Analog Filters:

Basics of OP AMP-RC
Circuits
Stefano Gregori
The University of Texas at Dallas

Introduction

So far we have considered the theory and basic methods of realizing

filters that use passive elements (inductors and capacitors)

Another type of filters, the active filters, are in very common use

They were originally motivated by the desire to realize inductorless

filters, because of the three passive RLC elements the inductor is the
most non-ideal one (especially for low-frequency applications of
filters in which inductors are too costly or bulky)

When low-cost, low-voltage solid-state devices became available,

active filters became applicable over a much wider frequency range
and competitive with passive ones

Now both types of filters have their appropriate applications

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

Active-RC filters
In this lesson we concentrate on active-RC filters. They make
use of active devices as well as RC components.
Active filters
are usually designed without
regard to the load or source
impedance; the terminating
impedance may not affect the
performance of the filter
it is possible to interconnect
simple standard blocks to form
complicated filters
are noisy, have limited dynamic
ranges and are prone to
instability
can be fabricated by integrated
circuits

Passive filters
the terminating impedance is an
integral part of the filter: this is a
restriction on the synthesis
procedure and reduces the
number of possible circuits
are less sensitive to element
value variations
are generally produced in
discrete or hybrid form

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

Operational Amplifier
symbol

equivalent circuit
i1

ee+

e2

Ro

e+

e2
Ri

A(e+-e-)

e-

In an ideal op-amp we assume:

input resistance Ri approaches infinity, thus i1 = 0

output resistance Ro approaches zero

amplifier gain A approaches infinity

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

Inverting voltage amplifier

R2
R1

i (t )

vin

vout

vin (t )
R1

vout (t ) R2 i (t )

Example:

R2
vin (t )
R1

vin(t)

given

vin (t ) V0 sin 2ft

we have

vout (t )

R1 = 1 k
R2 = 2 k
V0 = 1 V
f = 1 MHz

vout(t)

R2
V0 sin 2ft
R1

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

Weighted summer

Rf

vk (t )
ik (t )
Rk

R1
v1
R2
v2
Rn
vn

vout

vout (t ) R f i1 (t ) in (t )
v1 (t )
v (t )
n
Rn
R1

R f
Rf

vk (t )
R
k
k 1

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

Noninverting voltage amplifier

R2
R1
i

i (t )
i
vout

vin

Example:

vin (t )
R1

R2

vin (t )
vout (t ) R1 R2 i (t ) 1
R1

vin(t)

given

vin (t ) V0 sin 2ft

R1 = 1 k
R2 = 1 k
V0 = 1 V
f = 1 MHz

vout(t)

we have

R2
V0 sin 2ft
vout (t ) 1
R1

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

Buffer amplifier

vout

vin

vout (t ) vin (t )

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

Inverting or Miller integrator

C
R
vin

vout

R = 1 k
C = 1 nF
V0 = 1 V
f = 1 MHz

Example:
given

t0
0
vin (t )
V0 sin 2ft t 0
vout (0) 0

vin (t )
i (t )
R
V
Vout in
dv (t )
s RC
i (t ) C out
dt
t
1
vout (t ) vout (0)
vin (t ) dt

RC 0
vin(t)

vout(t)

we have

vout (t )

V0
cos 2ft 1
2fRC

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

Inverting differentiator (1)

R
C
vin

i (t ) C
vout

R = 1 k
C = 100 pF
V0 = 1 V
f = 1 MHz

t0
0
vin (t )
V0 sin 2ft t 0

Vout s RC Vin

dvin (t )
vout (t ) Ri (t ) RC
dt

Example:
given

dvin (t )
dt

sC

vin(t)

vout(t)

we have

t0
0
vout (t )
2fRCV0 cos 2ft t 0

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

10

Inverting differentiator (2)

R
C
vin

vout

R = 22 k
C = 47 pF
vin(t) is a triangular waveform with:
- vin max 2 V
- vin min 0 V
- frequency 500 kHz

sC

vin(t)
vout(t) is a square waveform with:
- vout max 2,068 V
- vout min -2,068 V
- frequency 500 kHz

vout(t)

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

11

Inverting lossy integrator

C

R2
R1
vin

vout

Vout

R1 sC
R2

Vin

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

12

Inverting weighted summing integrator

C
R1
v1

vout

R2
v2
Rn
vn

Vout

1

sC

Vk
R
k 1 k

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

13

Subtractor
R0
R1
v1

vout

v2
R2

Vout

R3

R0
R R R1
V1 3 0
V2
R1
R1 R2 R3

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

14

Integrator and differentiator

frequency behavior

integrator

integrator

differentiator

R
vin

vout

AV

1
2fRC

differentiator
R
C
vin

vout

AV 2fRC
R = 1 k
C = 1 nF

vin(t) is a sinewave with frequency f.

