20th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MICRO/NANOTECHNOLOGIES AND ELECTRON DEVICES EDM 2019

The Third Order Active Low-Pass RC-Filters

Based on Differential and Differential Difference
Operational Amplifiers
Darya Yu. Denisenko1, Anna V. Bugakova2, Student Member, IEEE,
Nikolay N. Prokopenko1,3, Member, IEEE, Yuriy Iv. Ivanov2,
1
Don State Technical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
2
Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
3
Institute for Design Problems in Microelectronics of RAS, Zelenograd, Russia

Abstract – A new structure of the third order low-pass RC-
filter (ARCF-III) designed for practical use as a spectrum
limiter at the input of various analog-to-digital converters of
the A/D Interface of the instrumentation and control system is
considered. It is shown that in the proposed ARCF-III the
high guaranteed attenuation of the amplitude-frequency
characteristic is provided outside the operating band. Three
modifications of ARCF-III are developed for its
implementation based on differential and differential
difference operational amplifiers. Analytical expressions
defining the conditions for the synthesis of ARCF-III are
presented. The results of computer simulation of the
amplitude-frequency characteristic are discussed.
Index Terms – Active RC-filter, low-pass filter, active circuit,
differential operational amplifier, differential difference
amplifier, analog-to-digital converter.
I. INTRODUCTION
significant impact on the dynamic errors of many analog-
digital systems of the automatic control [3-5].
Some of the well-known ARCF-III [2,27] schemes with
the transfer function of the third order have five frequency
seed capacitors. In addition, when they are implemented a
high attenuation of spurious signals is not always ensured
outside the operating band. This adversely affects the
metrological characteristics of measuring systems and
devices for entering analog information into IBM, in which
ARCF-III determines the dynamic error of the analog-
digital interface [3-5].
The purpose and novelty of this article is to describe the
properties of the new structure of the ARC low-pass filter
[28], ensuring a high level of guaranteed attenuation of the
amplitude-frequency characteristic (AFC) outside the pass-
band, including when it is implemented on the basis of a
promising element base – differential difference
operational amplifiers.

N OWADAYS, analog filtering has been significantly

sidelined by digital signal processing (DSP).
However, with severe restrictions on energy consumption,
many tasks of construction of sensor interfaces based only
on DSP have not been solved [1,2]. In addition, input
analog anti-aliasing filters (spectrum limiters), as a rule, are
an integral part of various ADCs [3] and affect their
errors [4,5].
Currently, the theory of analog ARC-filters (ARCF),
incl. for ADC conversion tasks, is developing in the
direction of the application of new active elements (AE)
[6,7]. Among them are differential difference operational
amplifiers (DDAs) [8-11] and transimpedance operational
amplifiers [12,13], various modifications of current
conveyors [14-17] and amplifiers with current feedback
[18-22]. Active research is being carried out in the field of
low-temperature [22] and tunable filters [23,24], as well as
in the direction of searching for architectures that minimize
the influence of the gain area of the AE on the main
parameters of the ARCF.
The third order active RC-filters (ARCF-III) are widely
used in modern electronics [1,2,25-27] and have a
II. PROBLEM STATEMENT
The creation of the new ARCF-III structure is always a
significant event in the field of analog filters. In this case,
there are problems of determining the general properties of
such schemes, the development of recommendations for
their construction on the basis of a promising electronic
component base and practical use. In this regard, the article
discusses options for the implementation of ARCF-III on
both classic operational amplifiers (Op-Amps) and
insufficiently studied DDA, which belong to one of the
development vectors of analogue electronic component
base [8-11].
III. BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE ACTIVE
RC-FILTER III-ORDER ON CLASSICAL
OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIERS
To solve the problem of providing high attenuation of
spurious signals outside the frequency band of the useful
signal, the basic architecture of ARCF-III [28] has been
developed, which contains an input operational amplifier

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 20th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MICRO/NANOTECHNOLOGIES AND ELECTRON DEVICES EDM 2019

Op-Amp1, inverting buffer stage (BA), usually performed
on Op-Amp2, and also passive elements – resistors R1-R4
and capacitors C1-C3. The output inverting buffer
amplifier can be implemented on the basis of classic Op-
Amp2 according to the traditional connection scheme with
negative feedback resistors [26].
operational amplifier (DDA) with two input ports. Non-
inverting inputs in.1 and in.3 are connected to the common
power rail, and the negative feedback in the DDA is
connected to the in.4.

Fig. 2. The scheme of ARCF-III when implementing an inverting buffer

amplifier on the DDA.

