FIESTA-a filter educational synthesis teaching-aid

The authors describe a circuit synthesis program called FIESTA and its use is a teaching tool in both undergraduate and graduate courses. The program is very easy to use, is highly interactive, and contains graphics capabilities to give the student insights in active RC-filter design. FIESTA makes easier and faster the solution of the filter approximation problem, which traditionally involves use of tables and nomographs for a selected number of specifications. It is especially practical when a set of design specifications is not included in the tables. Highlights include Butterworth, Chebyshev, and Cauer approximations, and an arbitrary group-delay approximation. Circuit implementation is done using for illustration the Tow-Thomas biquadratic active RC-filter as the main basic block. Several computer exercises are suggested to complement classroom lectures and traditional `paper and pencil design'. Addition of code is easy to implement in FIESTA