅 𝑅
𝐼 𝑅 /𝜔0
2

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 24

Changing the resistance
• Increasing 𝑅 means
◦ Decreased 𝑄
◦ More 𝑃𝑅
◦ Greater 𝑍 at 𝜔0
◦ Same 𝜔0

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 25

Changing the capacitance
• Increasing 𝐶 means
◦ Decreased 𝑄
◦ Less 𝑊𝐸,𝑚𝑎𝑥
◦ Same 𝑍 at 𝜔0
◦ Decreased 𝜔0

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 26

Changing the inductance
• Increasing 𝐿 means
◦ Increased 𝑄
◦ More 𝑊𝐻,𝑚𝑎𝑥
◦ Same 𝑍 at 𝜔0
◦ Decreased 𝜔0

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 27

Parallel RLC Circuit

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 28

Parallel RLC Circuit
• Admittance seen by the source:
1 1
𝑌𝐼𝑁 = + 𝑗𝜔𝐶 +
𝑅 𝑗𝜔𝐿
• Complex power:
1 ∗ 1 2 ∗
Ԧ
𝑆𝐼𝑁 = 𝑉𝐼Ԧ = 𝑉 𝑌𝐼𝑁
2 2
1 2 1 1
𝑆Ԧ𝐼𝑁 = 𝑉 − 𝑗𝜔𝐶 −
2 𝑅 𝑗𝜔𝐿
2
1 𝑉 1 2 1
𝑆Ԧ𝐼𝑁 = + 𝑗𝜔 𝑉 2
−𝐶
2 𝑅 2 𝜔 𝐿

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 29

Energy Loss and Stored
• Energy dissipated by resistor.
1 2
𝑉
𝑃𝑅 = 2
𝑅
• Energy stored in a capacitor.
1 2
𝑊𝐸 = 𝐶 𝑉
2
• Energy stored in an inductor
2
1 2 1 𝑉
𝑊𝐻 = 𝐿 𝐼𝐿 =
2 2 𝜔2𝐿

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 30

Complex Power
• In terms of storage and loss.
2
1 𝑉 1 2 1
Ԧ
𝑆𝐼𝑁 = + 𝑗𝜔 𝑉 −𝐶
2 𝑅 2 2
𝜔 𝐿
1 2 1 2 1 1 2
Ԧ Ԧ
𝑆𝐼𝑁 = 𝐼 𝑅 + 𝑗𝜔 𝑉 − 𝐶𝑉
2 2 2
𝜔 𝐿 2
𝑆Ԧ𝐼𝑁 = 𝑃𝑅 + 𝑗𝜔 𝑊𝐻 − 𝑊𝐸
• At resonance, 𝑊𝐻 = 𝑊𝐸 .

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 31

Impedance at Resonance
• Frequency at resonance (𝜔0 ):
1 1
𝑊𝐻 = 𝑊𝐸 → 𝐿 = 2 → 𝜔0 =
𝜔0 𝐶 𝐿𝐶
• Substitute with the admittance.
1 1 𝐿𝐶
𝑌𝐼𝑁 = + 𝑗 𝐶−𝑗
𝑅 𝐿𝐶 𝐿
1 𝐶 𝐶 1
𝑌𝐼𝑁 = +𝑗 −𝑗 → 𝑌𝐼𝑁 =
𝑅 𝐿 𝐿 𝑅
𝑍Ԧ𝐼𝑁 = 𝑅

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 32

Normalized 𝑍𝐼𝑁 𝜔Τ𝜔0

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 33

Parallel RLC Circuit Q Factor
𝑊𝐸,𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑊𝐻,𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑄 = 2𝜋 × = 2𝜋 ×
𝑃𝑅 /𝑓0 𝑃𝑅 /𝑓0
• The period at resonance is 1/𝑓0 . The energy lost is the
average power times the period.
1ൗ 𝑉 2 ൗ𝜔2 𝐿
2 0 𝑅 𝑅
𝑄= 2 = → 𝑄=
1ൗ 𝑉 /𝜔 𝑅 𝜔0 𝐿 𝑋𝐿
2 0
2
1ൗ 𝑉 𝐶
2 𝑅
𝑄= 2 = 𝑅𝜔0 𝐶 → 𝑄 =
1ൗ 𝑉 /𝜔 𝑅 𝑋𝐶
2 0

