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Subelement E7

PRACTICAL CIRCUITS

Section E7C

Filters and matching networks: types of networks; types of filters; filter applications; filter characteristics; impedance matching

How are the capacitors and inductors of a low-pass filter Pi-network arranged between the network’s input and output?

  • Two inductors are in series between the input and output, and a capacitor is connected between the two inductors and ground
  • Two capacitors are in series between the input and output, and an inductor is connected between the two capacitors and ground
  • An inductor is connected between the input and ground, another inductor is connected between the output and ground, and a capacitor is connected between the input and output
  • Correct Answer
    A capacitor is connected between the input and ground, another capacitor is connected between the output and ground, and an inductor is connected between the input and output

Think of the symbol "Pi" (\(\pi\)). It's the same shape, with the two lines going down to the ground.

For a Low Pass function, the two capacitors will lead the higher frequencies to ground while opposing that path to lower frequencies. The inductor leads the lower frequencies to the output while opposing that path to higher frequencies.

Capacitors block DC

Also see Wikipedia article section and accompanying images: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi_filter#T_and_π_filters

Silly Hint: when I see the word "Pi", I imagine an excited child, he gets all excited, I want a capacitor and, and another and and! (it works in my mind, lol!)

For us US Navy Veterans stationed onboard a ship. I think of C.I.C. - Combat Information Center. In this case --> Capacitor, Inductor, Capacitor.

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What is the frequency response of a T-network with series capacitors and a shunt inductor?

  • Low-pass
  • Correct Answer
    High-pass
  • Band-pass
  • Notch

A capacitor has a response that increases as frequency increases and an inductor has the opposite response, it decreases as frequency increases. In the circuit described the inductor is between the signal path and ground and the capacitor in the signal path.

So, the capacitor impedes the passage of low frequencies in the signal path and the inductor allows the passage of low frequencies to ground leaving the higher frequencies as the only ones that pass through the T-network described.

See the images and description at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi_filter#T_and_π_filters

Hint: a Touchdown pass is thrown HIGH

Another hint: Shunt rhymes with blunt which will make you high. Remember, folks, this is just a stupid mnemonic. DON'T DO DRUGS!

Movie Hint: Think of T-Rex as a HIGH dinosaur.

Yet Another: If you're Bri-ish, you enjoy High Tea!

Also, the upper part of the letter “T” crosses the high side of the letter. Hence the answer is high-pass filter.

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What is the purpose of adding an inductor to a Pi-network to create a Pi-L-network?

  • Correct Answer
    Greater harmonic suppression
  • Higher efficiency
  • To eliminate one capacitor
  • Greater transformation range

One of the most common issues with transmitting into a multi-band antenna system is the creation of harmonic distortion that can cause cross interference with the outgoing signal. Using some sort of filter network just prior to the last stage of the amplification process can suppress harmonics within that particular frequency transmission. Of these many different Filter Networks the Pi-L (π) network is one of the most effective methods to suppress the harmonics in the final stage.

Hint: The transmitter and antenna work in harmony.

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How does an impedance-matching circuit transform a complex impedance to a resistive impedance?

  • It introduces negative resistance to cancel the resistive part of impedance
  • It introduces transconductance to cancel the reactive part of impedance
  • Correct Answer
    It cancels the reactive part of the impedance and changes the resistive part to the desired value
  • Reactive currents are dissipated in matched resistances

Hint: 4 "C's" Circuit + Complex = Cancels + Changes

The term “impedance matching” is rather straightforward. It’s simply defined as the process of making one impedance look like another. Frequently, it becomes necessary to match a load impedance to the source or internal impedance of a driving source. It’s crucial that the reactive components cancel each other. An example is the delivery of maximum power to an antenna. Impedances in radio-frequency transmitters must be matched to pass maximum power from stage to stage. Most impedance include inductances and capacitance that must also be factored into the matching process. Antenna impedance must equal the transmitter output impedance to receive maximum power.

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Which filter type has ripple in the passband and a sharp cutoff?

  • A Butterworth filter
  • An active LC filter
  • A passive op-amp filter
  • Correct Answer
    A Chebyshev filter

Chebyshev filters are analog or digital filters with a steep roll off at the edge of their passband and a ripple within the passband or stopband.

see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chebyshev_filter

You can easily rule out two answers because op amps are active and LC filters are passive.

To rule another option out: "Butterworth filters are as smooth as Butter".

