EECS 16B Designing Information Devices and Systems II

Fall 2017 Miki Lustig and Michel Maharbiz Homework 3

This homework is due September 19, 2017, at Noon.
Please use radians for all angles in phasor notation

1. RLC circuit #1
In this question, we will take a look at an electrical systems described by second order differential equations
and analyze it using the phasor domain. Consider the circuit below where R = 3kΩ, L = 1mH, C = 100nF,
and Vs = 5 cos(1000t + π4 ):

R L i(t)
+
VR − + VL −
+

Vs Vout C

(a) What are the impedances of the resistor, inductor and capacitor, ZR , ZL , and ZC ?
Solution:

The impedance of a resistor is the same as its resistance

ZR = 3000Ω

We can find the frequency of the circuit by looking at Vs . The form of a cosine function is A cos(ωt +φ )
where A is amplitude, ω is frequency, and φ is phase. In this case, the frequency is 1000 rad s

ZL = jωL = j1000 ∗ 10−3 = j1Ω

1 1
ZC = = = − j104 Ω
jωC j1000 ∗ 10−7

(b) Solve for Veout in phasor form.

Solution:

converting Vs into phasor form, we have

π
Ves = |A|e jφ = 5e j 4

EECS 16B, Fall 2017, Homework 3 1

 The circuit given is a voltage divider. Since impedances act like resistors, we can use the same equation
as the resistive voltage divider.


ZC  ZC  j∗∠ ZC
Vout = Vs
e e = Vs ∗
e  e ZR +ZL +ZC
(1)
ZR + ZL + ZC ZR + ZL + ZC
We can solve for the magnitude and angle of the divider using
 ZC 
= |ZC | 104
 =p = 0.958
ZR + ZL + ZC |ZR + ZL + ZC | 30002 + (1 − 104 )2
ZC  Im(Z )   Im(Z + Z + Z ) 

C R L C
∠ = ∠(ZC ) − ∠(ZR + ZL + ZC ) = atan2 − atan2
ZR + ZL + ZC Re(ZC ) Re(ZR + ZL + ZC )
ZC

∠ = −0.2915 rad
ZR + ZL + ZC
Plugging back into (1)
π
Veout = 5e j 4 ∗ 0.958e− j0.2915 = 4.79e j0.494

(c) What is Vout in the time domain?

Solution:

Vout (t) = Re(Veout e jωt )

Using Euler’s formula, we can say

Veout e jωt = |Veout | cos(ωt + ∠Veout ) + j sin(ωt + ∠Veout )

Taking the real part, we get

Re(Veout e jωt ) = |Veout | cos(ωt + ∠Veout )

Vout (t) = 4.79 cos(1000t + 0.494) V

(d) Solve for the current i(t)

Solution:

Ves |Ves |


∠Ves −∠(ZR +ZL +ZC )
ei = = ej = 4.790 ∗ 10−4 e j2.0647
ZR + ZL + ZC |ZR + ZL + ZC |

Going back to the time domain:

i(t) = Re(eie jωt ) = 4.790 ∗ 10−4 cos(1000t + 2.0647) A

(e) Solve for the transfer function H(ω) = VVeout

e
s
Leave your answer in terms of R, L, C, and ω.
Solution:

EECS 16B, Fall 2017, Homework 3 2

 Looking back at equation (1)
ZC
Veout = Ves
ZR + ZL + ZC
Rearranging we get
1
Veout ZC jωC
H(ω) = = = 1
Ves ZR + ZL + ZC R + jωL + jωC
1
H(ω) =
LC( jω)2 + jRCω + 1

2. Phasor-domain circuit analysis

The analysis techniques you learned previously for resistive circuits are equally applicable for analyzing
AC circuits (circuits driven by sinusoidal inputs) in the phasor domain. In this problem, we will walk you
through the steps with a concrete example. Consider the circuit below.

iR1
R1
L1 N2 L2
iL1 iL2
N1

R2
C1
iR2 R3
ic
+ v(t)
−

The components in this circuit are given by:

Voltage source:
π
v(t) = 20 cos(50t − )
3
Resistors:
R1 = 8Ω, R2 = 8Ω, R3 = 8Ω
Inductors:
L1 = 40 mH, L2 = 40 mH
Capacitor:
C1 = 5 mF

(a) To begin with, transform the given circuit to the phasor domain.

EECS 16B, Fall 2017, Homework 3 3

 Solution:

ZL = jωL = j50 × 40 × 10−3 = j2 Ω

1 1
ZC = = = − j4 Ω
jωC j50 × 5 × 10−3
π
ve = |v|e j∠v = 20e− j 3

(b) Write out KCL for node N1 and N2 in the phasor domain.
Solution:

At node 1

iL1 + iR1 = ic

At node 2

iR1 + iL1 + iR2 + iL2 = 0

(c) Use KVL to express the currents in terms of node voltages in the phasor domain. The node voltages
Ve1 and Ve2 are the voltage drops from N1 and N2 to the ground.
Solution: We have
Ve2 − Ve1 Ve2 − Ve1 Ve1
+ =
ZL R ZC
Ve2 − Ve1 Ve2 − Ve1 Ve2 − ve Ve2
+ + + =0
R ZL R R + ZL
Plugging in values from part (a), we get

