• Abstract

# Tuning Elliptic Filters With a ‘Tuning Biquad’

This paper presents an optimum tuning procedure for high-order low-pass (LP) elliptic filters. Since elliptic filters are often used to satisfy very tight specifications, they often need to be tuned accurately. In this paper, we describe the tuning of one biquad, the ‘tuning biquad’, in a cascade of biquads. It is shown by Matlab simulations that the best choice for the tuning biquad consists of the pole pair with the highest pole Q (‘maximum-Q poles’) combined with the zero pair with the lowest frequency (‘minimum-frequency zeros’). We also show how standard tuning procedures, such as those for the Tow-Thomas biquad, lead to excellent results. As an example, the tuning procedure is performed on a normalized seventh-order elliptic LP filter.

SECTION I

SECTION II

## FILTER DESIGN BY PARTITIONING OF THE FILTERS TRANSFER FUNCTION

Consider a seventh-order elliptic filter which, according to [1], is referred to as CC07 25 50. Its transfer function magnitude α(ω)[dB] is shown in Fig. 2. In [1] it is given by the filter realization shown in Fig. 1, and by the following normalized real and imaginary values for the poles and zeros of the transfer function T(s): TeX Source \eqalignno{p_0 &=-\sigma_0 =-0.3764 \cr p_1, p^*_1 &= \sigma_1\pm jω_1 = -0.0408 \pm j\ 1.0127\cr p_3, p^*_3 &=\sigma_3 \pm jω_3= -0.1459 \pm j\ 0.8853\cr p_5, p^*_5 &= \sigma_5 \pm j\Omega_5= -0.2911 \pm j\ 0.5573\cr z_2, z^*_2 &= \pm j\Omega_2= \pm j\ 2.5494\cr z_4, z^*_4 &= \pm j\Omega_4= \pm j\ 1.3266\cr z_6, z^*_6 &= \pm j\Omega_6= \pm j\ 1.5482&\hbox{(1)}}The corresponding transfer function is given by: TeX Source $$\displaylines{T(s) = {0.0044883 \cdot (s^2 + 1.76)\over (s+0.3764)(s^2 + 0.5822s + 0.3953)}\hfill\cr\hfill {(s^2 + 2.397)(s^2 + 6.499)\over (s^2 + 0.2918s + 0.8501)(s^2+0.08155s+1.027)}\quad\hbox{(2)}}$$

Fig. 1. Doubly terminated LC-ladder filter CC 07 25 50 realization.
Fig. 2. Magnitude of CC 07 25 50 filter.

Fig. 3. MC runs of the filter in Fig. 1 (realized by LC-simulation) in the vicinity of the cut-off requency.

Fig. 4. Seventh-order elliptic filter realized by filter partitioning.

The problem of tuning and selecting the pole-zero pair in the ‘tuning biquad’ is investigated in this paper. We examine the selection of pole-zero pair for the tuning biquad, such that the overall transfer function can most effectively be tuned. This implies finding the answers to the questions (i) ‘Which pole and zero pair should most appropriately be combined to realize the tuning biquad?’ and (ii) ‘How is the tuning procedure to be accomplished?’ The simulations to find the answers to these questions have been carried out using Matlab. The whole (and non-trivial) problem of ‘filter partitioning’ together with the dynamic range and noise will be considered in the future publications.

SECTION III

An opamp biquad circuit that has proved to be advantageous for various reasons including its good dynamic-range properties (because it requires only inverting opamps with virtual ground rather than common-mode inputs), and its excellent tuning properties (see below), is that shown in Fig. 5. This circuit is sometimes referred to as the Tow-Thomas biquad [3] or, more often, the multi-amplifier biquad [4], [5]. The transfer function is given by: TeX Source $$T_{Biq}(S) ={V_{out}\over V_{in}}=-k_{Biq}{s^2+(ω_z/q_z)s+ω^2_z\over s^2+(ω_p/q_p)s+ω^2_p},\eqno{\hbox{(3)}}$$with TeX Source $$ω_z = ω_p\sqrt{1\pm R_3R_7/(R_4R_6)},\quad k_{Biq}=R_8/R_7,\eqno{\hbox{(4)}}$$where the plus sign is for switch SW1 closed, SW2 open, and ωz > ωp; the minus sign is for SW2 closed, SW1 open, and ωz < ωp. When both switches are open then ωz = ωp. For elliptic lowpass filters we generally have ωz > ωp and the amplitude response as in Fig. 6(c). The middle term in the numerator of (3) is equal to: TeX Source $$ω_z/q_z = (ω_p/q_p)[1-R_1R_7/(R_4R_5)].\eqno{\hbox{(5)}}$$

Fig. 5. Tuning biquad filter circuit.
Fig. 6. (a) Second-order notch transfer function. Notch frequency ωp tuning: (b) when ωz = ωp; (c) ωz > ωp; (d) ωz < ωp.

