12 6 CMPLX Impedance PDF
12 6 CMPLX Impedance PDF
12 6 CMPLX Impedance PDF
Electronic Filters
Electronic filters are used widely, for example in audio equipment to correct for imperfections in
microphones or loudspeakers, or to introduce special effects. The purpose of a filter is to produce
an alternating current (a.c.) output voltage that varies with the frequency of the input voltage.
A filter must have at least one component with has an impedance that varies with frequency.
The impedance is given by the time dependent ratio of voltage across the component to current
through the component. This means that a filter must contain at least one inductance or
capacitance. An inductor consists of a large number of coils of wire. When the current i flowing
through an inductor changes, the associated magnetic field changes and produces a voltage v
across the inductor which is proportional to the rate of change of the current. The constant of
proportionality (inductance) is given the symbol L. In electronics, it is usual to use lower case
symbols for the time varying quantities. The standard representations for a.c. electronic signals
are
v = V0 ejωt and i = I0 ejωt where V0 is the
√(real) amplitude of the a.c. voltage and I0 is the
(real) amplitude of the a.c. current and j = −1.
v v
i i
C
L
(i) (ii)
R1
R1
vin vout
vin R2
R2 vout
vin vout
C
0.5
0.25
Engineering Problem
R
L
vin vout
C
(a) Noting that the resistor and inductor are in series, replace R1 by (R + jwL) and R2
vout R2
by 1/jwC in the equation =
vin R1 + R2
2
vout
(b) Derive an expression for
vin
vout
(c) Hence plot as a function of ω for R = 10Ω.
vin
Mathematical Analysis
R = 2Ω
4
2
R = 5Ω
1
R = 10Ω
0
0 5 × 104 1 × 105 1.5 × 105 2 × 105
Angular frequency rad/s
Additional comment
The resonant behaviour depicted in Figure 6 is found in certain vibrating systems as well as
electronic circuits. This gives rise to an electrical analogy for such mechanical systems and will
be explored further after the Workbook on differential equations.