Circuit Theory: Frequency Response of RC and RL Networks

131201 CIRCUIT THEORY
UNIT 3 RESONANT CIRCUITS

PRECLASS MATERIAL
R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE
Frequency Characteristics of AC
Circuits
Introduction
A High-Pass RC Network
A Low-Pass RC Network
A Low-Pass RL Network
A High-Pass RL Network
A Comparison of RC and RL Networks
Bode Diagrams
Combining the Effects of Several Stages
RLC Circuits and Resonance
Filters
Stray Capacitance and Inductance
Introduction
Earlier we looked at the bandwidth and
frequency response of amplifiers
Having now looked at the AC behaviour of
components we can consider these in more detail
The reactance of both inductors and capacitance is
frequency dependent and we know that
X L = L
1
XC =
C
We will start by considering very simple

circuits
Consider the potential divider shown here
from our earlier consideration of
the circuit
vo = vi
Z2
Z1 + Z 2
rearranging, the gain of the circuit

is
vo
Z2
=
vi
Z1 + Z 2
this is also called the

transfer function of the circuit
A High-Pass RC Network
Consider the following circuit
which is shown re-drawn in a more usual form
Clearly the transfer function is

vo
ZR
R
1
=
=
=
v i Z R + ZC R j 1 1 j 1
C
CR
At high frequencies
is large, voltage gain 1
At low frequencies
is small, voltage gain 0
Since the denominator has

real and imaginary parts, the
magnitude of the voltage gain is
Voltage gain =
1
1
1 +
CR
When 1/CR = 1
Voltage gain =
1
1
=
= 0.707
1+ 1
2
This is a halving of power, or a fall in gain of 3

dB
The half power point is the cut-off frequency of

the circuit
the angular frequency C at which this occurs is
given by
1
=1
cCR
1 1
c =
= rad/s
CR
where is the time constant of the CR network. Also

c
1
fc =
=
Hz
2 2CR
Substituting =2f and CR = 1/ 2fC in the

earlier equation gives
vo
1
=
=
v i 1 j 1
1 j
CR
1
1
1
(2f )
2fc
1
1 j
fc
f
This is the general form of the gain of the

circuit
It is clear that both the magnitude of the
gain and the phase angle vary with
frequency
Consider the behaviour of the circuit at

different frequencies:
When f >> fc
fc/f << 1, the voltage gain 1
When f = fc
vo
1
1
1 (1 + j)
(1 + j)
=
=
=
=
= 0 .5 + 0 . 5 j
v i 1 j fc 1 j (1 j) (1 + j)
2
f
When f << fc
vo
1
1
f
=
=j
v i 1 j fc j fc
fc
f
f
10
The behaviour in these three regions can be

illustrated using phasor diagrams
At low frequencies the gain is linearly

related to frequency. It falls at -6dB/octave
(-20dB/decade)
11
Frequency response
of the high-pass
network
the gain response has
two asymptotes that
meet at the cut-off
frequency
figures of this form
are
called Bode
diagrams
12
Transposing the C and R gives
1
vo
ZC
1
C =
=
=
v i Z R + ZC R j 1 1+ jCR
C
j
At high frequencies
is large, voltage gain 0
At low frequencies
is small, voltage gain 1
13
A similar analysis to before
gives
Voltage gain =
1
1 + (CR )2
Therefore when, when CR = 1

Voltage gain =
1
1
=
= 0.707
1+ 1
2
Which is the cut-off frequency

14
Therefore
the angular frequency C at which this occurs is
given by
cCR = 1
1 1
c =
= rad/s
CR
where is the time constant of the CR network, and

as before
c
1
fc =
2CR
Hz
15
Substituting =2f and CR = 1/ 2fC in the

earlier equation gives
vo
1
=
=
v i 1 + jCR
1
1+ j
1
1+ j
f
fc
This is similar, but not the same, as the

transfer function for the high-pass network
16
Consider the behaviour of this circuit at

different frequencies:
When f << fc
f/fc << 1, the voltage gain 1
When f = fc
vo
(1 j)(1 + j) = (1 j) = 0.5 + 0.5 j
1
=
=
(1 + j)
vi 1+ j f
2
fc
When f >> fc
vo
f
1
1
=
= j c
f
v i 1+ j f
f
j
fc
fc
17
The behaviour in these three regions can

again be illustrated using phasor diagrams
At high frequencies the gain is linearly

