Biquad Active Filter

Introduction
Operational amplifiers can be used to realize a linear system with
an arbitrary biquadratic transfer function, as shown at the right.
The complex variable s = j, where = 2f. This function is the
ratio of two quadratic expressions in s. The denominator specifies
the characteristic frequency
0
and the Q-factor Q. The three
arbitrary complex constants a
0
, a
1
and a
2
specify the filter
properties in terms of the basic filter types of high pass, bandpass
and lowpass, which occur when only one of the constants is
nonzero. Combinations of these types create further filter types, such as notch and allpass filters.
The parameter Q has an easily appreciated meaning in the case of the bandpass filter. The gain is
maximum at the angular frequency
0
and falls off at lower and higher frequencies. Near the centre
frequency, the denominator can be written as (
0
+ )(
0
- ) + j
0
/Q, or approximately as 2
0
+
j
0
/Q. The magnitude of the transfer function will be down by 1/2 when these two terms are equal in
magnitude, or =
0
/2Q. Therefore, the total width of the peak at half maximum power (the square of
this) is
0
/Q.
Biquad Filter
A biquad transfer function can be realized
straightforwardly with a pair of integrators in
series, each introducing a factor 1/s, with
their outputs added to the input signal in a
summer, as illustrated in the circuit at the left.
This circuit looks complex at first, but if you
carry out a circuit analysis its operation will
become clear. Assume that the signal at the
output of the summer, the leftmost
operational amplifier, is x. Then find the
signals that are added at the summer in terms
of x, and finally solve for x in terms of the
input signal v
1
. You will find that the result is
in the form of a high pass transfer function. The outputs of the following two amplifiers will be a
bandpass function and a lowpass function. This amplifier realizes the three basic amplifier types, which
can then be combined as desired.
The effect of an integrator stage is illustrated at the right, to help in the
analysis. The parameters f
0
, Q and the bandpass gain at the centre frequency
are given in terms of the circuit parameters in the figure. These expressions are
sufficient for the design of a filter. In any case, resistances should be 5k or
greater to avoid overloading the operatonal amplifiers. The frequency-

determining values of R
F
and C must be carefully matched if a high Q is to be realized.
A circuit I tested used the following values: C = 0.01F, R
F
= 16k, R
G
= R = 10k, R
Q
= 1k (not an op-amp
load). The amplifiers were LM833 dual op-amps, which are intended for audio applications. This circuit
should have f
0
= 1kHz, Q = 5.5 and A
BP
= 1. I applied a 2V p-p input signal whose frequency was
measured by a counter. The input and ouput were displayed on an oscilloscope. The HP, LP and BP
outputs should all be examined as the frequency is varied to either side of 1 kHz. Note the peaks on the
HP and LP responses, and the phase relation between input and output at the peaks. Estimate the Q from
the BP response by finding the 1/&root;2 points.
Some references show the input applied to the noninverting input of the summer. Of course, this changes
the sign of the gains, but otherwise seems to work in about the same way. An accurate analysis is more
difficult for this configuration. It does not seem to have any advantage over input to the inverting input.
Another Biquad Filter
A different biquad filter is shown at the left.
In this circuit, the first integrator is also used
as the summer. One might think that in this
case only two op-amps would be required,
but unfortunately a signal sign change is
necessary, so a unity-gain inverting amplifier
is included. The inverting amplifier and the
second integrator may be in either order. A
drawback is that the highpass response is not
available, only the bandpass and lowpass
functions.
It is instructive to analyze this circuit, which
is straightforward since there is a virtual ground node at each amplifier. The feedback impedance of the
first integrator is R
B
/(1 + jR
B
C), which can be used in the usual expressions for the gain of an inverting
amplifier. Some algebra is necessary, but the appropriate biquad transfer function is obtained.
R
F
and C determine the centre frequency
0
. The value of R is unimportant; 10k is a usual value.
R
B
determines Q = R
B
/R
F
and the bandpass gain A
BP
= R
B
/R
G
. The bandwith f = f
o
/Q = 1/2CR
B
depends
only on R
B
, which can be said to set the bandwidth instead of Q,
independent of frequency. R
F
can be varied to change the centre frequency,
perhaps using ganged rheostats. However, to maintain a high Q the
resistances must track very accurately.
For a test circuit, I used R
F
= 16k and C = 0.01F as for the previous
circuit. R was 10k, and R
B
= R
G
= 33k. These values gave f
o
= 995 Hz, f
= 483 Hz, Q = 2.06 and A
BP
= 1.
Notch Filter
If you make a weighted sum of the lowpass and highpass functions of the first biquad filter with the
circuit shown at the right, the result will be a


notch filter with a notch at about 1.46 kHz. The gain at low frequencies will be +1.0, and at high
frequencies about +0.5. The response goes through a maximum with gain about 2 at 917 Hz, while the
phase shift is 90 at the corner frequency of 1.031 Hz.
If the weighted sum is v
HP
+ Av
LP
, it is easy to show that the notch frequency is given by f
N
/f
o
= A. The
notch in this case is just higher than the corner frequency. If A < 1, then the notch is lower than the corner
frequency. The numerator of the transfer function is
2
- A
o
2
, and the notch occurs when this expression
becomes zero.
It is instructive to compare the biquad notch filter with
the remarkable twin-T notch filter, which is a passive
filter with a transmission zero in spite of not including
inductance. The circuit shown uses op-amps to isolate
the filter from its load, as well as to "bootstrap" it so the
effective Q can be varied. The circuit I tested was
constructed from random components and gave a
reasonable zero, but not one as good as the biquad filter
provided. For a good zero, the components must be very
closely matched, using at least 1% resistors and
capacitors. This circuit gives a zero at 1591 Hz. The general formula is f
n
= 1/2RC.
With the resistors and capacitors at the base of the T grounded, the effective Q is about 1/4. If the amount
of bootstrapping is increased, Q increases, but the effect of mismatched components is greatly magnified,
and the zero becomes quite poor. To analyze this circuit, write nodal equations for nodes a and b. If x =
RC, we find v
o
= v
i
[(1 - x
2
)/(1 + 4jx - x
2
)], which is a biquadratic response with Q = 1/4. The gain
approaches 1 for low frequencies, and -1 at high frequencies.
References
You may want to review the articles on Time and Frequency Domains (8), Filters (16), and LC Filters
(33).
A. S. Sedra and K. C. Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, 2nd ed. (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston,
1987), pp. 784-803.
P. Horowitz and W. Hill, the Art of Electronics, 2nd ed. (Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1989, pp.
276-279.
National Semiconductor, data sheet for LM833N.

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Composed by J. B. Calvert
Created 1 September 2008
Last revised 8 September 2008