Ve2 − Ve1 Ve2 − Ve1 Ve1

+ =
j2 8 − j4
− j π3
V2 − V1 V2 − V1 V2 − 20e
e e e e e V2
e
+ + + =0
8 j2 8 8 + j2
For future parts, we want the denominators of each current to be either purely real or purely imagi-
nary. To put iL2 in this form, we can manipulate the expression by multiplying the denominator by its
conjugate:
 
Ve2 8 − j2 Ve2 (8 − j2) Ve2 (8 − j2)
= 2 =
8 + j2 8 − j2 8 − (−4) 68
Our final KCL equations at nodes N1 and N2 are

Ve2 − Ve1 Ve2 − Ve1 Ve1

+ =
j2 8 − j4
π
Ve2 − Ve1 Ve2 − Ve1 Ve2 − 20e− j 3 Ve2 (8 − j2)
+ + + =0
8 j2 8 68

EECS 16B, Fall 2017, Homework 3 4

  
Ve
(d) Write the equations you derived in part (b) and (c) in a matrix form, i.e., A e1 = b Solve for A and b
V2
in numerical form.
Solution: From the above two equations, we have
 1
− j 41 − 18 + j 12
  
8 0.125 − j0.25 −0.125 + j0.5
A= 2 =
− 18 + j 21 14 + 68
8
− j 12 − j 68 −0.125 + j0.5 0.3676 + j0.5294
" # 
0

0
b = 20e− j 3 =
π
1.25 − j2.165
8

(e) Solve the systems of linear equations you derived in part (d) with any method you prefer, and then find
ic (t).
Solution: 2 by 2 matrix is easy to be inverted, .i.e.,
 −1  
a b 1 d −b
=
c d ad − bc −c a
 
−1 3.1280 − j2.8782 1.5240 − j3.0381
A =
1.5240 − j3.0381 1.1643 − j1.4291
With that we find
8.4973e− j2.1530
     
Ve1 −1 −4.6726 − j7.0973
=A b= =
Ve2 −1.6388 − j4.3071 4.6083e− j1.9344

Then
Ve1 j
IC = = Ve1 = 2.1243e− j0.5822
− j4 4
transform back to time domain we have

iC (t) = 2.1243 cos(50t − 0.5822)

3. Op. Amp. Circuits

In this question, we’ll be looking at op. amp. circuits using the phasor domain, and how different compo-
nents in the feedback path affect the output. For this question, assume Vs is a sinusoidal input.

Rf

−
Rs
Vout
Vs +

Figure 1: Circuit for part (a)

EECS 16B, Fall 2017, Homework 3 5

 (a) Find the transfer function H(ω) = VVeout for Figure 1.
e
s
Solution: Let’s look at a more generic case to make it easier to find transfer functions for different
components:

Zf

−
Zs
Vout
Vs +

Where Zs and Z f are some impedance. We can find Vout in terms of Vs using the golden rule of op
amps.
Recall for an ideal op amp in negative feedback:

v+ = v−
i+ = i− = 0A

Since v+ = 0V, we know the current through Zs is

eis = Vs
e
Zs
Since i− = 0A, we also know that the current flowing through Zs is the same as the current flowing
through Z f . This must be true to obey KCL. This means we can say
 
Ves
Vout = −Z f i f = −Z f
e e
Zs

So the generic transfer function is

Veout Zf
H(ω) = =−
Ves Zs

Now we can find the transfer function for any set of impedances connected like this. For part (a)

Zs = Rs
Zf = Rf
Rf
H(ω) = −
Rs

EECS 16B, Fall 2017, Homework 3 6

 Rf

Cf

−
Rs
Vout
Vs +

Figure 2: Circuit for part (b) and (c)

(b) Now we add a capacitor in parallel with RF , seen in Figure 2. Find the new transfer function for this
circuit.
Solution: Since we found the generic solution to the transfer function in part (a), all we have to do is
find the impedances and plug them in!
1
ZC =
jωC f
Zs = Rs
Rf
jωC f Rf
Z f = R f ||ZC = 1
=
jωC f +Rf 1 + jωR f C f
Rf
H(ω) = −
Rs (1 + jωR f C f )

(c) What type of filter is the circuit in Figure 2?

Solution: Looking at the transfer function, as ω → ∞, H(ω) → 0. This means at higher frequencies,
Vout approaches 0. As ω → 0, the output approaches gain seen in part (a). Since we get output at low
frequencies, but no output at high frequencies, this is a low pass filter.
Another way to look at it is as frequency increases, the capacitor starts looking like a short, which
leads to Vout = v− = 0V . At low frequencies, the cap looks like an open, so we’re back to the original
circuit from part (a). This means there will only be an output signal if the input is low frequency, which
means it’s a low pass filter.

