First Order Passive RC High Pass Filter

A look at the transfer function and the frequency response of a simple RC HPF

Passive RC High-Pass Filter

C

Input

Output

HPF Analysis
XC Vin R Vout

1 =

The circuit is redrawn above with the capacitor replaced by XC , the capacitive reactance. The voltage divider rule gives:

= .

HPF Transfer Function

= .
XC Vin R Vout

1 =

HPF Transfer Function

= .
XC Vin R Vout

Substituting for XC in this gives: = . 1 +

1 =

HPF Transfer Function

= .
XC Vin R Vout

Substituting for XC in this gives: = . 1 +

1 =

Dividing above and below by R: 1 = . 1 1+

HPF Transfer Function

= .
XC Vin R Vout

Substituting for XC in this gives: = . 1 +

1 =

Dividing above and below by R: 1 = . 1 1+

Dividing across by Vin gives:

1 = 1 1+

HPF Transfer Function

XC Vin R Vout

1 = 1 1+

HPF Transfer Function

XC Vin R Vout

1 = 1 1+
Let 0 =
1

1 = 1+ 0

HPF Transfer Function

XC Vin R Vout

1 = 1 1+
Let 0 =
1

1 = 1+ 0
Also,
1

1 = 1 0

HPF vs LPF Transfer Functions

C Vin R Vout

R Vin Vout

RC High Pass Filter

RC Low Pass Filter

1 = 1 0

1 = 1 + 0

HPF Transfer Function

The magnitude of the HPF transfer function is given by: 1 = 1 + 0 The angle is given by: = 1 1+ 0
2

1 0 1 = = tan 1 0

1 1+ 0
2

0 1 = tan
HPF Angle (or PHASE) function

HPF Magnitude function

Bode Magnitude and Phase Plots

0/100

0/10

10.0

100.0

Bode Magnitude Plot

0/100 -3dB 0/10 0 10.0 100.0

Magnitude -3dB at frequency 0.

dB

Bode Magnitude Plot

0/100 -3dB 0/10 0 10.0 100.0

Magnitude 0dB at frequencies above 0 . This is called the PASSBAND.

dB

Bode Magnitude Plot

0/100 -3dB 0/10 0 10.0 100.0

Magnitude decreases by 20dB per DECADE at frequencies below 0 . The filter is said to exhibit a ROLL-OFF of 20 dB per decade. dB

Asymptotic Bode Magnitude Plot

0/100 0/10 0 10.0 0dB 100.0

dB

Bode Phase Plot

45

Phase = 45 at frequency 0.

degrees 0/100 0/10 0 10.0 100.0

Bode Phase Plot

0/100 0/10 0 10.0 100.0 Phase 90 at frequencies below 0/10

45

degrees

Bode Phase Plot

0/100 0/10 0 10.0 100.0

45 Phase 0 at frequencies above 100 degrees

Asymptotic Bode Phase Plot

0/100 90 at frequencies below 0/10 0/10 0 10.0 100.0

45

degrees

0 at frequencies above 100