FILTER

An electrical network that alters the amplitude and/or

phase characteristics of a signal with respect to frequency
Ideally, a filter will not add new frequencies to the input
signal, nor will it change the component frequencies of
that signal, BUT it will change the relative amplitudes of
the various frequency components and/or their phase
relationships.
Often used to emphasize signals in certain frequency
ranges and reject signals in other frequency ranges

FILTER TYPES
Low Pass

High Pass

Low Pass

-blocks high frequencies

High Pass

-blocks low frequencies

Bandpass
Bandpass

Bandstop

-blocks high and low

frequencies except in
narrow band

Bandstop

-blocks frequencies in a
narrow band

ACTIVE FILTERS

A type of analog electronic filter that uses active components such as

an amplifier
Amplifiers included in a filter design can be used to improve the performance
and predictability of a filter, while avoiding the need for inductors
Frequently use op amps so filter may have some gain as well.
Alternative to LRC-based filters

Benefits
Provide improved characteristics
Smaller size and weight
Monolithic integration in IC
Implement without inductors
Lower cost
More reliable
Less power dissipation

Disadvantage
Added complexity
More design effort

2nd ORDER SYSTEM

The order of a filter is the highest power of the variable s (poles) in

its transfer function.
The order of a filter is usually equal to the total number of
capacitors and inductors in the circuit
Higher-order filters will obviously be more expensive to build, since
they use more components, and they will also be more complicated
to design.
However, higher-order filters can more effectively discriminate
between signals at different frequencies

Second-Order Filter Functions

Stop Band Filters (SBF)

The Band Stop Filter, (BSF) is another type of frequency selective

circuit that functions in exactly the opposite way to the Band Pass
Filter we looked at before.
It passes all frequencies with the exception of those within a
specified stop band which are greatly attenuated.
Name Convention: A narrow-band bandstop filter will be referred
to as a Notch Filter and the wideband bandstop filter will be referred
to as Band-reject Filter.

Stop Band Filters (SBF)

have two cut-off frequencies, commonly known as the -3dB or

half-power points producing a wide stop band bandwidth between
these two -3dB points.
Then the function of a band stop filter is too pass all those
frequencies from zero (DC) up to its first (lower) cut-off frequency
point L, and pass all those frequencies above its second (upper)
cut-off frequency H, but block or reject all those frequencies inbetween.
BW = H L
So for a wide-band band stop filter, the filters actual stop band lies
between its lower and upper -3dB points as it attenuates, or rejects
any frequency between these two cut-off frequencies.

Band Stop Filter Response

Band Stop Filter Characteristics

Band Stop Filter Circuit

 There are many circuit topologies that can be

used for very narrow notch filters, including:
Twin-T
Fliege
Wien-bridge
State-variable.

TWIN-T NOTCH FILTER

The twin-T (or twin-tee) filter is essentially a notch

(band stop) filter.
It can still give an extremely high Q notch without the
use of any opamps.
In theory, the notch depth is infinite at the tuning
frequency, but this is rarely achieved in practice.
Notch depths of 100dB are easily achieved, and are
common in distortion analysers.
If the notch is placed at the fundamental frequency of
the applied signal, it is effectively removed completely,
so any signal that is measured is noise and distortion.

 The twin-T notch requires extraordinary component

precision to achieve a complete notch, and for this
reason it's not often recommended. However, it is
without doubt one of the best filters to use when a very
deep notch is needed - especially for completely passive
circuits.

EXAMPLE PROBLEM

SOLUTION

SOLUTION

ANSWER

FLIEGE NOTCH FILTER

Normally, the Fliege Filter is something of an oddity, but

it makes an easily tuned notch filter with variable Q.
Notch depth is not as good as a twin-T, but it can be
tuned with a single resistor (within limits).

ACTIVE WIEN ROBINSON NOTCH FILTER

The Wien-Robinson bridge in the figure below is a passive

band-rejection filter with differential output.
The output voltage is the difference between the potential
of a constant voltage divider and the output of a band-pass
filter.
Its Q-factor is close to that of the twin-T circuit.
To achieve higher values of Q, the filter is connected into
the feedback loop of an amplifier.

ACTIVE WIEN ROBINSON NOTCH FILTER

The active Wien-Robinson filter in the figure has the

transfer function:

ACTIVE WIEN ROBINSON NOTCH FILTER

ACTIVE WIEN ROBINSON NOTCH FILTER

ACTIVE WIEN ROBINSON NOTCH FILTER

In comparison to the twin-T circuit, the Wien-Robinson

filter allows modification of the
passband gain, A0, without affecting the quality factor, Q.
If fm is not completely suppressed due to component
tolerances of R and C, a fine-tuning
of the resistor 2R2 is required.

SUMMARY:

An ideal band stop filter has a frequency response

which is the inverse of the band-pass filter.
Band stop filters block or reject frequencies that lie
between its two cut-off frequency points ( L and H )
but passes all those frequencies either side of this range.
The range of frequencies above L and below H is
called the stop band.
Band Stop Filters have many uses in electronics and
communication circuits and as we have seen here, they
can be used to remove a band of unwanted frequencies
from a system, allowing other frequencies to pass with
minimum loss. Notch filters can be highly selective and
can be designed to reject or attenuate a specific
frequency or harmonic content generating electrical
noise, such as mains hum within a circuit.