Analog Electronic

Active Filter
Introduction
Filters are circuits that are capable of passing signals within a band of frequencies
while rejecting or blocking signals of frequencies outside this band. This property of
filters is also called “frequency selectivity”.
Filter circuits built using components such as resistors, capacitors and inductors only
are known as passive filters.
Active filters employ transistors or op-amps in addition to resistors and capacitors.
Advantages of Active Filters over Passive
Filters

1. Active filters can be designed to provide

required gain, and hence no attenuation as in
the case of passive filters
2. No loading problem, because of high input
resistance and low output resistance of op-
amp.
3. Active Filters are cost effective as a wide
variety of economical op-amps are available.
Applications
Active filters are mainly used in communication and signal processing circuits.
They are also employed in a wide range of applications such as entertainment,
medical electronics, etc.
Active Filters
There are 4 basic categories of active filters:

1. Low pass filters

2. High pass filters
3. Band pass filters
4. Band reject filters
Each of these filters can be built by using op-amp as the active element combined
with RC, RL or RLC circuit as the passive elements.
Active Filters

The passband is the range of frequencies that are allowed to pass through the filter.

f
The critical frequency, c is specified at the point where the response drops by 3dB
from the passband response (i.e. to 70.7% of the passband response)
The stopband is the range of frequencies that have the most attenuation.
The transition region is the area where the fall-off occurs
 Basic Filter Responses
1. Low-pass filter

Allows the frequency from 0 Hz to

f
critical frequency H (also known as
cutoff frequency).
Ideally, the response drops abruptly

f
at the critical frequency H.

Ideal response
 Basic Filter Responses
1. Low-pass filter

In an RC low-pass filter, the

critical frequency can be
calculated from the expression:

1
fc  f H 
2RC
Basic Filter Responses

Actual response
 Basic Filter Responses
2. High-Pass filter

Gain, Vo / Vi
Allows the frequencies above the

f
critical frequency L. (also known as 1
the cutoff frequency.
Ideally, the response rises abruptly at
the critical frequency

0 fL f
Stop Pass
band band

Ideal response
 Basic Filter Responses
2. High-Pass filter

In an RC high-pass filter, the critical frequency can be calculated from the expression;

1
fc  f L 
2RC
Basic Filter Responses

actual response
 Basic Filter Responses

3. Band-Pass filter
Allows frequencies between a lower Gain,
f
cutoff frequency ( L) and an upper
1
cutoff frequency (fH).

0 fL fH f
Pass
band
Ideal response
Basic Filter Responses

actual response
 Basic Filter Responses
3. Band-Pass filter

BW  f c 2  f c1

Bandwidth,
 Basic Filter Responses
3. Band-Pass filter

f c1  f c 2
Center frequency,
f0 
2
 Basic Filter Responses
3. Band-Pass filter

Quality factor (Q) is the ratio of

center
f
frequency o to the BW;

f0
Q
BW
 Basic Filter Responses

4. Band-stop filter Gain, [Vo / Vi ]

Opposite of a band-pass.

f f
Frequencies above c1 ( L) and 1
f f
above c2 ( H) are passed

0 fL fH f
Stop
band
Ideal response
Basic Filter Responses

Actual response
Animation
A "Group" of waves passing through a Typical Band-Pass Filter
Filter Response Characteristics
Identified by the shape of the response curve

• Passband flatness
• Attenuation of frequency outside the
passband
Three types:
1. Butterworth
2. Bessel
3. Chebyshev
Filter Response Characteristics
 Filter Response Characteristics
1. Butterworth Response
• Amplitude response is very flat.
• The roll-off rate -20 dB per decade
(per filter order).
• This is the most widely used.
 Filter Response Characteristics
2. Chebyshev
• Ripples.
• The roll-off rate greater than –20 dB.
• a nonlinear phase response.
 Filter Response Characteristics
3. Bessel
• Linear phase response.
• ideal for filtering pulse waveforms.
Filter Response Characteristics
Damping Factor
The damping factor of an active filter determines the type of response characteristic
either Butterworth, Chebyshev, or Bessel.
The output signal is fed back into the filter circuit with negative feedback determined
by the combination of R1 and R 2.
 Filter Response Characteristics
Damping Factor

R1
DF  2 
R2

Diagram of an active filter

Filter Response Characteristics
Critical Frequency and Roll-off rate

• Greater roll-off rates can be achieved with

more poles.
• Each RC set of filter components represents
a pole.
• Cascading of filter circuits also increases the
poles which results in a steeper roll-off.
• Each pole represents a –20 dB/decade
increase in roll-off
Filter Response Characteristics

First order (one pole) low pass filter

Filter Response Characteristics
The number of filter poles can be increased by cascading
Filter Response Characteristics
Active Low-Pass Filters
Basic Low-Pass filter circuit
At critical frequency,
Resistance = capacitive reactance
i.e.

R  Xc
1 1
or
R R
c C 2f c C
Active Low-Pass Filters
Basic Low-Pass filter circuit
So, critical frequency;

1
fc 
2RC
Active Low-Pass Filters
Low Pass Response
Roll-off depends on
number the of poles.
 Active Low-Pass Filters
A Single-Pole Filter
One pole

R1
Acl  1 
R2

1
fc 
2RC
Active Low-Pass Filters
A Single-Pole Filter
Active Low-Pass Filters

The Sallen-Key
• second-order (two-pole) filter
• roll-off -40dB per decade

Two-pole
Low-pass
circuit
Active Low-Pass Filters
The Sallen-Key

1
fc 
2 RA RB C AC B
1
fc 
For RA = RB = R and CA = CB = C;
2RC
Active Low-Pass Filters

Example

For the following circuit;