Figure shows how circuit gain AV changes with the
frequency f
AV is the ratio between the amplitude of the output sinewave
vout(t) and the amplitude of the input sinewave vin(t)

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

15

Low-pass and high-pass circuits

low-pass circuit

frequency behavior

R
vin

voutlp
C

low-pass

high-pass

high-pass circuit
C
vouthp

vin
R

R = 1 k
C = 1 nF

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

16

Inverting first-order section

Z2
Z1
v1

v2

V2
Z2
Y1

V1
Z1
Y2

R2

R1
C2

v1

v2

V2
R 1 sR1C1
2
V1
R1 1 sR2 C 2

C1

inverting lossing integrator

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

17

Noninverting first-order section

Z2

v2

V2
Z2
Y1
1
1
V1
Z1
Y2

v2

V2
R 1 sR1C1
1 2
V1
R1 1 sR2 C 2

Z1
v1

R2

R1
C2

C1

v1

noninverting lossing integrator

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

18

Finite-gain single op-amp configuration

Many second-order or biquadratic filter circuits use a
combination of a grounded RC threeport and an op-amp

i2
V3

RC
threeport
V1

i1

V2

i3

I1 y11V1 y12V2 y13V3

I3 0

I 2 y 21V1 y 22V2 y 23V3

E3 E 2 /

I 3 y31V1 y32V2 y33V3

E2

E1

y31
y33
y32

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

19

Infinite-gain single op-amp configuration

RC
threeport

V3

V2

V1

y31
E2

E1
y32

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

20

Gain reduction
Z

Z1

V2
N

V1

V1

V1'
Z2

V2
N

To reduce the gain to times its original value ( < 1) we make

V1
Z2

V1
Z1 Z 2

and

Z1 Z 2
Z
Z1 Z 2

solving for Z1 and Z2, we get

Z1

and

Z2

1
Z
1

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

21

Gain enhancement
V2/K

RC
threeport

1/K

V3

V2

V1

A simple scheme is to increase the amplifier gain and decrease

the feedback of the same amount
E2

E1

Ky 31
y
y32 33

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

22

RC-CR transformation (1)

is applicable to a network N that contains resistors, capacitors, and
dimensionless controlled sources
conductance of Gi [S] capacitance of Gi [F]
capacitance of Cj [F] conductance of Cj [S]
the corresponding network functions with the dimension of the
impedance must satisfy

Z ( s )

1 1
Z
s s

the corresponding network functions with the dimension of the

admittance must satisfy

Y ( s ) sY

the corresponding network functions that are dimensionless must

satisfy
1

H ( s ) H

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

23

RC-CR transformation (2)

N

1/3 F

1F

2
2

v1

1/2 F

v2

1/2 F
2

v1'

v2 '

V
12
H (s) 2 2
V1 2 s 7 s 6

V2
12s 2
H ( s )

V1 6 s 2 7 s 2

V1 2 s 2 7 s 6
Z11 ( s )

I1
s (2 s 1)

V1 6 s 2 7 s 2
( s)
Z11

I1
s ( s 2)

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

24

Sallen-Key filters
lowpass filter

frequency behavior

lowpass
R

highpass

vout

vin
C

bandpass

highpass filter
R

vout

vin
R

R = 1 k
C = 1 nF

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

25

Types of biquadratic filters

lowpass

highpass

Gb0

s b1s b0

0.8

0.8

0.6

0.6

0.4

0.4

0.2

0.2

10

bandpass

Gs 2

s b1s b0

10

bandreject

Gb1s

s 2 b1s b0

allpass

a 2 s 2 a0

s 2 b1s b0

0.8

0.8

0.8

0.6

0.6

0.6

0.4

0.4

0.4

0.2

0.2

0.2

10

10

Stefano Basics of OP AMP-RC Circuits

s 2 b1s b0
s 2 b1s b0

10

26