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 34

Changing the resistance
• Decreasing 𝑅 means
◦ Decreased 𝑄
◦ More 𝑃𝑅
◦ Less 𝑍 at 𝜔0
◦ Same 𝜔0

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 35

Changing the capacitance
• Increasing 𝐶 means
◦ Increased 𝑄
◦ More 𝑊𝐸,𝑚𝑎𝑥
◦ Same 𝑍 at 𝜔0
◦ Decreased 𝜔0

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 36

Changing the inductance
• Increasing 𝐿 means
◦ Decreased 𝑄
◦ Less 𝑊𝐻,𝑚𝑎𝑥
◦ Same 𝑍 at 𝜔0
◦ Decreased 𝜔0

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 37

Applications in RF Circuits
• Used extensively to selectively pass certain frequency
components from source to load. For example:
deleting spurious outputs from nonlinear devices.

• Types: Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass, Bandstop

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 38

 Summary of Terms
Insertion Loss
3 𝑑𝐵
Ripple

Ultimate
60 𝑑𝐵
Attenuation

𝑓3 𝑓1 𝑓𝑐 𝑓2 𝑓4
• Insertion Loss
◦ The attenuation introduced into the passband of the resonant
circuit.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 39

 Summary of Terms
Insertion Loss
3 𝑑𝐵
Ripple

Ultimate
60 𝑑𝐵
Attenuation

𝑓3 𝑓1 𝑓𝑐 𝑓2 𝑓4
• Ripple
◦ Measurement of flatness of the passband. The difference
between minimum and maximum attenuation at the pass band
of the resonant circuit.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 40

 Summary of Terms
Insertion Loss
3 𝑑𝐵
Ripple

Ultimate
60 𝑑𝐵
Attenuation

𝑓3 𝑓1 𝑓𝑐 𝑓2 𝑓4
• Bandwidth
◦ Commonly known as 3 𝑑𝐵 bandwidth. Difference between upper and lower
freq at which the magnitude response is is 3dB below passband.
𝐵𝑊 = 𝑓2 − 𝑓1

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 41

 Summary of Terms
Insertion Loss
3 𝑑𝐵
Ripple

Ultimate
60 𝑑𝐵
Attenuation

𝑓3 𝑓1 𝑓𝑐 𝑓2 𝑓4
• Fractional Bandwidth
◦ BW divided by the center frequency,
𝑓2 − 𝑓1
𝑓𝐵𝑊 =
𝑓𝑐

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 42

 Summary of Terms
Insertion Loss
3 𝑑𝐵
Ripple

Ultimate
60 𝑑𝐵
Attenuation

𝑓3 𝑓1 𝑓𝑐 𝑓2 𝑓4
• Circuit Quality (Q factor)
◦ Measure of selectivity of the resonant circuit.
𝑓𝑐 𝑓𝑐 1
𝑄= = =
𝑓2 − 𝑓1 𝐵𝑊 𝑓𝐵𝑊

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 43

 Summary of Terms
Insertion Loss
3 𝑑𝐵
Ripple

Ultimate
60 𝑑𝐵
Attenuation

𝑓3 𝑓1 𝑓𝑐 𝑓2 𝑓4
• Shape factor
◦ Measure of steepness of the skirts of a resonant circuit.
𝑓4 − 𝑓3
𝑄=
𝑓2 − 𝑓1

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 44

 Summary of Terms
Insertion Loss
3 𝑑𝐵
Ripple

Ultimate
60 𝑑𝐵
Attenuation

𝑓3 𝑓1 𝑓𝑐 𝑓2 𝑓4
• Ultimate Attenuation
◦ Minimum attenuation outside the pass band (aka stopband).

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 45

Low Pass Filter – RL Circuit
𝑅
𝐻 𝜔 = 20 log
𝑅2 + 𝜔 2 𝐿2
•@ 3dB cut-off point
𝑅 1
=
2 2 2 2
𝑅 + 𝜔3𝑑𝐵 𝐿
𝑅
𝜔3𝑑𝐵 =
𝐿