Another hint: "shev" looks like "shiv" which is slang for knife. And knives are sharp. Chebyshiv! (sounds like it could be the name of a mob boss)

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What are the characteristics of an elliptical filter?

  • Gradual passband rolloff with minimal stop-band ripple
  • Extremely flat response over its pass band with gradually rounded stop-band corners
  • Correct Answer
    Extremely sharp cutoff with one or more notches in the stop band
  • Gradual passband rolloff with extreme stop-band ripple

An elliptic filter (also known as a Cauer filter, named after Wilhelm Cauer, or as a Zolotarev filter, after Yegor Zolotarev) is a signal processing filter with equalized ripple (equiripple) behavior in both the passband and the stopband. The amount of ripple in each band is independently adjustable, and no other filter of equal order can have a faster transition in gain between the passband and the stopband, for the given values of ripple (whether the ripple is equalized or not). Alternatively, one may give up the ability to adjust independently the passband and stopband ripple, and instead design a filter which is maximally insensitive to component variations.

As the ripple in the stopband approaches zero, the filter becomes a type I Chebyshev filter. As the ripple in the passband approaches zero, the filter becomes a type II Chebyshev filter and finally, as both ripple values approach zero, the filter becomes a Butterworth filter. - K4AGO

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliptic_filter

A key feature of elliptical filters is a sharp cutoff. Only one answer shows this.

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Which describes a Pi-L network?

  • A Phase Inverter Load network
  • Correct Answer
    A Pi-network with an additional output series inductor
  • A network with only three discrete parts
  • A matching network in which all components are isolated from ground

Hint:

Pi-L, L for inductance. So, its a Pi with an inductor.

Hint: It's the only answer that has "Pi" in it, which comes from the loose suggestion it looks like the Greek letter pi (π).

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Which of the following is most frequently used as a band-pass or notch filter in VHF and UHF transceivers?

  • A Sallen-Key filter
  • Correct Answer
    A helical filter
  • A swinging choke filter
  • A finite impulse response filter

The most frequently used filter as a band-pass or notch filter in VHF and UHF transceivers is A helical filter. Helical filters are commonly used in radio frequency applications for their ability to pass a range of frequencies while rejecting frequencies outside of the desired band. They are particularly useful in VHF and UHF transceivers, which operate at very high frequencies

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What is a crystal lattice filter?

  • A power supply filter made with interlaced quartz crystals
  • An audio filter made with four quartz crystals that resonate at 1 kHz intervals
  • A filter using lattice-shaped quartz crystals for high-Q performance
  • Correct Answer
    A filter for low-level signals made using quartz crystals

A crystal lattice filter is A filter for low-level signals made using quartz crystals.

Note: There is a slight difference in layout between crystal lattices and ladders. There are pairs of crystals within lattice networks. Resonance modes are paired with each crystal in the lattice that facilitate an intended bandpass envelope (shape) to pass.

Hint: Lattice is for Low-Level

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Which of the following filters is used in a 2-meter band repeater duplexer?

  • A crystal filter
  • Correct Answer
    A cavity filter
  • A DSP filter
  • An L-C filter

A cavity filter is the best choice for use in a 2 meter repeater duplexer because it has a very high Q, can handle high power and is mostly stable to temperature changes. It provides a "steep" notch to only pass the band of interest with little loss.

The other answers given are worse choices because:

LC filters suffer from less than ideal L and C behaviors of their components.

Crystal filters typically cannot handle higher power.

DSP filters are not ideal because they would require analog-to-digital conversion which limits the power and requires regeneration of the signal (at a high power) after processing. Remember, DSP means digital signal processing, and a high power signal must be converted to low power digital then regenerated to be passed through DSP. A DSP filter would waste a lot of power and require more circuitry. They are mostly used when you start with a weak signal, then process it before sending it to a power amplifier.

https://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/what-is-a-cavity-filter/ has an explanation of cavity filters and their use in amateur radio applications.

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Which of the following measures a filter’s ability to reject signals in adjacent channels?

  • Passband ripple
  • Phase response
  • Correct Answer
    Shape factor
  • Noise factor

From Wikipedia:

The Shape factor is the ratio of bandwidths measured using two different attenuation values to determine the cutoff frequency, e.g., a shape factor of 2:1 at 30/3 dB means the bandwidth measured between frequencies at 30 dB attenuation is twice that measured between frequencies at 3 dB attenuation.

This tells you how "sharply" and completely a filter attenuates signals outside of its passband.

The other answers don't relate to comparing signals inside and outside the passband.

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