Jogi Patel

Dr. Jablonski
10/12/2016
EE-453

Assignment 1B: Sinusoidal Steady State LPF response

Solve, as a difference equation using a spread sheet, to obtain the graphs shown below for the
low pass filter circuit shown below. The point is to demonstrate how to solve equations for the
sinusoidal steady-state in the time domain.
R1
1k
V1
-1/1V

B
A
C1
.1uF

10kHz

A: v1_1
B: c1_2

1.000 V
0.750 V
0.500 V
0.250 V
0.000 V
-0.250 V
-0.500 V
-0.750 V
-1.000 V
0.000us

100.0us

200.0us

300.0us

400.0us

500.0us

600.0us

700.0us

800.0us

Measurement Cursors
1

v1_1

X: 324.29u

Y: 997.08m

c1_2

X: 347.75u

Y: 161.59m

X: 23.462u

Y: -835.49m

Cursor 2 - Cursor 1

To begin the simulation of a low pass filter in excel, we start with the differential equation:
RC

dV
dt

dV
dt
0.0001s
RC

+ Vout = VIN
+ Vout = Asin(t) RC

dV
dt

+ Vout = Asin(

2 t
)
T

Then we can create a difference equation from the equation above:

RC

V
t

+ V = Asin(

A = 1Vf(Hz) = 10k:

RC

V
t

+ V = VIN

2 t
)
T

Given the initial conditions: V(t=0) = 0,

dV
(t=0) = 0, the circuit starts at 0. Asin(0)=0.
dt

Jogi Patel
Dr. Jablonski
10/12/2016
EE-453

We follow this recursive pattern: RC

Re-arranging gives us: V =

Asin

Vnew
t

= Asin(

( 2 T t )Vold

2 t
) - VOLD
T
VNEW = VOLD + V

RC

Figure 1: Excel setup for LPFilter.

In the image above, shown is the setup for producing the input and output waves for the circuit.
RC
As we see, @t=0, we start at 0. t =
A set of data was generated of 500 data
100
points. The resulting graph is shown below:

Jogi Patel
Dr. Jablonski
10/12/2016
EE-453

Low Pass Filter response for a 1V 10kHz signal

Output Voltage

Input Voltage

0.9

0.4

Voltage(V)

-0.10

-0.6

-1.1

Time(s)
Figure 2: Attenuated output signal from a low pass filter.

Conclusion:
The low pass filter attenuates any frequencies that are above the resonant frequency
1
=fc . The resonant frequency for this circuit is 1591 Hz. Any frequency above that will
2 RC
be attenuated and frequencies lower than 1591 will be passed through.
If we were to switch the resistor and capacitor, we can reverse the effect of the circuit to get a
high pass filter. Since this is a first order low pass filter, the higher frequencies do not get
completely attenuated.
Performing the simulation of the given circuit is easy in Circuit maker, but understanding the
difference equation that governs the behavior is important. Using excel we can observe how the
basic difference equation can be computed. Another lesson learned from the lab is the connection
between the differential equation and difference equation. A differential equation can be
converted into a difference equation to perform numerical analysis to achieve the solution to the
differential equation.