IT1916
Active Filters
It is a group of electronic filters that are used to change either phase or amplitude of signal characteristics with respect
to its frequency. In the field of electronics, there are many practical applications for filters and these are its examples:
• Radio communications: Filters enable radio receivers to only "see" the desired signal while rejecting all other
signals (assuming that the other signals have different frequency content).
• DC power supplies: Filters are used to eliminate undesired high frequencies (i.e., noise) that are present on AC
input lines. Additionally, filters are used on a power supply's output to reduce ripple.
• Audio electronics: A crossover network is a network of filters used to channel low-frequency audio to woofers,
mid-range frequencies to midrange speakers, and high-frequency sounds to tweeters.
• Analog-to-digital conversion: Filters are placed in front of an ADC input to minimize aliasing.
• Frequency Response of an amplifier or filter shows in this
Bode Plot that the gain of the output responds to input
signals at different frequencies.
• Rolloff refers to the slope of the Bode plot in the
attenuating range of the filter circuit, usually expressed in
units of decibels per octave (dB/octave) or decibels per
decade (dB/decade):
Filter Types
• Passive – (RL or LC) It includes only passive components like resistors, capacitors, and inductors.
• Active – Op Amp - These filters are capable of dealing with very low frequencies (approaching 0 Hz), and they
can provide voltage gain (passive filters cannot). Active filters can be used to design high-order filters without
the use of inductors.
Passive Filters: Low-pass and High-pass Filter
Low-pass Filter High-pass Filter
This filter allows low-frequency signals without any The type of filter that allows the high-frequency signals to
attenuation (decrease in power) but it rejects any high- pass without any attenuation in its amplitude & blocks
frequency signals. (rejects) any low-frequency signal.
Formulas Used in Low-pass and High-pass filters
1 𝑋𝑋𝑐𝑐 1
𝑋𝑋𝐶𝐶 = 𝑍𝑍 = �𝑅𝑅2 + 𝑋𝑋𝐶𝐶2 𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 𝑉𝑉𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 � � 𝑓𝑓𝐶𝐶 =
2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 𝑍𝑍 2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋
𝑋𝑋𝐶𝐶 - Capacitive Reactance 𝑍𝑍 - Impedance 𝑉𝑉𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 - Input Voltage 𝑓𝑓𝐶𝐶 - Cut-off Frequency
𝑓𝑓 - Frequency 𝑅𝑅 - Resistance 𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 - Output Voltage
𝐶𝐶 - Capacitance
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Examples:
Calculate the frequency of this low- 1
pass filter given a resistor value of 𝑓𝑓𝑐𝑐 =
2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋
1𝑘𝑘Ω and a capacitor value of 0.22𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇 1
𝑓𝑓𝑐𝑐 =
2𝜋𝜋(1𝑘𝑘Ω)(0.22𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇)
𝑓𝑓𝑐𝑐 = 723.4 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻
Calculate its cutoff frequency.
1
𝑓𝑓𝑐𝑐 =
2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋
1
𝑓𝑓𝑐𝑐 =
2𝜋𝜋(1.5𝑘𝑘Ω)(0.1𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇)
𝑓𝑓𝑐𝑐 = 1.061 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻
A circuit consisting of a resistor of Step 1: Voltage Output at 100𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻. Step 2: Voltage Output at 10𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘.
1 1
4.7𝑘𝑘Ω in series with a capacitor of 𝑋𝑋𝐶𝐶 = 𝑋𝑋𝐶𝐶 =
2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋
47𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 is connected across a 10𝑣𝑣 1 1
sinusoidal supply. Calculate the 𝑋𝑋𝐶𝐶 = 𝑋𝑋𝐶𝐶 =
2𝜋𝜋(100𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻)(47𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛) 2𝜋𝜋(10𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘)(47𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛)
output voltage at a frequency of 𝑋𝑋𝐶𝐶 = 33.863𝑘𝑘Ω 𝑋𝑋𝐶𝐶 = 338.63Ω
100𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 and again at frequency of 𝑍𝑍 = �𝑅𝑅2 + 𝑋𝑋𝐶𝐶2 𝑍𝑍 = �𝑅𝑅2 + 𝑋𝑋𝐶𝐶2
10𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘. 𝑍𝑍 = �47002 + 33,8632 𝑍𝑍 = √47002 + 338.632
𝑍𝑍 = 34187.61 𝑍𝑍 = 4712.18Ω
𝑋𝑋𝑐𝑐 𝑋𝑋𝑐𝑐
𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 𝑉𝑉𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 � � 𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 𝑉𝑉𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 � �
𝑍𝑍 𝑍𝑍
33.863𝑘𝑘Ω 338.63Ω
𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 10𝑣𝑣 � � 𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 10𝑣𝑣 � �
34.187𝑘𝑘Ω 4712.18Ω
𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 9.91𝑣𝑣 𝑉𝑉𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 0.719𝑣𝑣
Calculate the cut-off frequency 𝑓𝑓𝑐𝑐 for 1
𝑓𝑓𝐶𝐶 =
a simple passive high pass filter 2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋
consisting of an 82𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 capacitor 1
𝑓𝑓𝑐𝑐 =
connected in series with a 240𝑘𝑘Ω 2𝜋𝜋(240𝑘𝑘Ω)(82𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝)
resistor. 𝑓𝑓𝑐𝑐 = 8.087 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
Bandpass and Bandstop Filters
Bandpass Filter Bandstop Filter
This type of filter allows a specific band of frequencies & It is also known as Notch Filter. It works completely
blocks any other frequencies lower or higher than its opposite to the bandpass filter. It allows low-frequency
passband frequencies. This type of filter has two cutoff signal & high-frequency signals. any signals having
frequencies i.e. lower & upper cutoff frequency. frequency in-between these cutoff frequencies are
rejected by the filter.
