TWO PORT NETWORK

UniKL BMI – Electrical Section

INTRODUCTION
 Attenuator - a device for introducing a specified loss
between a signal source and a matched load without
upsetting the impedance relationship necessary for
matching.
 The loss introduced - constant (irrespective of
frequency- reactive elements vary with frequency)
 Ideal attenuators are networks containing pure
resistances.
 A fixed attenuator section - known as a ‘pad’.
INTRODUCTION
 Attenuation - a reduction in the magnitude of a voltage
or current due to its transmission over a line / through
attenuator.
 Any degree of attenuation may be achieved by suitable
choice of resistance values ( the input and output
impedances conditions existing in the circuit into which
it is connected are not disturbed).
 Thus an attenuator must provide the correct input and
output impedances and providing the required
attenuation.
 Attenuation sections - made up of resistances connected
as T or arrangements.
TWO PORT NETWORK
 Networks - electrical energy is fed in at one pair of
terminals and taken out at a second pair of terminals.
 Thus an attenuator is a two-port network (as are
transmission lines, transformers and electronic
amplifiers).
 The network between the input port and the output port
is a transmission network – known relationship exists
between the i/p and o/p currents and voltages.
 If a network contains only passive circuit elements,
(attenuator) the network is passive.
 If a network contains a source of e.m.f. (electronic
amplifier) the network is active.
TWO PORT NETWORK

T-network, which is termed network which is symmetrical if

symmetrical if ZE = Z F
ZA = ZB

• If ZA ZB and ZE ZF, the sections are termed asymmetrical.

• Both networks shown have one common terminal, which may be earthed, and
are therefore said to be unbalanced.
 TWO PORT NETWORK

The balanced form of the T-network The balanced form of the -network
CHARACTERISTIC IMPEDENCE (RO)
 The input impedance - the ratio of voltage to current at the
input terminals.
 With a two-port network, Ro often varies according to the
load impedance across the o/p terminals.
 Any passive two-port network - a particular value of ZL can
be found which will produce Zin that have the same value as
the ZL - iterative impedance
 Symmetrical network - only one value for the iterative
impedance - Ro of the symmetrical 2 port network.
CHARACTERISTIC IMPEDENCE

• For both symmetrical T and -

network
LOGARITHMIC RATIOS
 The ratio of two powers P1 and P2 may be expressed in logarithmic form.
 Let P1 be the input power to a system and P2 the output power.
 If logarithms to base 10 are used, then the ratio is said to be in bels.
 10db = 1 bels (bels-large units)
 If logarithms to base e are used, the ratio of two powers is said to be in
nepers (Np)

• The attenuation of filter sections and along a transmission line are

of an exponential form and it is in such applications that the unit
of the neper is used.
 LOGARITHMIC RATIO
 If the powers P1 and P2 refer to power developed in two equal resistors R,
then P1=V12/R and P2=V22/R.

logarithmic voltage ratio

if currents I1 and I2 in two equal

resistors R give powers P1 and P2,
LOGARITHMIC RATIO
LOGARITHMIC RATIO - ANSWER
LOGARITHMIC RATIO
LOGARITHMIC RATIO
LOGARITHMIC RATIO
SYMMETRICAL T ATTENUATOR
• With Ro as the termination, the Rin of the pad will equal
to Ro.
• If terminating resistance Ro is transferred to port A, the
i/p resistance looking into port B will again be Ro.
• The pad is symmetrical in impedance in both directions
of connection and may be inserted into a network whose
impedance is also Ro.

• If Ro and the attenuation N are known, R1 and R2

may be calculated
T-pad attenuator having i/p and o/p impedances of Ro
with resistances R1 and R2 expressed in terms of Ro
and N.
SYMMETRICAL ATTENUATOR
SYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR –
PROBLEM 1
Determine the characteristic
impedance of each of the
attenuator sections shown in
Figure a), b) & c)
SYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR -
ANSWER
SYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR
PROBLEM 2

A symmetrical -attenuator pad has a series arm of

500 ohm resistance and each shunt arm of 1 k ohm resistance. Determine:

(a) the characteristic impedance, and

(b) the attenuation (in dB) produced by the pad.
SYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR
ANSWER PROBLEM 2
SYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR
PROBLEM 3
For each of the attenuator networks shown in Figure i) and ii) below, determine
(a) the input resistance when the output port is open-circuited,
(b) the input resistance when the output port is short-circuited, and
(c) the characteristic impedance.
SYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR
ANSWER PROBLEM 3
SYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR
PROBLEM 4

Design a T-section symmetrical attenuator pad to

provide a voltage attenuation of 20 dB and having a
characteristic impedance of 600 ohm.
SYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR
ANSWER PROBLEM 4
SYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR
PROBLEM 5

Design a -section symmetrical attenuator pad to

provide a voltage attenuation of 20 dB and having a
characteristic impedance of 600 ohm.
SYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR
ANSWER PROBLEM 5
 INSERTION LOSS

• Generator E connected directly to a load Z L.

• Let the current flowing be IL and the p.d. across
the load VL.
• z is the internal impedance of the source.

