MHLab 1
MHLab 1
MHLab 1
AND SYSTEMS
LAB 1
ATTENUATOR DESIGN &
MEASUREMENT
NAME : LAU LOK BIN
ID : 1902064
GROUP : 1
COURSE : MH
DATE OF SUBMISSION : 14/02/2022
EMAIL : [email protected]
Total
A) Introduction
Attenuators are passive electrical components with the function of reducing the
amplitude of a signal passing through it or also known as a known insertion loss,
without distorting the signal. Insertion loss is referring to the amount of energy that an
input signal loses during its travel along a wiring, it occurs naturally in any type of
transmission such as electricity or data. (Fluke Networks 2021). The most common
uses of attenuators are in broadcasting stations’ volume control equipment, to rectify
impedance matching in circuits, as protection for circuits from high voltage damages
etc.
The formula for insertion loss is known to be 20log10N dB, where it is in the units of
𝑣
decibels, while N is the ratio of insertion loss, where 𝑁 = 𝑣1
2
B) Equipment & Components
C) Results
Figure 1. The left circuit represents the signal generator, the right circuit represents a
load connected to the signal generator.
In theory, the signal generator is equipped with a built-in variable attenuator that
could provide a 20dB insertion loss. This is then proven by experimentally measuring
the voltage values and calculating the insertion loss with the formula 20log10vg/v1 dB
The variable attenuator is set to position 0dB, frequency 1kHz and output voltage vg =
8Vpp. The output voltage v1 is then measured with the oscilloscope.
dB vg (pp) v1 (pp) (measured by oscilloscope) Calculate 20log10vg/v1
dB
20 8V 800mV 20dB
Table 1. Experimental results of the insertion loss of the signal generator
In this part, a matching value of insertion loss is obtained, where the theoretical
insertion loss of the signal generator is 20dB, and the experimental insertion loss also
returns 20dB.
A 5 dB T-attenuator is constructed as below, where R1= 14.7Ω, R2= 81Ω and R3=
R1= 14.7 Ω.
Figure 2. T-attenuator.
In this section, the experimental insertion losses obtained are nearly around 5db,
which is the theoretical insertion loss for the T-attenuator. The most extreme cases are
when RL = 51 Ω and RL = 330 Ω, where the percentage error for RL = 51 Ω is 17%
whereas the percentage error for RL = 330 Ω is 26.4%. In conclusion for this part, the
fluctuation and inaccuracy of readings are due to the three resistors used to construct
the T-attenuator, as requested, resistors of 14 Ω and 82.4 Ω should be used for R1=R3
and R2 respectively, but instead the actual resistance values of the resistors are 14.7 Ω
and 81 Ω, which is quite a difference from the theoretical values. Besides that, the
cable and breadboard resistances are also ignored in this experiment, so the results are
not as ideal and have high errors.
No F v1 v2 N I.L (dB)
1 100kHz 3.96 2.30 1.72 4.71
2 200kHz 3.96 2.28 1.74 4.81
3 500kHz 4.00 2.30 1.74 4.81
4 1Mhz 4.04 2.14 1.89 5.53
5 2MHz 3.96 2.04 1.94 5.76
Table 3. For RL = 51Ω, the experiment is repeated with higher frequencies.
For this part, there is little fluctuation in the experimental insertion loss obtained
compared with the theoretical insertion loss of the T-attenuator, as the input signal’s
frequency does not affect the voltage ratio of the circuit. The most extreme cases are
when F = 100kHz with a percentage error of 5.8% and F = 2Mhz with a percentage
error of 15.2%. The conclusion for this part is that the difference of readings are
caused by wiring and breadboard resistances which are ignored, and the different
values of resistors used to construct the T-attenuator as mentioned in part C, section f.
A 8 dB Pi-attenuator is constructed as below, where Ra= 109.5Ω, Rb= 50.8Ω and
Rc= Ra= 109.5 Ω.
Figure 4. Pi-attenuator.
For this part, the experimental insertion losses are close to the value of theoretical
insertion loss of pi-attenuator which is 8db, the extremities are when RL= 51 Ω and
RL= 330 Ω, where the percentage errors are 5.8% and 1.25% respectively. Conclusion
for this part is that the results are almost ideal, as the percentage errors are relatively
low, which in turn means that the actual resistors used to construct this circuit returns
favorable results.
Part D. Analysis of T-attenuator and Pi-attenuator.
This experiment is done to learn on how to design attenuators and grab hold of the
concept of attenuators where it is proven with the experimental results that attenuators
reduce the amplitude of the input signal, which is its main purpose. Through this
experiment, the behavior of T and Pi-attenuators are studied with varied values of
load resistance, and different input signal frequencies, which returns expected results
as described in theory, as the attenuator fitted circuits do show a reduction in voltage
of the circuit.
X) REFERENCES
ELPROCUS. What is an Attenuator – Design, Types and Applications [online]. Available
from : https://www.elprocus.com/what-is-an-attenuator-design-types-and-applications/
[accessed 9 February 2022].