related to frequency. It falls at 6dB/octave
(20dB/decade)
18
Frequency response of
the low-pass network
the gain response has
two asymptotes that
meet at the cut-off
frequency
you might like to
compare this with
the Bode Diagram
for a high-pass
network
19
A Low-Pass RL Network
Low-pass networks can also
be produced using RL circuits
these behave similarly to the
corresponding CR circuit
the voltage gain is
vo
ZR
R
1
=
=
=
v i Z R + ZL R + jL 1 + j L
R
the cut-offRfrequency
is
1
c =
rad/s
fc =
c R
=
Hz
2 2L
20
A High-Pass RL Network
High-pass networks can also
be produced using RL circuits
these behave similarly to the
corresponding CR circuit
the voltage gain is
vo
ZL
jL
1
1
=
=
=
=
v i Z R + ZL R + jL 1 + R 1 j R
jL
L
the cut-off frequency is

c =
R 1
= rad/s
L
fc =
c R
=
Hz
2 2L
21
A Comparison of RC and RL
Networks
Circuits using RC and RL
techniques have similar
characteristics
22
Combining the Effects of Several

Stages
The effects of several stages add in bode
diagrams
23
Multiple
high- and
lowpasslement
s may also
be
combined
24
RLC Circuits and Resonance

Series RLC circuits
the impedance is given by
Z = R + jL +
1
1
= R + j(L
)
C
jC
if the magnitude of the reactance

of the inductor and capacitor are
equal, the imaginary part is zero,
and the impedance is simply R
this occurs when
1
L =
C
1
=
LC
2
1
LC
25
This situation is referred to as resonance

the frequency at which is occurs is the
resonant frequency
o =
1
LC
fo =
1
2 LC
in the series resonant

circuit, the impedance is
at a minimum at resonance
the current is at a maximum
at resonance
26
The resonant effect can be quantified by the

quality factor, Q
this is the ratio of the energy dissipated to the
energy stored in each cycle
it can be shown that
Quality factor Q =
XL XC
=
R
R
and
Q=
1 L

R C
27
The series RLC circuit is an acceptor

circuit
the narrowness of bandwidth is determined by
the Q
Quality factor Q =
Resonant frequency fo
=
Bandwidth
B
combining this equation with the earlier one

R
gives
B=
Hz
2L
28
Parallel RLC circuits
as before
o =
1
LC
fo =
1
2 LC
29
The parallel arrangement is a rejector circuit

in the parallel resonant
circuit, the impedance is
at a maximum at resonance
the current is at a minimum
at resonance
in this circuit
C
Q=R
L
B=
1
Hz
2RC
30
Stray Capacitance and Inductance

All circuits have stray capacitance and stray
inductance
these unintended elements can dramatically
affect circuit operation
for example:
(a) Cs adds an unintended low-pass filter
(b) Ls adds an unintended low-pass filter
(c) Cs produces an unintended resonant
circuit and can produce instability
31
Key Points
The reactance of capacitors and inductors is dependent on
frequency
Single RC or RL networks can produce an arrangement with a
single upper or lower cut-off frequency.
In each case the angular cut-off frequency o is given by the
reciprocal of the time constant
For an RC circuit = CR, for an RL circuit = L/R
Resonance occurs when the reactance of the capacitive element
cancels that of the inductive element
Simple RC or RL networks represent single-pole filters
Active filters produce high performance without inductors
Stray capacitance and inductance are found in all circuits
32

Circuit Theory: Frequency Response of RC and RL Networks

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131201 CIRCUIT THEORY

UNIT 3 RESONANT CIRCUITS

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

We will start by considering very simple

rearranging, the gain of the circuit

this is also called the

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

Clearly the transfer function is

Since the denominator has

This is a halving of power, or a fall in gain of 3

The half power point is the cut-off frequency of

where is the time constant of the CR network. Also

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

Substituting =2f and CR = 1/ 2fC in the

This is the general form of the gain of the

Consider the behaviour of the circuit at

The behaviour in these three regions can be

At low frequencies the gain is linearly

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

Therefore when, when CR = 1

Which is the cut-off frequency

where is the time constant of the CR network, and

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

Substituting =2f and CR = 1/ 2fC in the

This is similar, but not the same, as the

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

Consider the behaviour of this circuit at

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

The behaviour in these three regions can

At high frequencies the gain is linearly

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

the cut-off frequency is

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

Combining the Effects of Several

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

RLC Circuits and Resonance

if the magnitude of the reactance

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

This situation is referred to as resonance

in the series resonant

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

The resonant effect can be quantified by the

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

The series RLC circuit is an acceptor

combining this equation with the earlier one

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

Parallel RLC circuits

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

The parallel arrangement is a rejector circuit

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

Stray Capacitance and Inductance

R.Ramaprabha, AP/EEE, SSNCE

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