• Determine critical frequency
• Set the value of R1 for Butterworth
response
 Active Low-Pass Filters
Example (cont’d)
Active Low-Pass Filters

Solution
• Critical frequency

1
fc   7.23 kHz
2RC
Active Low-Pass Filters

Solution
• Butterworth response from Table 15.1 Floyd,
page 744,1 2
R1/R2 = 0.586;
R  0.586 R R  586 kΩ
1
Active Low-Pass Filters
Cascaded LPF – Three-pole
• cascade two-pole and single-pole
• roll-off -60dB per decade
Active Low-Pass Filters
Cascaded LPF – Four pole
• cascade two-pole and two-pole
• roll-off -80dB per decade
 Active Low-Pass Filters
Example
For the fourth order filter circuit shown in the following figure, determine the
capacitance values required to produce a critical frequency of 2680 Hz if all resistors in
RC low pass circuit is 1.8 k.
Active Low-Pass Filters
Example (cont’d)
Active Low-Pass Filters
Example – SOLUTION

1 1
fc  C  0.033 μF
2RC 2f c R

C A1  C B1  C A 2  C B 2  0.033 μF
Active High-Pass Filters
Basic High-Pass circuit
At critical frequency,
Resistance
= capacitive reactance

i.e;
R  Xc
1 1
or;
R or;
R
c C 2f c C
Active High-Pass Filters
Basic High-Pass circuit
So, critical frequency ;

1
fc 
2RC
Active High-Pass Filters
High Pass Response

Roll-off depends on
number the of poles.
Active High-Pass Filters
A Single-Pole Filter

R1
Acl  1 
R2

1
fc 
2RC
Circuit
Active High-Pass Filters
A Single-Pole Filter

Response
curve
Active High-Pass Filters

The Sallen-Key

• second-order (two-pole) filter

• roll-off -40dB per decade
Active High-Pass Filters
The Sallen-Key
Active High-Pass Filters
The Sallen-Key

1
fc 
2 RA RB C AC B

Lets RA = RB = R and CA = CB = C;

1
fc 
2RC
Active High-Pass Filters
Cascaded HPF – Six pole
• cascade 3 Sallen-Key two-pole stages
• roll-off -120 dB per decade
 Active Band-Pass Filters
A cascade of a low-pass and high-pass filter.
Active Band-Pass Filters
Active Band-Pass Filters

1
f c1 
2 RA1 RB1C A1C B1

1
f0  f c1 f c 2 fc2 
2 RA 2 RB 2C A2C B 2
Active Band-Pass Filters
 Active Band-Pass Filters
Multiple-Feedback BPF
• The low-pass circuit consists of R1 and C1.
• The high-pass circuit consists of R2 and C2.

• The feedback paths are through C1 and R2.

• Center frequency; 1
f0 
2 R1 // R3 R2C1C2
 Active Band-Pass Filters
State-Variable BPF
State-Variable BPF is widely used for band-pass applications.
 Active Band-Pass Filters
State-Variable BPF

• It consists of a summing amplifier and two

integrators.
• It has outputs for low-pass, high-pass, and
band-pass.
• The center frequency is set by the integrator
RC circuits.
• R5 and R6 set the Q (bandwidth).
 Active Band-Pass Filters
The band-pass output peaks sharply the center frequency giving it a high Q.
 Active Band-Stop Filters

The BSF is opposite of BPF in that it blocks a specific band of frequencies.

The multiple-feedback design is similar to a BPF with exception of the placement of R3

and the addition of R4.
Active Band-Stop Filters
Filter Response Measurements
Measuring frequency response can be performed with typical bench-type
equipment.
It is a process of setting and measuring frequencies both outside and inside the
known cutoff points in predetermined steps.
Use the output measurements to plot a graph.
More accurate measurements can be performed with sweep generators along with
an oscilloscope, a spectrum analyzer, or a scalar analyzer.
Summary
• The bandwidth of a low-pass filter is the same
as the upper critical frequency.
• The bandwidth of a high-pass filter extends
from the lower critical frequency up to the
inherent limits of the circuit.
• The band-pass passes frequencies between
the lower critical frequency and the upper
critical frequency.
Summary
• A band-stop filter rejects frequencies within
the upper critical frequency and upper critical
frequency.
• The Butterworth filter response is very flat
and has a roll-off rate of –20 B
• The Chebyshev filter response has ripples and
overshoot in the passband but can have roll-
off rates greater than –20 dB
Summary
• The Bessel response exhibits a linear phase
characteristic, and filters with the Bessel
response are better for filtering pulse
waveforms.
• A filter pole consists of one RC circuit. Each
pole doubles the roll-off rate.
The Q of a filter indicates a band-pass filter’s
selectivity. The higher the Q the narrower the
bandwidth.
• The damping factor determines the filter
response characteristic.
Active Filters
EXAMPLE

With reference to the following circuit;

i. Name the type of circuit. Determine the
critical frequency
ii. Modify the circuit to increase roll-off to
120dB/decade.
iii. Convert the circuit to become a high pass
filter.
Active Filters
EXAMPLE (cont’d)
Active Filters
SOLUTION
(i)

Type of circuit:
FOUR-POLE LOW-PASS ACTIVE FILTER
R A  4.7 k; RB  6.8 k;
Critical frequency

C A  0.22 μF; C B  0.1 μF

Active Filters
SOLUTION (cont’d)

1
fc 
2 RA RB C AC B

1

2 4.7k  6.8k  0.22μ  0.1μ

 189 Hz
Active Filters
SOLUTION (cont’d)
(ii) Modification
Add the following 3rd stage to the output of the 2nd stage
Active Filters
SOLUTION (cont’d)
Assignment on Active Filters
Due date : 30th Sept 2005

Refer to Floyd text book

page 766 – 770
Q5, Q10, Q15, Q16, Q19