BASICS OF FILTERS
WHAT ARE ANALOG FILTERS?
Analog filter is typically used in electronics and is considered as a basic building
block of signal processing.
In analog filters the input, output, and internal signals are in the form of
continuous-time signals.
The continuously varying signals (analog signals) can be operated using passive
linear electronic analog filters which are composed of passive elements such as
resistors, capacitors, and inductors.
WHAT IS A DIGITAL FILTER?
Digital Filter: numerical procedure or algorithm that
transforms a given sequence of numbers into a
second sequence that has some more desirable
properties.
Input sequence Output sequence
xn Digital Filter yn
WHAT IS A DIGITAL FILTER?
• Electronic circuits which perform signal processing functions, remove unwanted frequency component, to enhance wanted
ones, or both.
• Digital filter-Performs mathematical operations on a sampled, discrete time signal to reduce or enhance certain
aspects of that signal.
• Filters generally do not add frequency components to a signal.
• Boost or attenuate selected frequency regions.
DESIRED FEATURES
Desired features depend on the application, for example
Input Signal Output
generated by sensing having less noise or
device (microphone) interferences
speech with reduced
redundancy for more
efficient
transmission
EXAMPLES OF FILTERING OPERATIONS
Noise suppression
• received radio signals
• signals received by image sensors (TV, infrared imaging devices)
• electrical signals measured from human body (brain heart,
neurological signals)
• signals recorded on analog media such as analog magnetic tapes
EXAMPLES OF FILTERING OPERATIONS
Enhancement of selected frequency ranges
• treble and bass control or graphic equalizers
increase sound level and high and low level frequencies to compensate for the lower
sensitivity of the ear at those frequencies or for special sound effects
• enhancement of edges in images
improve recognition of object (by human or computer)
edge – a sharp transition in the image brightness, sharp transitions in a signal (from
Fourier theory) appear as high-frequency components which can be amplified
EXAMPLES OF FILTERING OPERATIONS
Bandwidth limiting
• means of aliasing prevention in sampling
• communication
radio or TV signal transmitted over specific channel has to have a limited
bandwidth to prevent interference with neighboring channels
frequency components outside the permitted band are attenuated below
a specific power level
CLASSIFICATION OF FILTERS
FILTER SPECIFICATION
Before a filter is designed and implemented we need to specify its performance
requirements.
There are four basic filter types:
• Low-pass
• High-pass
• Band-pass
• Band-stop
Frequency band where signal is passed is passband Frequency band where
signal is removed is stopband
IDEAL LOW-PASS FILTER
• Low-pass: designed to pass low frequencies from zero to a certain cut-
off frequency and to block high frequencies
Ideal Frequency Response
IDEAL HIGH-PASS FILTER
• High-pass: designed to pass high frequencies from a certain cut-off frequency to and to block
low frequencies
Ideal Frequency Response
IDEAL BAND-PASS FILTER
• Band-pass: designed to pass a certain frequency range which does not include zero and
to block other frequencies
Ideal Frequency Response
IDEAL BAND-STOP FILTER
• Band-stop: designed to block a certain frequency range which does not include zero and to pass
other frequencies
Ideal Frequency Response
WHY DIGITAL FILTERS OVER ANALOG FILTERS?
Unlike their analog counterparts, digital filters can handle low frequency signals accurately.
As the speed of DSP technology continues to increase.
Because of components like tolerance, analog filters are more sensitive to environment
changes
They are less flexible in nature and are less adaptive;we have to redesign the filter if we want
to make any changes.
Cost is higher because of analog components involvement and are not programmable.
DIGITAL VS ANALOG FILTERS
DIGITAL
ANALOG
High Accuracy Less Accuracy– Component Tolerances
Linear Phase (FIR Filters) Non-Linear Phase
Flexible, Adaptive Filtering Adaptive Filters Difficult
Possible
Difficult to Simulate and
Easy to Simulate and Design Design
Computation Must be Completed in Analog Filters Required at High
Sampling Period - Limits Real Frequencies and for Anti-
Time Operation Aliasing Filters
Requires High Performance No ADC, DAC, or DSP Required
