Attenuators

An ideal attenuator is a device which enables us to obtain as output some desired

fraction of the input, this fraction being a constant irrespective of frequency. It
follows that ideal attenuators should be made up of pure resistances, since reactive
elements will give frequency discrimination. A fixed attenuator section is generally
known as a 'pad'.
Such a section may, by choice of suitable resistive elements, introduce any required
degree of attenuation, but the input and output impedances of the pad must be such
that the impedance conditions existing in the circuit into which it is connected are not
disturbed. The attenuator must consequently fulfil three conditions: it must give the
correct input and output impedances, and it must provide the specified attenuation.
In general, attenuator networks are made up of repetitive sections, the most common
being the symmetrical T and π sections.

Figure 1

The T-pad Attenuator

In the T-attenuator pad of Figure 1(a), made up of a series arm of two equal
resistances R1 and a centre shunt arm of R2, let a termination R0 (we are now dealing
with resistances and will mark them as such) be connected as shown, where
R0 = √(R12 + 2R1R2) = Roc Rsc
With this termination, the input resistance of the pad will also be equal to R0.
Similarly, if the terminating resistance R0 be transferred to the opposite end of the
pad, then the input resistance looking this time from the right hand side will again be
R0. (Figure 1(b)). The pad is therefore 'symmetrical' in impedance in both directions
of connection and may be as a consequence inserted into a circuit whose impedance is
also R0. This value of R0, giving an input impedance equal to the terminating
impedance, is of course, the characteristic impedance of the section.
Consider now a T-section (A) as shown in Figure 2 correctly terminated by R0. Its
input impedance is also R0, therefore when a similar section (B) is connected to it in
place of R0 as shown in the figure, B in turn correctly terminates A, since section A is
unable to distinguish between the presence of section B or the presence of a single
terminating resistance equal in value to R0. The input impedance of the two combined
sections is consequently also R0.

1
Figure 2
Evidently, any number of similar sections can be wired in tandem in this manner, each
section correctly terminating the one before it, and each introducing a fixed amount of
attenuation. Any desired degree of attenuation may therefore be obtained by the use of
a sufficient number of repetitive sections, the characteristic impedance of the total
system being equal to that of a single section.

As an attenuator is made up of purely resistive elements, there is zero phase shift in a

section or any number of sections and only the attenuation constant is of immediate
concern.

Figure 3
Example 1. Find the characteristic impedances of the three attenuating networks
drawn in Figure 3.
2
Here we use the formula R0 = R1 + 2 R1 R2
For (a) R0 = √{102 + (2 × 10 × 40)}
= √900 = 30 Ω
For (b) R0 = √{202 + (2 × 20 × 12.5)}
= √900 = 30 Ω
For (c) R0 = √{1202 + (2 × 50 × 120)}
= √26400 = 162.5 Ω

Attenuation Factor
For a single section pad, a desired characteristic impedance R0 may be obtained with
numerous combinations of R1 and R2; the examples (a) and (b) above, for instance,
both have a characteristic impedance of 30 ohms, but the section at (b) will be found
to provide a greater degree of attenuation than that at (a). The problem in the design
of an attenuator pad is, given R0 and the required attenuation, to find suitable values
for R1 and R2.

2
The attenuation may be expressed as a voltage ratio VS /VR , where Vs is the input, and
VR the output voltage, or quoted in decibels where:
Attenuation = 201og( VS /VR ) dB
or in terms of power: =10 log (Ps /PR ) dB
= 201og√( Ps /PR ) dB
whence, VS /VR = √( Ps /PR ) = N, which we will call the attenuation factor.
This relationship follows from the fact that if the section is symmetrical, that is, if the
terminals of the section are matched to equal impedances, then:

Ps /PR = (VS /VR)2 = (IS /IR)2

Therefore, for a pad in a symmetrical circuit, the attenuation factor N = VS /VR = IS /IR
but in an asymmetrical circuit the value N = √( Ps /PR) must be used.

Symmetrical T-pad
VS
For the symmetrical T-pad shown in Figure 4 let the attenuation N = V . With this
R
notation, attenuation is expressed as a whole number of 'times', not a fraction. We
have from the circuit:

Figure 4

VS
IS =
R0
V = VS − R1 I S
VS R
= VS − R1 = VS (1 − 1 )
R0 R0
R0 R R0
VR = V = VS (1 − 1 )( )
R1 + R0 R0 R1 + R0
R0 − R1 R0
= VS ( )( )
R0 R1 + R0
VS R + R1
=N= 0
VR R0 − R1
Equation 1
This formula gives us the attenuation factor in terms of R0 and R1. We require now to
derive expressions for R1 and.R2 in terms of N and R0. From Equation 1 above we
have, by cross multiplication:

3
Using these formulae, therefore, an attenuator can be designed to give the specified
attenuation and to be matched symmetrically into the circuit.
The calculated values for R1 and R2 have been inserted in the T-section of Figure 4
where the input and output impedances are R0.

Example 2. Design a T-type symmetrical pad to provide 20 dB of voltage attenuation

and having a characteristic impedance of 600 Ω.

20 log10N = 20
20
N = antilog10 [20 ] = antilog10 1.0 = 10
N−1
R1= R0[N + 1 ] = 600 × 9/11 = 491 Ω
2N
R2= R0[ 2 ] = 600 × 20/99 = 121 Ω
N −1

4
It should be particularly noted that the current supplied by the generator I will be the
same whether the attenuator network is in circuit or not, as the generator sees an
impedance of 600 Ω in either case and cannot distinguish between them. The current
in the load with the attenuator in circuit, however, is only I/5 as required; the
remaining 4/5I passes along the shunt arm. The distribution is indicated in the figure.
As the present network reduces the load current to 1/5 of its initial value, the insertion
of a second similar network will reduce the load current to 1/5 × 1/5 = 1/25 of the
initial current. (NOT 1/5 + 1/5 remember!). The generator will, of course, still see a
load resistance of 600 Ω as the second network, itself terminated by the 600 Ω load
resistance, will in turn terminate the first network with 600 Ω.

5
The symmetrical π attenuator

Figure 5 Symmetrical π attenuator

Note that R1 is given by the inverse of R2 in the T network and R2 is given by the
inverse of R1 in the T-attenuator.