MODULE V

WAVE ANALYZERS

G.Anitha
Asst.Professor (Senior Grade)
B S A Crescent Institute of Science and Technology
INTRODUCTION
 A wave analyzer is an instrument designed to measure
relative amplitudes of single frequency components in a
complex waveform. Basically, a wave instrument acts as
a frequency selective voltmeter which is tuned to the
frequency of one signal while rejecting all other signal
components.
BASIC WAVE ANALYZER

Basic wave analyzer mainly consists of three blocks − the

primary detector, full wave rectifier, and PMMC galvanometer
BASIC WAVE ANALYZER
 Primary Detector − It consists of an LC circuit. We can
adjust the values of inductor, L and capacitor, C in such a
way that it allows only the desired harmonic frequency
component that is to be measured.
 Full Wave Rectifier − It converts the AC input into a
DC output.
 PMMC Galvanometer − It shows the peak value of the
signal, which is obtained at the output of Full wave
rectifier.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM OF BASIC WAVE
ANALYZER

This basic wave analyzer can be used for analyzing each and
every harmonic frequency component of a periodic signal
TYPES
 Frequency Selective Wave Analyzer
 Heterodyne wave analyzer
FREQUENCY SELECTIVE WAVE
ANALYZER

The wave analyzer, used for analyzing the signals are of

AF range is called frequency selective wave analyzer
FUNCTION OF FREQUENCY
SELECTIVE WAVE ANALYZER
 Input Attenuator − The AF signal, which is to be analyzed is applied to input
attenuator. If the signal amplitude is too large, then it can be attenuated by input
attenuator.
 Driver Amplifier − It amplifies the received signal whenever necessary.
 High Q-filter − It is used to select the desired frequency and reject unwanted
frequencies. It consists of two RC sections and two filter amplifiers & all these
are cascaded with each other. We can vary the capacitance values for changing
the range of frequencies in powers of 10. Similarly, we can vary the resistance
values in order to change the frequency within a selected range.
 Meter Range Attenuator − It gets the selected AF signal as an input &
produces an attenuated output, whenever required.
 Output Amplifier − It amplifies the selected AF signal if necessary.
 Output Buffer − It is used to provide the selected AF signal to output devices.
 Meter Circuit − It displays the reading of selected AF signal. We can choose the
meter reading in volt range or decibel range.
SUPER HETERODYNE WAVE
ANALYZER

The wave analyzer, used to analyze the signals of

RF range is called superheterodyne wave analyzer
FUNCTION OF SUPER-HETERODYNE
WAVE ANALYZER
 The RF signal, which is to be analyzed is applied to the input attenuator. If the
signal amplitude is too large, then it can be attenuated by input attenuator.
 Untuned amplifier amplifies the RF signal whenever necessary and it is applied
to first mixer.
 The frequency ranges of RF signal & output of Local oscillator are 0-18 MHz &
30-48 MHz respectively. So, first mixer produces an output, which has
frequency of 30 MHz. This is the difference of frequencies of the two signals
that are applied to it.
 IF amplifier amplifies the Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal, i.e. the output of
first mixer. The amplified IF signal is applied to second mixer.
 The frequencies of amplified IF signal & output of Crystal oscillator are same
and equal to 30MHz. So, the second mixer produces an output, which has
frequency of 0 Hz. This is the difference of frequencies of the two signals that
are applied to it.
 The cut off frequency of Active Low Pass Filter (LPF) is chosen as 1500 Hz.
Hence, this filter allows the output signal of second mixer.
 Meter Circuit displays the reading of RF signal. We can choose the meter
reading in volt range or decibel range.
APPLICATIONS OF WAVE ANALYZERS
Wave analyzers have very important applications in the
following fields
 Electrical Measurements

