A band-pass active filter is an electronic circuit designed to pass a specific range of frequencies while attenuating frequencies outside that range. It's particularly useful for applications where you want to isolate and amplify signals within a certain frequency band while rejecting unwanted frequencies, such as in communication systems, audio equipment, and instrumentation.
The operation of a band-pass active filter involves using operational amplifiers (op-amps) along with passive components like resistors and capacitors. There are different configurations for band-pass filters, but I'll describe a common one known as the Multiple Feedback (MFB) topology.
Components:
Operational Amplifiers (Op-Amps): Op-amps are the heart of the active filter. They amplify the input signal and provide gain to the desired frequency range.
Resistors: Resistors are used to set the gain and define the filter's characteristics.
Capacitors: Capacitors are used to create frequency-dependent paths for the signal.
Basic Operation:
High-Pass Stage: The input signal is fed into the first op-amp configured as a high-pass filter. This stage attenuates low-frequency components and allows high-frequency signals to pass through.
A resistor (R1) is connected in series with the input.
A capacitor (C1) is connected in parallel with the feedback resistor (R2).
This configuration forms a high-pass filter that attenuates low-frequency signals and allows high-frequency signals to pass.
Low-Pass Stage: The output of the high-pass stage is then fed into the second op-amp configured as a low-pass filter. This stage attenuates high-frequency components and allows the desired frequency band to pass through.
A resistor (R3) is connected in series with the output of the first op-amp.
A capacitor (C2) is connected in parallel with the feedback resistor (R4).
This configuration forms a low-pass filter that attenuates high-frequency signals, effectively creating a band-pass response between the high-pass and low-pass cutoff frequencies.
Frequency Response:
The band-pass filter's frequency response is determined by the values of the resistors and capacitors. The center frequency (where the gain is maximum) is determined by the values of the components in the high-pass and low-pass stages. The bandwidth of the filter, which defines how wide the passband is, is also influenced by these component values.
Gain:
The gain of the band-pass filter is set by the ratio of resistors R4 to R3 (in the low-pass stage). This gain can be adjusted to achieve the desired signal amplification within the passband.
In summary, a band-pass active filter employs a combination of high-pass and low-pass stages using op-amps and passive components to allow a specific range of frequencies to pass while attenuating frequencies outside that range. The design and component values determine the center frequency, bandwidth, and gain of the filter.