BANDPASS FILTERS
Frequency Response of Bandpass Filter
A bandpass filter is a frequency selector. It allows one to select or pass only one
particular band of frequencies from all other frequencies that may be present in a
circuit. Its normalized frequency response is shown in Figure 6.14. This type of
filter has a maximum gain at a resonant frequency fr. In this chapter all bandpass
filters will have a gain of 1 or 0 dB at fr. There is one frequency below fr where the
gain falls to 0.707. It is the lower cutoff frequency, fcL. At higher cutoff frequency,
fcH, the gain also equals 0.707, as in Figure 6.14.
Bandwidth
The range of frequencies between fcL and fcH is called bandwidth B, or
B f cH f cL (6.31)
The bandwidth is not exactly centered on the resonant frequency. (It is for this
reason that we use the historical name “resonant frequency” rather than “center
frequency” to describe fr.)
If you know the values for fcL and fcH, the resonant frequency can be found
from
f r f cH f cL (6.32)
If you know the resonant frequency, fr, and bandwidth, B, cutoff frequencies can
be found from
B2 2 B
f cL fr (6.33)
4 2
f cH f cL B (6.34)
V0
AcL
Vs
Resonant frequency fr
1.0 Bandwidth
B = fcHfcL
0.707
Frequency
fcL fr fcH
Figure 6.14 A bandpass filter has a maximum gain at resonant frequency fr.
The band of frequencies transmitted lies between fcL and fcH.
Quality Factor
The quality factor Q is defined as the ratio of resonant frequency to bandwidth, or
f
Q r (6.35)
B
Q is a measure of the bandpass filter’s selectivity. A high Q indicates that a filter
selects a smaller band of frequencies (more selective).
Narrow and Wideband Filters
A wideband filter has a bandwidth that is two or more times the resonant
frequency. That is, Q 0.5 for wideband filters. In general, wideband filters are
made by cascading a low-pass filter circuit with a high-pass filter circuit. This
topic is covered in the next section. A narrowband filter (Q > 0.5) can usually be
made with a single stage.
BASIC WIDEBAND FILTER
Cascading
When the output of one circuit is connected in series with the input of a second
circuit, the process is called cascading gain stages. In Figure 6.15, the first stage is
a 3000-Hz low-pass filter. Its output is connected to the input of a 300-Hz high-
pass filter. The cascaded pair of active filters now form a bandpass filter from Vs
to the output V0. Note that it makes no difference if the high-pass is connected to
the low-pass, or vice versa.
Wideband Filter Circuit
In general, a wideband filter is made by cascading a low- and a high-pass filter
(Figure 6.15). Cutoff frequencies of the low- and high-pass sections must not
overlap, and each must have the same passband gain. Furthermore, the low-pass
filter’s cutoff frequency must be 10 or more times the high-pass filter’s cutoff
frequency.
For cascaded low- and high-pass filters, the resulting wideband filter will have
the following characteristics:
1. The lower cutoff frequency, fcL, will be determined only by the high-pass
filter.
2. The high cutoff frequency, fcH, will be set only by the low-pass filter.
3. Gain will be maximum at resonant frequency, fr and equal to the passband
gain of either filter.
These principles are illustrated next.
Frequency Response
In Figure 6.15 the frequency response of a basic 40 dB/decade 3000 Hz low-pass
filter is plotted as a dashed line. The frequency response of a 300 Hz high-pass
filter is plotted as a solid line. The 40 dB/decade roll-off of the high-pass filter is
seen to determine fcL. The 40 dB/decade roll-off of the low-pass sets fcH. Both
roll-off curves make up the frequency response of the bandpass filter, V0 versus f.
Narrow passband filters will be introduced in Section 6.12. Discussion of notch
filters is deferred until Sections 6.13 and 6.14.
