DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name :A. Kishtanna
Designation :Sr. Lecturer in E C E
Branch :Electronics & Commn. Engg.
Institute :062, GPW, Nizamabad
Semester :III Semester
Subject :Circuit Theory
Subject code :EC-303
Topic :Circuit transients & Linear wave shaping
Duration :100 Mts.
Sub-topic : Expression for upper 3dB frequency, Low
pass RC circuit as integrator and uses of
differentiator and Integrator
Teaching Aids : PPT,Circuits and diagrams
EC303.89 to 90 1
Objectives :

On completion of this period, you would be able to:

• Know how low pass RC circuit works as Integrator.

• Expression for upper 3dB frequency and rise time.

• Uses of Differentiator and Integrator.

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Recap:

• What is the other name of low pass R-C circuit ?

• What is the response of low pass R-C circuit for pulse

input ?

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RC low pass circuit as Integrator

• As shown in the circuit the output is taken across

capacitor

i(t)
+
Vi Vo
R
-

Fig.1 (Integrator circuit)

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 C

i(t)
+
Vi Vo
R
-

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• From the analysis of low pass RC circuit the current equation
is given by

• Vi/RC = Vo/RC + dVo/dt ---------(1)

• In the above equation if the time constant RC is far greater

than the time period of the signal.

• As the time constant is large then the term Vo/RC is

negligible.

• The equation (1) reduces to

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• Vi/RC = dVo/dt --------(2)

• Integrating the equation (2) on both sides

• ∫(Vi/RC) dt = ∫(dVo/dt) dt

• 1/RC ∫Vidt = Vo

• Vo = (1/RC) ∫Vidt ---------(3) or

• Vo α ∫Vidt ----(4)

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• From the equation (4) it is clear that the output of the circuit
is proportional to the integral of the input signal.

• Hence the low pass RC circuit is called as Integrator.

• For good integration, the time constant RC >> T and

generally RC > 5T .

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Expression for upper 3dB frequency

• The low pass circuit in frequency domain is shown

below

1/SC
+ Vo(s)
Vi(s)
-

Fig.2 (Integrator circuit)

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• Let Vi(s) represents the input voltage and Vo(s) represents
output voltage in frequency domain.

• Let S = jw
= j 2 f ---------(1)

• The transfer function of the circuit with voltage division rule is

given by

• Vo(s)/Vi(s) = (1/SC)/(R + 1/SC)

= 1/1 + SCR ----------(2)

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• Substitute the value of S in equation (2)

• Vo(s)/Vi(s) = 1/ 1 + j 2 f CR ---------(3)

• Let fH = 1/2 RC, then equation (3) can be written as

• Vo(s)/Vi(s) = 1/ 1 + j (f/fH)

• The magnitude of voltage gain is given by

• |Vo/Vi| = 1/√ 1 + (f/fH)2 ---------(4)

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• The equation (4) relates the magnitude gain and frequency of
input.

• The characteristic drawn between gain and frequency is given

by the curve shown below.

lVo/Vil

1
.707

f
0 fH

Fig.89 to 90 (Gain vs frequency)

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• If f << fH, then

• (f/fH) << 1 and equation (4) reduces to 1.

• Hence for low frequency region the gain is constant And is

unity.

• If f >> fH, then

• (f/fH) >> 1 and equation (4) reduces to fH/f or

• |Vo/Vi| α 1/f
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• So for frequencies greater than fH the gain is inversely
proportional to the frequency.

• If f = fH, then the equation (4) reduces to 0.707.

• Hence when the frequency is equal to fH, then the gain

becomes 0.707 times the low frequency gain.

• The frequency referred this gain is called as upper 3dB cut off
frequency.

• We know that fH = 1/2 RC, i.e. fH is inversely proportional to

the time constant RC.

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Applications

• The differentiator is used to

1. Convert a triangular wave into square wave.

2. Convert square wave to triggers and for horizontal drive in
TV circuit.

• The integrator is used to

1. convert a square wave to triangular wave.

2. Triggers to square wave and for vertical drive in TV circuit.

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Summary

We discussed about:

• The time constant is equal to RC.

1
• Upper 3dB frequently f4 
2RC

• Applications of integrator.

• Applications of differentiator

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Quiz

• The gain of RC low pass RC circuit at upper 3dB

frequency is

(a) 1

(b) 0.5

(c) 0.707

(d) None

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2.The rise time is defined by

(a) Exponent of e is 0

(b) Exponent of e is infinity

(c) Exponent of e is unity

(d) None

EC303.89 to 90 18
Questions

4. Explain how RC low pass circuit works as integrator.

6. Define the rise time.

8. Bring the relation between upper 3dB frequency and time

constant.

10. List the applications of differentiator and integrator.

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