For a notch filter, this term must be zero, that is, qz = ∞; this is obtained with the appropriate value of R5.

From (4) it is possible to formulate the non-iterative (‘orthogonal’) tuning procedure for the circuit in Fig. 5, [3], [6]. It follows that changing the value of R3 can tune ωp, while keeping ωpz ratio constant. If the pole Q, qp, is to be kept constant and the zero Q, qz = ∞, then R1 and R5 must be adjusted as well. This complicates the tuning procedure.

However, if the change in R3 is small, then ωp tuning can often be considered ideal. In what follows, this is referred to as “ωp-tuning”. Similarly, ωz can be tuned, independently of ωp and qp, by adjusting R6. If we tune only ωz, while keeping the value of ωp fixed, we shall refer to this as “ωz-tuning”. Those two frequency tuning procedures are “standard” for the biquad in Fig. 5. Their influence on tuning second-order notch filter (that can be realized by the circuit in Fig. 5 solely), as well as, higher-than-second-order elliptic filters will now be discussed. Finally, changing the value of R8 can correct the pass-band gain kBiq.

SECTION IV

## TUNING A SECOND-ORDER NOTCH FILTER

Consider the second-order transfer function with finite zeros, which has a form (3) with the middle term equal to zero. In Fig. 6(a) we present three examples of normalized transfer function magnitudes with k = 1, qp = 1, and a) ωp = ωz = 1; b) ωp = 0.5, ωz = 1 (ωz > ωp); c) ωp = 2, ωz = 1 (ωz < ωp). Note that the d.c. gain is kωz2p2, and at infinite frequency the gain is k. We proceed with ωp-tuning; we maintain the ratio between ωp and ωz, and tune ωp in the range from ωL = 0.6ωp to ωH = 1.67ωp in 7 steps (ωp2 = ωL ωH), we influence the horizontal shift of the curves in all three notch filter types as shown in Fig. 6(b)–(d) (the nominal curve is in the middle). Note that the pole Q factor, qp, is kept constant. In this way the biquadratic transfer function of the filter can be tuned to the exact zero (i.e., notch) frequency, while keeping the normalized stop bandwidth Bp constant. At the same time, the magnitude of the frequency response has no vertical shift and does not change its shape.

SECTION V

## TUNING A SEVENTH-ORDER ELLIPTIC FILTER

Poles and zeros of a seventh-order elliptic filter CC 07 25 50 are given by (1). The pole-zero plot is shown in Fig. 7. The filter has three pole Q factors: qp1 = 12.4291 (max Q), qp3 = 3.07528 (mid Q) and qp5 = 1.07996 (min Q), and three zeros: Ω4 = 1.3266 (min Z), Ω6 = 1.5482 (mid Z) and Ω2 = 2.5494 (max Z). To realize 0-dB at ω = 0, we obtain kPB = 0.0044883 (see [6]).

Fig. 7. Pole-zero plot for CC 07 25 50 filter.

Tuning the tuning-biquad should be effective in tuning the overall transfer function T(s). With this in mind, a critical problem is to decide which pole-zero pair to select for the tuning biquad. We can pair each zero with poles having high, medium, or low pole Qs. There are altogether 9 ways in which we can pair the poles and zeros, i.e., we have the following set of pairs: {{min Z, min Q}, {min Z,mid Q}, {min Z, max Q}, {mid Z, min Q}, {mid Z,mid Q}, {mid Z, max Q}, {max Z, min Q}, {max Z,mid Q}, {max Z, max Q}}. Two examples: {max Z, min Q} and {mid Z, min Q} are shown with solid and dashed lines, respectively, in Fig. 7.

In what follows we examine the optimum design, and the tuning procedure for the tuning biquad. We start with “ωp-tuning”. If we hold the ratio ωpz constant and then tune ωp in the range from ωL = 0.95ωp to ωH = 1.052ωp (≈ ± 5%) in 7 steps we influence the shift of the curves as shown in the left upper side in Fig. 8 (with the pass-band region magnified). Note that in the left upper side of Fig. 8 the tuning curves in the pass-band are tilted. The resulting filter response can be expected to exceed the specifications. Although all 9 possible tuning biquads with different pole-zero combinations were examined with regard to their tuning capabilities for the overall filter, we have presented only examples with extreme values in Fig. 8.