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 46

High Pass Filter – RC Circuit
𝐻 𝜔
𝜔𝑅𝐶
= 20 log
1 + 𝜔𝑅𝐶 2

•@ 3dB cut-off point

𝜔3𝑑𝐵 𝑅𝐶 1
=
1 + 𝜔3𝑑𝐵 𝑅𝐶 2 2
1
𝜔3𝑑𝐵 =
𝑅𝐶

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 47

Band Pass Filter – RLC Circuit
𝑅
𝐻 𝜔 = 20 log
2
1
𝑅2 + 𝜔𝐿 −
𝜔𝐶

• @ 3dB cut-off point

1
𝜔3𝑑𝐵 𝐿 − =𝑅
𝜔3𝑑𝐵 𝐶
• @ resonant frequency
1
𝜔0 𝐿 − =0
𝜔0 𝐶

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 48

Band Pass Filter – RLC Circuit
• 3 dB cutoff points and 3 dB bandwidth
2
𝑅 𝑅 1
𝜔3𝑑𝐵 = ± +
2𝐿 2𝐿 𝐿𝐶
𝑅 𝑅
𝐵𝑊 = 𝑓𝐵𝑊 =
𝐿 𝜔0 𝐿
• Resonant frequency
1 + −
𝜔0 = = 𝜔3𝑑𝐵 𝜔3𝑑𝐵
𝐿𝐶
• Quality factor
1 𝜔0 𝐿
𝑄= =
𝑓𝐵𝑊 𝑅

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 49

Filter Response
3 𝑑𝐵

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 50

Effect of Non-idealities
• Previously discussed parameters are all ideal. In
practical (communications) circuits, a source and an
inductor has a non-zero resistance.
• These are modelled in the circuit below.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 51

Practical Q factor
• Depends on:
𝑅𝑆 - source resistance
𝑅𝐿𝑂𝑆𝑆 - inductor loss
𝑅𝐿 - load resistance

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 52

Effect of Source Resistance
• Consider the case when 𝑅𝐿 → ∞ and 𝑅𝐿𝑂𝑆𝑆 = 0. The
parameters of the circuit are:
1 𝐶
𝑓0 = 𝑄 = 𝑅𝑆
2𝜋 𝐿𝐶 𝐿
• Greater 𝑅𝑆 means that the parallel LC response will
become more selective.
• Note that 𝑅𝑆 cannot be easily manipulated when
designing a circuit. So you design a circuit given 𝑅𝑆 .

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 53

Load and Source Resistance
• Equivalent circuit approach can be used. The Thevenin
resistance seen by the parallel LC connection:
𝑅𝑆 𝑅𝐿
𝑅𝑃 = 𝑅𝑆 ||𝑅𝐿 =
𝑅𝑆 + 𝑅𝐿
• 𝑅𝑃 is the effective series resistance seen by the LC
circuit. This defines the parameters of the
corresponding resonant circuit.
• In practice, 𝑅𝑆 and 𝑅𝐿 are small. The Q factor of the
resonant circuit decreases as a consequence. To design
a high Q circuit, impractical values of 𝐿 and 𝐶 are used.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 54

Component Q
• A lossy inductor or
capacitor can be
modelled as an ideal
inductor or capacitor in
series with a resistance.
𝑋
𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝 = 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠
𝑅
• The series impedance, 𝑍𝑆 ,
can be converted to a
parallel connection
◦ Resulting parallel resistance
is absorbed by load
resistance.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 55

Parallel-Series Conversion
• In general, for a parallel circuit with a Q factor of 𝑄𝑃
and admittance 1ൗ𝑍𝑃 = 1ൗ𝑅𝑃 − 1ൗ𝑗𝑋𝑃, the resulting series
equivalent:
𝑅𝑃 𝑗𝑋𝑃 𝑄𝑃2
𝑍𝑆 = 2+
1 + 𝑄𝑃 1 + 𝑄𝑃2
• Conversely, for a series circuit with a Q factor of 𝑄𝑆
and impedance 𝑍𝑆 = 𝑅𝑆 + 𝑗𝑋𝑆 , the resulting parallel
equivalent:
1 1 𝑄𝑆2 1
= +𝑗
𝑍𝑃 𝑅𝑆 1 + 𝑄𝑆 2 1 + 𝑄𝑆2 𝑋𝑆
• Note that 𝑄𝑃 = 𝑅𝑃 /𝑋𝑃 and 𝑄𝑆 = 𝑋𝑆 /𝑅𝑆 .