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Formulas Used in Bandpass Filter
1 1
𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻 = 𝑓𝑓𝐿𝐿 =
2𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅𝐻𝐻 𝐶𝐶 2𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿 𝐶𝐶
1 1 𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑟 = �𝑓𝑓𝐿𝐿 × 𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻
𝐶𝐶1 = 𝐶𝐶2 =
2𝜋𝜋𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻 𝑅𝑅1 2𝜋𝜋𝑓𝑓𝐿𝐿 𝑅𝑅2
𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻 - High-pass Frequency
𝑓𝑓𝐿𝐿 - Low-pass Frequency
𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑟 - Center Frequency
𝐶𝐶 – Capacitance
𝑅𝑅 - Resistance
Example: Band-pass Filter Circuit
A second-order band pass filter is to be constructed using For each filter capacitance:
RC components that will only allow a range of frequencies 1 1
𝐶𝐶1 = = = 15.9𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛
to pass above 1kHz and below 30kHz. Assuming that both 2𝜋𝜋𝑓𝑓𝐿𝐿 𝑅𝑅 2𝜋𝜋(1𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘)(10𝑘𝑘Ω)
the resistors have values of 10kΩ, calculate the values of 1 1
𝐶𝐶2 = = = 530𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
the two capacitors required. Find also the center 2𝜋𝜋𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻 𝑅𝑅 2𝜋𝜋(30𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘)(10𝑘𝑘Ω)
frequency of the two frequencies. For the center frequency:
𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑟 = �𝑓𝑓𝐿𝐿 × 𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻 = √1𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 × 30𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 = 5.48𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
Formulas Used in Bandstop filter
1 𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑟 = �𝑓𝑓𝐿𝐿 × 𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = 𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻 − 𝑓𝑓𝐿𝐿 𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑟
𝑓𝑓𝐿𝐿 = 𝑄𝑄 =
2𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿 𝐶𝐶 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵
1
𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻 =
2𝜋𝜋𝑅𝑅𝐻𝐻 𝐶𝐶
𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻 - High-pass Frequency 𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑟 - Center Frequency 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 – Bandwidth 𝑄𝑄 – Operating point
𝑓𝑓𝐿𝐿 - Low-pass Frequency
𝐶𝐶 – Capacitance
𝑅𝑅 - Resistance
Example: Band-pass Filter Circuit
Design a basic wide-band, RC band stop filter with a lower For resistor values of the filters:
cut-off frequency of 200𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 and a higher cut-off 1 1
𝑅𝑅𝐿𝐿 = = = 7.95𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
frequency of 800𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻. Find the value of the resistor for 2𝜋𝜋𝑓𝑓𝐿𝐿 𝐶𝐶 2𝜋𝜋(200𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻)(0.1𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇)
both frequencies, its center frequency, bandwidth and Q 1 1
𝑅𝑅𝐻𝐻 = = = 1.99𝑘𝑘Ω
of the circuit assuming the capacitor for both filter 2𝜋𝜋𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻 𝐶𝐶 2𝜋𝜋(800𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻)(0.1𝜇𝜇𝜇𝜇)
sections is 0.1𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 For the center frequency:
𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑟 = �𝑓𝑓𝐿𝐿 × 𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻 = �(200𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻)(800𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻) = 400𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻
For the bandwidth:
For the quiescent point (operating point):
𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = 𝑓𝑓𝐻𝐻 − 𝑓𝑓𝐿𝐿
𝑓𝑓𝑟𝑟 400𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻
𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = 800𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 − 200𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 𝑄𝑄 = = = 0.67
𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = 600𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 600𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻
Active Filter Characteristics
Bessel
• It gives an ideal phase characteristic with an about linear phase response up to an almost cutoff frequency.
• Although, it includes a very linear phase response but a quite gentle skirt slope.
• It is well matched for pulse applications.
Chebyshev
• It is also known as flat filter.
• This group of filters approximates the perfect filter fit in the pass band.
• This filter includes an essentially flat amplitude, frequency response up to the cut-off frequency.
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Butterworth
• It is also named as an equal ripple filter.
• A disadvantage of the Chebyshev filter is the exterior of gain minima and maxima below the cutoff
frequency.
Image Source: Fernandez-Canque, 2017
References:
Band-pass Filters. (n.d.). In allaboutcircuits.com. Retrieved on January 7, 2020 from
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/alternating-current/chpt-8/band-pass-filters/
Band-stop Filters. (n.d.). In allaboutcircuits.com. Retrieved on January 7, 2020 from
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/alternating-current/chpt-8/band-stop-filters/
Passive Band Pass Filter. (n.d.). In electronics-tutorials.ws. Retrieved on January 7, 2020 from https://www.electronics-
tutorials.ws/filter/filter_4.html
Fernandez-Canque, H. (2017). Analog Electronics Applications – Fundamentals of Design and Analysis. NW: CRC Press.
Frenzel, L. (2018). Electronics Explained. Fundamentals for Engineers, Technicians and Makers. Cambridge, MA: Newnes.
Schuler, C. (2019). Electronics: Principles and Applications (9th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Storey, N. (2017). Electronics. A Systems Approach (6th ed.). Harlow, UK: Pearson.
Tooley, M. (2018). Electronic Circuits - Fundamentals and Applications. New York: Routledge.
Tutorial on different types of Active Filters and Their Applications. (n.d.). In elprocus.com. Retrieved on January 7, 2020 from
https://www.elprocus.com/types-active-filters-and-applications/
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