The application of the DDA in the scheme of Fig. 2

Fig. 1. The basic scheme of the ARCF-III with its implementation based enables to eliminate the feedback resistors when
on the classic Op-Amp. constructing an inverting buffer stage and, as a result, to
The transfer functions of ARCF-III of Fig. 1 are reduce the power consumption of the circuit in the
generally described by the expression operating band.
Vout p  a0 Replacing of classic operational amplifier Op-Amp1 in
Fp  M 3 , (1) the circuit of Fig. 2 to the differential difference operational
Vin p  2
p  a 2 p  a 1p  a 0 amplifier (Fig. 3) solves the problem of controlling the
where M – filter gain at zero frequency, a 2 ...a 0 – transfer level of the constant component at the output of ARCF-III.
This enables to expand the dynamic range of the filter on
function gains depending on the topology of the circuit and the output level.
the parameters of its elements.
It can be shown that the above transfer function gains of
ARCF-III of Fig. 1 are associated with the parameters of
the passive circuit elements by the following expressions
R4
M , (2)
R1
1 1 1 1
a2     
R4 C1 R2 C 2 R1C1 R3C 2
(3)
1 1
  ,
R2 C1 R3C3
1 1 1 Fig. 3. A version of construction of the low-pass filter of Fig. 1 on two
a1     difference operational amplifiers with a DC level control circuit at the
R2 R4 C1C 2 R4 R3C1C 2 R1 R2 C1C 2 output of R5-R8.
1 1 1 Due to the optimal selection of the resistances of resistors
    (4)
R1 R3C1C 2 R2 R3C1C 2 R1 R3C1C 3 R5-R8, as well as the bias source Ec, we can ensure the
desired static voltage at the output of the filter V0, and also
1 1
  , reduce the effect of the offset of the DDA and its input
R4 R3C1C 3 R2 R3C1C 3 currents on V0 at large resistances of frequency seed
1 resistors R1-R4.
a0  . (5)
R2 R3 R4 C1C 2 C3
Equations (2)-(5) are the basis for the parametric V. COMPUTER SIMULATION RESULTS
synthesis of the scheme of Fig. 1 for the preset parameters Fig. 4 shows two amplitude-frequency characteristics of
of the amplitude-frequency characteristic (1). the scheme Fig. 1. Graph 1 illustrates the computer
simulation results of ARCF-III of Fig. 1 with real Op-
IV. THE LOW-PASS FILTER ON THE BASE OF THE Amp1 and Op-Amp2. Graph 2 corresponds to the
calculated values of the amplitude-frequency characteristic
DIFFERENTIAL DIFFERENCE AMPLIFIERS
of ARCF-III of Fig. 1 with ideal operational amplifiers Op-
Fig. 2 shows ARCF-III of Fig. 1, the output buffer stage Amp1 and Op-Amp2. This AFC is found from the
of which is made in the form of a differential difference expression (1) and is calculated by the formula

