ECET 2310 (Electronics II) Laboratory Exercise 1 (Revised 5/30/08) Frequency Responses of RC High-pass and Low-pass Filters

In this exercise you will investigate the frequency response of an RC high-pass filter and an RC low-pass filter. You will theoretically investigate the two filters and summarize their predicted responses by creating magnitude versus frequency plots and phase versus frequency plots. You then will construct two filters and measure their actual frequency responses. Finally you will compare the actual responses to the predicted responses. Procedure Part A. Preliminary Calculations for the filters 1. Preliminary calculations for the high-pass filter shown in Figure 1. (a.) Write the transfer function of the filter shown in Figure 1, that is, write an expression for vout/vin in terms of R, C and j. vout/vin = ____________________________

Note that the transfer function of an RC high-pass filter is a complex number which can be expressed in polar form as: 1 1+ ( f1 f )
2

arctan( f 1 f )

Where f1 is defined as the lower cutoff frequency and f is the variable input frequency (b.) Determine the lower cutoff frequency, f1 , of the high-pass filter. (Note that f1 is also referred to as the half-power frequency of the high-pass filter) f1 = ______________ (c.) Complete Table 1 for the high-pass filter shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1
C 22 nF Vin R 8.2 k Vout
Vin R

Figure 2

8.2 k C 22 nF Vout

High-pass filter

Low-pass filter

ECET 2310, Lab 1, page 2/5

Table 1 - Predicted results for the high-pass filter Magnitude of Input Frequency Magnitude of (Hz) vout/vin (in dB) vout/vin 10 20 40 80 100 200 400 800 1000 2000 4000 8000 10000 f1

Phase angle of vout/vin (in degrees)

(d.) Utilizing 3 or 4-cycle semilog graph paper draw the predicted magnitude response plot [magnitude (in dB) versus frequency (in Hz)] of the high-pass filter using the data in Table 1. (e.) On the same graph that was used in Part A, 1 (d.), sketch and label the asymptotic (straightline) frequency response plot [magnitude (in dB) versus frequency (in Hz)] of the high-pass filter. (f.) Utilizing 3 or 4-cycle semilog graph paper draw the predicted phase response plot [phase (in degrees) versus frequency (in Hz)] of the high-pass filter using the data in Table 1. 2. Preliminary calculations for the low-pass filter shown in Figure 2. (a.) Write the transfer function of the low-pass filter shown in Figure 2, that is, write an expression for vout/vin in terms of R, C and j. vout/vin = ____________________________ Note that the transfer function of an RC low-pass filter is a complex number which can be expressed in polar form as: 1 1+ ( f f 2 )
2

arctan( f f 2 )

Where f2 is defined as the upper cutoff frequency and f is the variable input frequency (b.) Determine the upper cutoff frequency, f2 , of the low-pass filter. (Note that f2 is also referred to as the half-power frequency of the low-pass filter) f2 = ______________

ECET 2310, Lab 1, page 3/5

(c.) Complete Table 2 for the low-pass filter shown in Figure 2. Table 2 - Predicted results for the low-pass filter Magnitude of Input Frequency Magnitude of (Hz) vout/vin (in dB) vout/vin 10 20 40 80 100 200 400 800 1000 2000 4000 8000 10000 f2 (d.) Utilizing 3 or 4-cycle semilog graph paper draw the predicted magnitude response plot [magnitude (in dB) versus frequency (in Hz)] of the low-pass filter using the data in Table 2. (e.) On the same graph that was used in Part A, 2 (d.), sketch and label the asymptotic (straightline) frequency response plot [magnitude (in dB) versus frequency (in Hz)] of the low-pass filter. (f.) Utilizing 3 or 4-cycle semilog graph paper draw the predicted phase response plot [phase (in degrees) versus frequency (in Hz)] of the low-pass filter using the data in Table 2. (g.) Determine the risetime at the output of the low-pass filter if the input is a step voltage. tr = ____________ Part B. Performance of the practical filters 1. Performance measurements for the high-pass filter (a.) Construct the circuit shown in Figure 1. Adjust a sinusoidal signal source to 10 Vpp, 1 kHz and connect it to the filter as vin. (b.) Maintain the amplitude of vin as 10 Vpp and take appropriate measurements in order to complete Table 3. Note that the phase angle of vout/vin (in degrees) is equivalent to the angle of vout with respect to vin in degrees.

Phase angle of vout/vin (in degrees)

ECET 2310, Lab 1, page 4/5

2. Performance measurements for the low-pass filter (a.) Construct the circuit shown in Figure 2. Verify that a sinusoidal signal source is set to 10 Vpp, 1 kHz and connect it to the filter as vin. (b.) Maintain the amplitude of vin as 10 Vpp and take appropriate measurements in order to complete Table 4. Table 3 - Measured results for the high-pass filter Magnitude of Input Frequency Magnitude of (Hz) vout/vin (in dB) vout/vin 10 20 40 80 100 200 400 800 1000 2000 4000 8000 10000 f1

Phase angle of vout/vin (in degrees)

Table 4 - Measured results for the low-pass filter Input Frequency Magnitude of Magnitude of (Hz) vout/vin vout/vin (in dB) 10 20 40 80 100 200 400 800 1000 2000 4000 8000 10000 f2

Phase angle of vout/vin (in degrees)

ECET 2310, Lab 1, page 5/5

(c.) Change the signal source connected to vin such that it is a 10 Vpp, 200 Hz, square wave. Determine the risetime of the output waveform, vout, utilizing the oscilloscope. Sketch vin and vout versus time for a duration of one period. Be certain to indicate the risetime on the output waveform sketch.

Calculations and Results 1. (a.) Utilizing the data obtained in Table 3 draw and label, on the same graph that was created in Part A, 1 (d.), the measured magnitude response plot [magnitude (in dB) versus frequency (in Hz)] of the high-pass filter. (b.) Compare the predicted and measured magnitude responses of the high-pass filter. Account for any differences. (a.) Utilizing the data obtained in Table 3 draw and label, on the same graph that was created in Part A, 1 (f.), the measured phase response plot [phase (in degrees) versus frequency (in Hz)] of the high-pass filter. (b.) Compare the predicted and measured phase responses of the high-pass filter. Account for any differences. (a.) Utilizing the data obtained in Table 4 draw and label, on the same graph that was created in Part A, 2 (d.), the measured magnitude response plot [magnitude (in dB) versus frequency (in Hz)] of the low-pass filter. (b.) Compare the predicted and measured magnitude responses of the low-pass filter. Account for any differences. (a.) Utilizing the data obtained in Table 4 draw and label, on the same graph that was created in Part A, 2 (f.), the measured phase response plot [phase (in degrees) versus frequency (in Hz)] of the low-pass filter. (b.) Compare the predicted and measured phase responses of the low-pass filter. Account for any differences.

2.

3.

4.

5. Compare the predicted risetime calculated in Part A, 2 (g.) and the measured risetime determined in Part B, 2 (c.). Acccount for any differences. 6. Describe the overall magnitude versus frequency response plot that would result if two high-pass RC filters where connected in series. Assume that the first RC filter does not load the second RC filter and that the cutoff frequency of the first RC filter is equal to the cutoff frequency of the second RC filter.

Approved by ________________________ Results due ______________

date ___________ Yes No

Formal Report ?

(revised 5/30/08 WRH)