 Sound measurements

 Vibration measurements
 HARMONIC DISTORTION ANALYZERS

 Applying a sinusoidal signal to the input of an ideal

linear amplifier will produce a sinusoidal output
waveform. However, in most cases the output waveform
is not an exact replica of the input signal because of
various types of distortion.
DISTORTION ANALYZERS
 The extent to which the output waveform of an- amplifier
differs from the waveform at the input is a measure of
the distortion intro­duced by the inherent nonlinear
characteristics of active devices such as bipolar or field-
effect transistors or by passive circuit components. The
amount of distortion can be measured with a distortion
analyzer.
DISTORTION ANALYZERS
 When an amplifier is not operating in a linear fashion,
the output signal will be distorted. Distortion caused by
nonlinear operation is called amplitude distortion or
harmonic distortion. It can be shown mathematically that
an amplitude-distorted sine wave is made up of pure
sine-wave components including the fundamental
frequency f of the input signal and harmonic multiples of
the fundamental frequency, 2f, 3f, 4f . . . , and so on.
DISTORTION ANALYZERS
 When harmonics are present in considerable amount,
their presence can be ob­served with an oscilloscope. The
waveform displayed will either have unequal positive
and negative peak values or will exhibit a change in
shape. In either case, the oscilloscope will provide a
qualitative check of harmonic distortion. However. the
distortion must be fairly severe (around 10%) to be noted
by an untrained observer.
DISTORTION ANALYZERS
 In addition, most testing situations require a better
quantitative measure of harmonic distortion. Harmonic
distortion can be quantitatively measured very accurately
with a harmonic distortion analyzer, which is generally
referred to simply as a distortion analyzer.
DISTORTION ANALYZERS
 A block diagram for a fundamental-suppression
harmonic analyzer is shown in Fig. 1. When the
instrument is used. switch S, is set to the "set level"
position, the band pass filter is adjusted to the
fundamental frequency and the attenuator network is
adjusted to obtain a full-scale voltmeter reading.

Fig. 1 Block diagram of a distortion analyzer.

DISTORTION ANALYZERS
 Switch S, is then set to the "distortion" position, the
rejection f:1ter is turned to the fundamental frequency,
and the attenuator is adjusted for a maximum reading on
the voltmeter.
DISTORTION ANALYZERS
 The total harmonic distortion (THD). which is frequently
expressed as a percentage, is defined as the ratio of the rms
value of all the harmonics to the rms value of the
fundamental, or
(harmonics) 2
THD 
fundamental
DISTORTION ANALYZERS
 This defining equation is somewhat inconvenient from
the standpoint of measurement. An alternative working
equation expresses total harmonic distortion as the ratio
of the rms value of all the harmonics to the rms value of
the total signal including distortion. That is,

(harmonics) 2
THD 
( funsamental ) 2  (harmonics) 2
DISTORTION ANALYZERS
 On the basis of the assumption that any distortion caused
by the components within the analyzer itself or by the
oscillator signal are small enough to be neglected. Eq. 2
can be expressed as
2 2 2

THD 
E E
2 3
 ...  E n
Ef
where
THD = the total harmonic distortion
Ef = the amplitude of the fundamental frequency including the
harmonics
E2E3En = the amplitude of the individual harmonics
THD = E(harmonics) fundamental
DISTORTION ANALYZERS
 EXAMPLE 1:
Compute the total harmonic distortion of a signal that
contains a fundamen­tal signal with an rms value of 10 V,
a second harmonic with an rms value of 3 V, a third
harmonic with an rms value of 1.5 V, and a fourth
harmonic with an rms value of 0.6 V.
DISTORTION ANALYZERS
SOLUTION:
Using Eq. 3, we compute the total harmonic distortion as

3 2  1.5 2  0.6 2
THD 
10
11 .6
  34.07%
10
HARMONIC DISTORTION ANALYZERS

Fig.2a and Fig2b

HARMONIC DISTORTION ANALYZERS
 Fig2a is a harmonic distortion analyzer used to
measure THD.The signal source has very low distortion
and this can be checked by reading its output distortion
by connecting directly in to the analyzer
 The signal from the source is fed in to the amplifier
under test.This generayes harmonics and the original
fundamental frequency.The fundamental frequency is
removed by the notch filter
HARMONIC DISTORTION ANALYZERS
 The switch SW is first placed in position 1 and the total
content of fundamental and harmonics is measured.
 Then the switch is moved to position 2 to measure just
the harmonics . The value of THD is
THD= EH/ET*100
HARMONIC DISTORTION ANALYZERS
 Fig.2b shows an alternative arrangement, where the
values of Et and Eh are read simultaneously and their
ratio calculated and displayed as THD on the indicator.
 For good accuracy the notch filter must have excellent
rejection and high pass characteristics
Thank you