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 56

Impedance Transformation
• 𝑅𝑆 has a fixed value and is usually small. However, it
can be made to look large. This is the process of
impedance transformation.
• A generic impedance transformer is achieved through
‘tapping’ a series connection of two reactive elements:

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 57

Tapped-C/Tapped-L
Transformer
• First transform the parallel 𝑋1 and 𝑅𝑆 elements with a
Q factor 𝑄1 into a series connection:
𝑅1 𝑗𝑋1 𝑄12
𝑍𝑆 = 2+
1 + 𝑄1 1 + 𝑄12
1 𝑄12
𝑅𝑇 = 2 𝑅𝑆 𝑋𝑇 = 2 𝑋1
1 + 𝑄1 1 + 𝑄1

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 58

Tapped-C/Tapped-L
Transformer
• The total impedance of the tapped circuit topology is
now given by:
𝑅𝑆 𝑗𝑋1 𝑄12
𝑍𝑇 = 2 + 𝑗𝑋2 +
1 + 𝑄1 1 + 𝑄12
𝑅𝑆 𝑄12
𝑍𝑇 = 𝑅𝑇 + 𝑗𝑋𝑇 = 2 + 𝑗 𝑋2 + 𝑋1
1 + 𝑄1 1 + 𝑄12
• The Q factor of the total series impedance connection
is:
𝑋2 + 𝑄12 𝑋1 + 𝑋2 𝑄12 𝑋1 + 𝑋2
𝑄= →𝑄≈
𝑅𝑆 𝑅𝑆

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 59

Tapped-C/Tapped-L
Transformer
• Since the final result should be a parallel connection,
we convert the series connection to parallel.
2
′
𝑅𝑆 2 ′
𝑋2
𝑅𝑆 = 2 1+𝑄 → 𝑅𝑆 ≈ 𝑅𝑆 1 +
1 + 𝑄1 𝑋1
1 + 𝑄2
𝑋𝑇 = 2
𝑋1 + 𝑋2 → 𝑋𝑇 ≈ 𝑋1 + 𝑋2
𝑄
• The approximations used are the cases when 𝑄2 ≫ 1
and 𝑄12 ≫ 1.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 60

Insertion Loss
• The measure of the power dissipated by lossy elements
inside a resonant circuit.
• Consider the resistive divider circuit. The output voltage:
𝑉0 𝑅𝐿 1
= =
𝑉𝐼 𝑅𝑆 + 𝑅𝐿 2

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 61

Insertion Loss
• Consider the actual circuit with non-ideal lossy
reactive elements operating at resonance.
• The output voltage:
𝑉𝑂 𝑅𝐿 ||𝑅𝑃 1
= <
𝑉𝐼 𝑅𝑆 + 𝑅𝐿 ||𝑅𝑃 2

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 62

Insertion Loss
• The insertion loss is mathematically defined as:
1 𝑉𝑂
𝐼𝐿 𝑑𝐵 = 20 log ×
2 𝑉𝐼
• Note: Maximum power output is 50% of the input and
is set as a baseline for the evaluation of circuits.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 63

Coupling of Resonant Circuits
• In some applications, one resonant circuit may not be
enough to meet necessary requirements.
◦ Steep passband skirts or a more selective circuit.
◦ Small shape factors.

• Resonant circuits may be coupled together to produce

more attenuation to out of band frequencies.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 64

Capacitive Coupling
• A coupling capacitor is used to connect two parallel
resonant circuits. This is shown in the circuit below.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 65

Capacitive Coupling
• Assume 𝑅𝑆 = 𝑅𝐿 . Given 𝑄
of one resonant circuit,
critical coupling condition:
𝐶
𝐶12 =
𝑄
• Results into:
𝑄𝑇 ≈ 0.707𝑄
• Total circuit 𝑄 is less than
single resonant circuit
which means less selective
but it has steeper skirts.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 66

Inductive Coupling
• Instead of using a capacitor, an inductor can also be
used for coupling resonant circuits.
• Different types:
◦ Top-L inductive coupling
◦ Magnetic coupling using transformer

• We’ll focus on top-L coupling.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 67

Top-L Inductive Coupling
• Similar to capacitive coupling but an inductor is used
instead.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 68

Top-L Inductive Coupling
• Assume 𝑅𝑆 = 𝑅𝐿 . Given 𝑄
of one resonant circuit,
critical coupling condition:
𝐿12 = 𝑄𝐿
• Results into:
𝑄𝑇 ≈ 0.707𝑄
• Total circuit 𝑄 is less than
single resonant circuit
which means less selective
but it has steeper skirts.

ECE 113: COMMUNICATION ELECTRONICS 69

References
• C. Bowick, RF Circuit Design, 2nd ed. Newnes, 2008.

EEE 107: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS 70