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20th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MICRO/NANOTECHNOLOGIES AND ELECTRON DEVICES EDM 2019
AFC (  )  F  j 
a0
M
a 0  2 a 2   a    
2
1
3 2
with the corresponding coefficients (2)-(5).
Fig. 4. Amplitude-frequency characteristics of the ARCF-III of Fig. 1.
The graphs of two phase-frequency characteristics (PFC)
are shown for comparison in Fig. 5. It should be noted that
the graph with the number “1” was obtained as a result of
the simulation of the scheme Fig. 1, and the graph with the
number “2” was calculated by the formula
a1  3
(  )   arctg , (7)
a 0  2 a 2
which is found from the transfer function (1).
Fig. 5. Phase-frequency characteristics of the ARCF-III Fig. 1.
From the analysis of graphs Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 it is clear
that in the low frequency range the characteristics repeat
each other, and in the high frequency range the
characteristic obtained in computer simulation of ARCF-III
on real operational amplifiers Op-Amp1 and Op-Amp2
deviates from its calculated value. This deviation of the
AFC of the real scheme is associated with the
imperfections of the operational amplifiers used. Moreover,
the amplification area of operational amplifier Op-Amp1
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makes the most significant contribution to this deviation.
The larger its amplification area (unity gain frequency), the
(6) less the deviation of the AFC of the filter from its
,
calculated value will be observed in the high-frequency
region.
The graphs of Fig. 4 show that proposed ARCF-III
provides a sufficiently high attenuation of the signal
outside the pass-band. However, unlike other ARCF-IIIs
[27], the proposed third order scheme has not five, but only
three frequency seed capacitors. Reducing the number of
frequency seed capacitors improves the manufacturability
of ARCF-III in its practical implementation and simplifies
its setup procedures.
The characteristics Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 of the scheme Fig. 1
does not change significantly when using DDAs Fig. 3, for
example, such as:
 AD830 “High Speed, Video Difference Amplifier”
(Analog Devices Inc.);
 AD8129/AD8130 “Low Cost 270 MHz Differential
Receiver Amplifiers” (Analog Devices Inc.);
 MAX4208/MAX4209 “Ultra-Low Offset/Drift,
Precision Instrumentation Amplifiers with REF
Buffer” (Maxim Integrated);
 MAX9922/3 “Ultra-Precision, High-Side Current-
Sense Amplifiers” (Maxim Integrated);
 ISL6552 “Microprocessor CORE Voltage Regulator
Multi-Phase Buck PWM Controller” (Intersil Inc.);
 ISL28617 “40V Precision Instrumentation Amplifier
withDifferential ADC Driver” (Intersil Inc.);
 ISL28270 “Rail-to-Rail Input and Output (RRIO)
Instrumentation Amplifier” (Intersil Inc.), etc.
However, in the scheme of Fig. 3, additional possibilities
are realized for controlling the static mode at the filter
output with large resistances of resistors R1-R4. In some
cases, we can do without the use of resistors R7, R8 and the
bias supply Ec.
VI. CONCLUSION
The properties of the new architecture of the active RC
low-pass filter have been considered for its implementation
based on differential and differential difference operational
amplifiers. The conditions for parametric synthesis are
obtained.
The influence of the unity gain frequency of the applied
Op-Amp and differential difference operational amplifiers
on the parameters of the amplitude-frequency characteristic
has been established. The computer simulation results of
the proposed low-pass filter enable us to recommend it for
practical use as a spectrum limiter at the input of various
analog-digital converters.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The study has been carried out at the expense of the grant
from the Russian Science Foundation (Project No. 18-79-
10109).
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Darya Yu. Denisenko was born on the 28-th of
May, 1991 in the city of Taganrog, Rostov
region, Russia. She received a Bachelor’s Degree
of Automation and Management (2012) and a
Master’s Degree of Automation and Technology
and Manufacturing Processes (2014).
At this time, she is a PhD Student of the
Department “Information Systems and Radio
Engineering” of DSTU. Since 2012, she has been
an assistant professor of the Department
“Automated Control Systems” of SFU. She is a
co-author of 1 monograph and more than 30 articles. Her research
interests include analog and digital signal filtering.
She has various rewards for high rates in the field of scientific and
research work.
Anna V. Bugakova (SM’2017) was born in
1992 in Shakhty, Russia. Received a Bachelor’s
Degree in information service (2015) and a
Master’s Degree in the area of intelligence
information systems (DSTU, 2017).
Since 2017, she has been a PhD student of
DSTU in the field of 05.13.05 “Elements and
Devices of Computer Engineering and Control
Systems”. In 2013-2017, she was being a
20th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MICRO/NANOTECHNOLOGIES AND ELECTRON DEVICES EDM 2019

research assistant of DSTU, since 2017, she has been an engineer of

DSTU. The scientific interest is an analog and A/D microcircuitry.
She has awards of DSTU for high indexes in research work and
Diplomas of arrangements committees of IEEE conferences and
symposiums for the effective reporting.
She has awards of DSTU for high indexes in research work, Diplomas
of IEEE organizing committees and symposiums (EWDTS, TELFOR,
RADEC'S etc.) for successful presentation of reports. Since 2017 is
laureate the Russian President's scholarship to the young scientist and PhD
students.

Nikolay N. Prokopenko (M’2012) was born on

the 1-st of January, 1949 in Koltunovka village,
Russia. He became a PhD in Engineering
Science (1975, SPSETI, the city of Leningrad),
Doctor of Engineering Science (2001), Taganrog
Radio Engineering University).
His research interests include analog
microcircuitry. At the present time he is a head
of the Department “Information Systems and
Radio Engineering” of DSTU, a head of
Scientific and Research Laboratory of Design Problems in Extreme
Microelectronics of IPPM RAS and DSTU, President of the Section of
Academic Science and Innovations of Rectors’ Board of Higher
Educational Institutions of Rostov region. He is a co-author of 20
monographs, more than 550 articles and inventions.

Yuriy Iv. Ivanov was born on the 14-th of

January, 1959 in Sambek village, Neklinovskiy
district of Rostov region, Russia. He received
PhD of theoretical bases in Radio Engineering in
1991.
From 1981 till 1992 he was a junior research
fellow of the Department “Automatics and
Telemechanics” of Taganrog Radio Engineering
Institute. Since 1992 till present he has been an
associate professor of the Department
“Automated Control Systems” of Southern
Federal University. He is a co-author of 3 monographs, as well as more
than 200 articles and 35 inventions. His research interests include analog,
discrete analog and digital filters, microelectronic circuit design analog
RC-filters, microcontroller system of automatic control, power conversion
electronics, distributed systems of monitoring and management. He is a
director of the Scientific and Research Centre “Intelligent Control
Systems” of SFU.
He is a “Honorable Worker of Higher Professional Education of the
Russian Federation” (2011).

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