Fig. 8. Tuning curves of the CC 07 25 50 filter in the pass-band and in the stop-band.

Continuing with “ωz-tuning” (i.e., tuning only ωz while keeping the value of ωp fixed), we obtain the curves shown in the upper right side in Fig. 8. Finally, in the lower part of Fig. 8 we have examples showing the stop-band responses for various Z values. Both tuning types, ωp and ωz combined with min Q, mid Q, and max Q values, produce very similar curves in the stop band. Thus, only the curves with various Z values are presented.

From the characteristics in Fig. 8 we note that with ωp-tuning the frequency response is distorted (i.e., a tilt in the pass band) because at ω = 0 the gain remains constant. By contrast, with ωz-tuning the slope of the frequency response in the pass band remains relatively constant, while only the cut-off frequency and slope are shifted. The vertical movement of the curves represents a change in gain, but this can readily be corrected for within the filter. Thus, as a general rule, ωz-tuning is preferable to ωp- tuning.

Furthermore, it is apparent that the tuning process is more effective with the small-Z large-Q combinations. In other words, for the tuning biquad, the pole pair with maximum pole Q should be combined with the zero pair with lowest frequency i.e., the ‘minimum-frequency zero pair’.

This is a rather serendipitous result, since it has been established elsewhere (see, for example [4] and [6]) that for a biquad with minimum sensitivity to component changes and maximum dynamic range the pole pair with the highest pole Q should be combined with the closest zero pair. Since the pole- pair with the highest pole Q is generally at the upper filter band edge, this is equivalent to combining the pole- pair with the highest pole Q with the ‘minimum-frequency zero pair’ which is precisely what we are recommending for our tuning biquad.

This result may at first seem contradictory, since the tuning biquad needs to have a high sensitivity of some crucial part of its frequency response to its particular tuning component. However, in the case of the multi-amplifier biquad (see Fig. 5) for which the zero frequency can be tuned for orthogonally to the pole Q, the zero, or notch frequency of the tuning biquad can be tuned for easily with one resistor (R6 in Fig. 5). In doing so, the cut-off frequency and slope of the overall higher-order filter will be shifted effectively, yet with minimum effect on the rest of the frequency response. Furthermore, the biquad with which the notch is being tuned (the ‘tuning biquad’) has a minimum sensitivity to tolerances or unintentional changes of its components.

SECTION VI

## Footnotes

Dražen Jurišic´ and Neven Mijat are with the Electronic Systems and Information Processing Dept., University of Zagreb, Unska 3, HR-10 000 Zagreb, Croatia, drazen.jurisic@fer.hr, neven.mijat@fer.hr.

George S. Moschytz is with the School of Engineering, Bar-Ilan University, IL-52 900 Ramat-Gan, Israel, moschytz@isi.ee.ethz.ch.

## References

1. Handbook of Filter Synthesis

A. I. Zverev

New York
Handbook of Filter Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons, 1967

2. Inductorless filters

H. J. Orchard

Electron. Letters, vol. 2, p. 224–225, 1966-06

3. Analog Filter Design

M. E. Van Valkenburg

Analog Filter Design, Oxford University Press, 1995-06

4. Linear Integrated Networks: Fundamentals

G. S. Moschytz

New York
Linear Integrated Networks: Fundamentals, Van Nostrad Reinhold Co., 1974, (Bell Laboratories Series)

5. Linear Integrated Networks: Design

G. S. Moschytz

New York
Linear Integrated Networks: Design, Van Nostrad Reinhold Co., 1975, (Bell Laboratories Series)

6. Active Filter Design Handbook

G. S. Moschytz, P. Horn

Chichester, U.K.
Active Filter Design Handbook, Wiley, 1981

## Cited By

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## Keywords

### INSPEC: Controlled Indexing

poles and zeros, biquadratic filters, circuit tuning, elliptic filters, low-pass filters

### INSPEC: Non-Controlled Indexing

No Keywords Available

### Authors Keywords

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### More Keywords

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## Media

No Content Available
This paper appears in:
International Symposium on Circuits and Systems
Issue Date:
2009
On page(s):
45 - 48
ISBN:
N/A
Print ISBN:
978-1-4244-3827-3
INSPEC Accession Number:
10760302
Digital Object Identifier:
10.1109/ISCAS.2009.5117681
Date of Current Version:
26 Jun, 2009