EECS 16B, Fall 2017, Homework 3 7

 Rf

Lf

−
Rs
Vout
Vs +

Figure 3: Circuit for part (d) and (e)

(d) Now instead of a capacitor, we add an inductor in parallel with RF , seen in Figure 3. What is the new
transfer function?
Solution:

ZL = jωL f
Zs = Rs
jωL f R f
Z f = R f ||ZL =
R f + jωL f
jωL f R f
H(ω) = −
Rs (R f + jωL f )

(e) What type of filter is the circuit in Figure 3?

R
Solution: As ω → 0, the output goes to 0V, but approaches − Rsf as ω → ∞. This means it is a high
pass filter.
Another way to think about it is an inductor acts as a short at low frequencies, which drives the output
to 0 since it’s directly connected to v− . At high freq. inductors act as an open, which gives us the
original circuit from part (a)

EECS 16B, Fall 2017, Homework 3 8

 Lf

Rf

Cf

−
Rs
Vout
Vs +

Figure 4: Circuit for part (f) and (g)

(f) Now we have both a capacitor and inductor in parallel with R f , seen in Figure 4. Find the new transfer
function.
Solution:
Zs = Rs
 
Rf
Z f = R f ||ZC ||ZL = (R f ||ZC )||ZL = || jωL f
1 + jωR f C f
jωL f R f jωL f
Zf = = L
R f + jωL f + ( jω)2 R f C f L f 1 + jω R ff + ( jω)2C f L f
!
1 jωL f
H(ω) = −
Rs 1 + jω L f + ( jω)2C f L f
Rf

(g) What type of filter is the circuit in Figure 4?

Solution: Now as ω → ∞ or ω → 0, H(ω) → 0 This means we’ll only get an output when the
frequency isn’t too high and isn’t too low. This is the definition of a bandpass filter, since the frequency
has to be within a certain band of frequencies to get an output.
Alternate way to think about it: the inductor shorts the output to ground at low freq, the cap shorts the
output to ground at high freq, so the only possible way to get an output if the frequency is just in the
right range where neither the inductor or capacitor act as a short.

4. Mystery microphone
You are working for APPLE Microphone Corporation1 when your manager asks you to test a batch of the
company’s new microphones. You grab one of the new microphones off the shelf, play a uniform tone with
varying frequencies, and measure the resultant peak-to-peak voltages using an oscilloscope. In order to
play a uniform tone, you used a tone generator which outputs an audio wave of uniform amplitude for all
frequencies involved. Below is the data obtained from your experiments:
1 Advanced Powerful Pleasant Lovely Experiences Microphone Corporation

EECS 16B, Fall 2017, Homework 3 9

 Input frequency (Hz) Output peak-to-peak (V)
10 0.4
20 0.5
40 0.5
60 0.6
100 2.2
160 2.3
320 2.4
640 2.5
1200 5
2500 5
5000 5
10000 4.9
12000 1.6
16000 1.4
20000 1.5

(a) Plot the output peak-to-peak voltage against the input frequency in log scale.
Solution:

(b) What do you notice? To what frequencies is the microphone most sensitive, and to what frequencies is
the microphone least sensitive?
Solution: The microphone is most sensitive to frequencies in the range of 1 KHz to 10 KHz, and least
sensitive below 100 Hz or so.
You report these findings to your manager, who thanks you for the preliminary data and proceeds to
co-ordinate some human listener tests. In the meantime, your manager asks you to predict the effects
of the microphone recordings on human listeners, and encourages you to start thinking more deeply
about the relationships.
(c) For testing purposes, you have a song with sub-bass (150 Hz or less), mid-range ( 1 KHz), and some
high frequency electronic parts (> 12 KHz). Which frequency ranges of the song would you be able to
hear easily, and which parts would you have trouble hearing? Why?
Solution: The mid-range would be most audible since the amplitude is the highest at these frequen-
cies. The high frequency electronic parts are the next loudest. The sub-bass parts would be the parts
you have trouble hearing since the output amplitude is so low.

EECS 16B, Fall 2017, Homework 3 10

 (d) After a few weeks, your manager reports back to you on the findings. Apparently, this microphone
causes some people’s voices to sound really weird, resulting in users threatening to switch to products
from a competing microphone company.
It turns out that we can design some filters to "fix" the frequency response so that the different frequen-
cies can be recorded more equally, thus avoiding distortion. Imagine that you have a few (say up to 5
or so) blocks. Each of these blocks detects a set range of frequencies, and if the signal is within this
range, it will switch on a op-amp circuit of your choice. For example, it can be configured to switch
on an op-amp filter to double the voltage for signals between 100 Hz and 200 Hz.
What ranges of signals would require such a block, and what gain would you apply to each block such
that the resulting peak-to-peak voltage is about 5V for all frequencies?
Solution: The output amplitude for <100 Hz is 0.5V, so it needs a gain of 10.
For 100-640 Hz, the amplitude is 2.5V so it needs a gain of 2.
1200-10000 Hz already has an amplitude of 5V, so no gain is needed.
16000-20000 Hz has an amplitude of 1.5V, so it needs a gain of 3.33.

Next week in EE16B, you will learn more about frequency response and filter design which will enable you
to realize these kinds of filters, so stay tuned!

Contributors:

• Varun Mishra.

• Yuxun Zhou.

• Edward Wang.

EECS 16B, Fall 2017, Homework 3 11