(a)

The current through the load (I2), and the p.d. across the
load (V2), will less than current IL and voltage VL of (a)
Insertion of 2 port
network
Insertion loss ratio, AL
(b)
two-port network connected
between the
generator E and load ZL. since VL=ILZL and V2=I2ZL
 INSERTION LOSS

Since both VL and V2 refer to p.d.’s across the same impedance ZL,

• When the two-port network is terminated in its Z 0 the network is matched.

• In such circumstances the input impedance is also Z 0.
• Thus the insertion loss is the ratio of input to output voltage.
• Thus, for a network terminated in its characteristic impedance,
INSERTION LOSS - PROBLEM 1

The attenuator shown in Figure below feeds a matched load.

Determine:

(a) the characteristic impedance R0, and

(b) the insertion loss in decibels.
INSERTION LOSS – ANSWER PROBLEM 1
INSERTION LOSS - PROBLEM 2

A 0–3 kilo ohm rheostat is connected across the output of a

signal generator of internal resistance 500 ohm . If a load of
2 kilo ohm is connected across the rheostat, determine the
insertion loss at a tapping of :

(a)2 kilo ohm

(b)1 kilo ohm
INSERTION LOSS – ANSWER PROBLEM 2
INSERTION LOSS – ANSWER PROBLEM 2
(CONT.)
INSERTION LOSS - PROBLEM 3

A symmetrical -attenuator pad has a series arm of

resistance 1000 ohm and shunt arms each of 500 ohm.
Determine:
(a) its characteristic impedance, and
(b) the insertion loss (in decibels) when feeding a matched load.
INSERTION LOSS – ANSWER PROBLEM 3
 ASYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR
Asymmetrical -section where
Asymmetrical T-section where R1R3
R2R3.

• Viewed from port A (each of the sections), the output impedance is R OB

• Viewed from port B, the input impedance is ROA.
• Since the sections are asymmetrical, ROAROB.
• Iterative impedance - the impedance measured at one port of a 2 port network when the
other port is terminated with an impedance of the same value.
• An image impedance - impedance connected to the terminals of a network = impedance
presented to it at the opposite terminals.
• Asymmetrical network is correctly terminated when it is terminated in its image
impedance.
• If the image impedances are equal, the value is the characteristic impedance.
ASYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR –
PROBLEM 1

An asymmetrical T-section attenuator is shown in

Figure below. Determine for the section:
(a) the image impedances,
(b) the iterative impedances.
ASYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR –
SOLUTION PROBLEM 1
ASYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR –
SOLUTION PROBLEM 1 (CONT.)
ASYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR –
PROBLEM 2

An asymmetrical -section attenuator is shown in

Figure above. Determine for the section:
(a) the image impedances,
(b) the iterative impedances.
ASYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR –
SOLUTION PROBLEM 2
ASYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR –
SOLUTION PROBLEM 2 (CONT.)
ASYMMETRICAL T & ATTENUATOR –
SOLUTION PROBLEM 2 (CONT.)
 TWO-PORT NETWORKS IN CASCADE
 Attenuator may consist of
 The o/p from the first several cascaded sections
 Often two-port networks
network becomes the i/p to achieve a particular
are connected in cascade. desired overall
to the second network.
performance.

 If the cascade is arranged so that the impedance at

 Thus, each network will
one port and the impedance of the other port have
have a matched
the same value, each section will have the same Zo
termination
and the last network will be terminated in Zo.

 The attenuation in decibels  The attenuation of section 2

of section 1 is a1=20 lg is given by a2=20 lg V2/V3,
V1/V2. and so on
TWO-PORT NETWORKS IN CASCADE

• Thus the overall attenuation is the sum of the attenuations (in

decibels) of the matched sections.
 TWO PORT NETWORKS IN CASCADE -
PROBLEM 1

Five identical attenuator sections are connected in

cascade. The overall attenuation is 70 dB and the voltage input to
the first section is 20 mV. Determine:
(a) the attenuation of each individual attenuation section,
(b) the voltage output of the final stage
(c) the voltage output of the third stage.
TWO PORT NETWORKS IN CASCADE –
SOLUTION PROBLEM 1
TWO PORT NETWORKS IN CASCADE -
PROBLEM 2

A d.c. generator has an internal resistance of 450 ohm and supplies

a 450 ohm load.
(a) Design a T-network attenuator pad having a
characteristic impedance of 450 ohm which, when
connected between the generator and the load, will
reduce the load current to 1/8 of its initial value.
(b) If two such networks as designed in (a) were connected
in series between the generator and the load,
determine the fraction of the initial current that would
now flow in the load.
(c) Determine the attenuation in decibels given by four
such sections as designed in (a).
TWO PORT NETWORKS IN CASCADE –
SOLUTION PROBLEM 2

• The T-network attenuator is shown in Figure

41.37 connected between the generator and the
load.
• Since it is matching equal impedances, the
network is symmetrical.
TWO PORT NETWORKS IN CASCADE –
SOLUTION PROBLEM 2 (CONT.)
END OF CHAPTER 3
Chapter 4 : Transients in R-L-C circuits and the
Laplace transform