NARROWBAND PASSBAND FILTERS
Narrowband filters exhibit the typical frequency response shown in Figure
6.16(a). The analysis and construction of narrowband filters is considerably
simplified if we stipulate that the narrowband filter will have a maximum gain of
1 or 0 dB at the resonant frequency fr. Equations (6.31) to (6.35) and bandpass
terms were presented in Section 6.10. They gave an introduction to (cascaded
pair) wideband filters. These equations and terms also apply to the narrowband
filters that follow.
V0
AcL
Vs
Bandwidth
1.0 f
B r
Q
0.707
0.1 Frequency
0.1fr fcL fr fcH 10fr
(a) Typical frequency response curve of a narrowband filter
C = 0.015 F
2R = 42.42 k
C=
R = 21.21 k 0.015 F +15V
CA
Rr = 3140 +
Vs + + 15V
3.03 k V0
(b) Narrowband filter
Figure 6.16 Narrow bandpass filter circuit and its frequency response
for the component values shown; fr = 100 Hz, B = 500 Hz, Q = 2, fcL =
780 Hz, and fcH = 1280 Hz.
Narrowband Filter Circuit
A narrowband filter circuit uses only one OP-AMP, as shown in Figure 6.16(b).
The filter’s input resistance is established approximately by resistor R. If the
feedback resistor (2R) is made two times the input resistor R, the filter’s
maximum gain will be 1 or 0 dB at resonant frequency fr. By adjusting Rr one can
change (or exactly trim) the resonant frequency without changing the bandwidth
or gain.
Performance
The performance of the unity-gain narrowband filter in Figure 6.16(b) is
determined by only a few simple equations. The bandwidth B is hertz is
determined by resistor R and the two (matched) capacitors by
0.1591
B (6.36)
RC
f
where B r (6.37)
Q
Gain is a maximum of 1 at fr provided that feedback resistor 2R is twice the value
of input resistor R.
The resonant frequency fr is determined by resistor Rr according to
R
Rr (6.38)
2Q 2 1
If component values are given for the circuit, its resonant frequency can be
calculated from
0.1125 R
fr 1 (6.39)
RC Rr
NOTCH FILTERS
Introduction
The notch or band-reject filter is named for the characteristic shape of its
frequency response curve in Figure 6.17. Unwanted frequencies are attenuated in
the stopband B. The desired frequencies are transmitted in the passband that lies
on either side of the notch.
Notch filters usually have a passband gain of unity or 0 dB. The equations for
Q, B, fcL, fcH, and fr are identical to those of its associated bandpass filter. The
reasons for this last statement are presented next.
V0
AcL AcL (dB)
Vs
Pass Pass
1.0 Stopband B 0
0.707 3
Figure 6.17 A notch filter
transmits frequencies in the
passband and rejects undesired
frequencies in the stopband.
Frequency
fcL fr fcH
Notch Filter Theory
As shown in Figure 6.18, a notch filter is made by subtracting the output of a
bandpass filter from the original signal. For frequencies in the notch filter’s
passband, the output of the bandpass filter section approaches zero. Therefore,
input Vs is transmitted via adder input resistor R1 to drive V0 to a value equal to
Vs. Thus V0 = Vs in both lower and upper passbands of the notch filter.
Suppose that the frequency of Vs is adjusted to resonant frequency fr of the
narrow bandpass filter component. (Note: fr of the bandpass sets the notch
frequency.) Vs will exit from the bandpass as Vs and then is inverted by R1 and R
to drive V0 to +Vs. However, Vs is transmitted via R2 to drive V0 to Vs. Thus V0
responds to both inputs of the adder and becomes V0 = Vs Vs = 0 V at fr.
R
Figure 5.16 Vs at fr
Narrow R1 = R +V
bandpass filter
fr, Q, ACL = 1 Adder
Vs + R2 = R +
+ V0
V
Figure 6.18 A notch filter is made by a circuit that subtracts
the output of a bandpass filter from the original signal.
In practice, V0 approaches zero only at fr. The depth of the notch depends on
how closely the resistors and capacitors are matched in the bandpass filter and
judicious fine adjustment of resistor R1 at the inverting adder’s input.
