Deriving Corner Frequency for High Pass Filter

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around deriving the corner frequency for a high pass filter (HPF). Participants explore the transfer function and the implications of gain at different frequencies, particularly focusing on the challenges of defining corner frequency in the context of a high pass filter compared to a low pass filter.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant has derived a transfer function, T(s) = \frac{\frac{-R_{2}}{R_{1}}}{1 + \frac{1}{sCR_{1}}}, but is confused about how to derive the corner frequency, noting that their DC gain is 0.
  • Another participant points out that the HPF has unity gain at infinite frequency, prompting a discussion about the behavior of the transfer function as frequency approaches infinity.
  • There is a clarification that the term "unity gain" refers to the gain stabilizing at a certain value as frequency increases, which is different from the DC gain.
  • Participants discuss the concept of "reference gain" and its implications for deriving corner frequency, with some suggesting terms like "normalized gain" and "passband gain" to describe this concept.
  • One participant expresses confusion about the terminology used to describe the gain at infinite frequency and seeks clarification on accepted terms in electrical engineering.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the terminology and concepts related to gain in high pass filters. There is no consensus on a specific term to describe the gain at infinite frequency, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the best way to derive the corner frequency.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the differences in behavior between high pass and low pass filters, particularly regarding DC gain and how it affects the derivation of corner frequency. There are unresolved questions about the definitions and implications of gain terms in the context of filter design.

jegues
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Homework Statement



See Explanation below for details of my confusion.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



Hello all,



I've derived a transfer function, T(s) = \frac{\frac{-R_{2}}{R_{1}}}{1 + \frac{1}{sCR_{1}}}, but I can't seem to derive the corner frequency.



I am suppose to derive the corner frequency and show that it is indeed, \omega_{o} = \frac{1}{CR_{1}}



The only way I know how to obtain the corner frequency was how I obtained it using a low pass filter. I set the magnitude of my transfer function at the corner frequency equal to my DC gain divided by √(2).



But in a high pass filter my DC gain is 0. (This is what you would expect, it allows high frequencies to pass and attenuates low frequencies, and at DC \omega = 0)



So how do I solve it? Can someone nudge me in the right direction?



Thanks again!
 
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jegues said:

Homework Statement



See Explanation below for details of my confusion.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



Hello all,



I've derived a transfer function, T(s) = \frac{\frac{-R_{2}}{R_{1}}}{1 + \frac{1}{sCR_{1}}}, but I can't seem to derive the corner frequency.



I am suppose to derive the corner frequency and show that it is indeed, \omega_{o} = \frac{1}{CR_{1}}



The only way I know how to obtain the corner frequency was how I obtained it using a low pass filter. I set the magnitude of my transfer function at the corner frequency equal to my DC gain divided by √(2).



But in a high pass filter my DC gain is 0. (This is what you would expect, it allows high frequencies to pass and attenuates low frequencies, and at DC \omega = 0)



So how do I solve it? Can someone nudge me in the right direction?



Thanks again!

The HPF has unity gain at infinite frequency. What is s at infinite frequency?
 
berkeman said:
The HPF has unity gain at infinite frequency. What is s at infinite frequency?

Well for physical frequencies, s = j\omega

\text{So if, } \omega \rightarrow \infty

s \rightarrow \infty
 
jegues said:
Well for physical frequencies, s = j\omega

\text{So if, } \omega \rightarrow \infty

s \rightarrow \infty

Yep. So what does that give you for your transfer function at infinite frequency?
 
berkeman said:
Yep. So what does that give you for your transfer function at infinite frequency?

T(s)| _{s \rightarrow \infty} = \frac{-R_{2}}{R_{1}}

Are these questions working towards giving me my corner frequency, or how to derive it?

EDIT: Ahhh I think I see my confusion now! I was trying to solve it the same way I solved the low pass filter but the unity gain of the low pass and high pass filters are different! So I have to do the magnitude of the transfer function corresponds to 1/sqrt(2) times the gain as s approaches infinity!
 
Last edited:
berkeman said:
The HPF has unity gain at infinite frequency. What is s at infinite frequency?

berkeman, I have a quick question about the language you used here.

What do you mean when you say HPF has unity gain at infinite frequency?

Unity gain from what I understand is when I have a gain of 1.

I know that for derivations of corner frequencys (both high and low pass),

|T(jw)| = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} * T(jw)|_{w \rightarrow \text{Unity Gain}}
 
jegues said:
berkeman, I have a quick question about the language you used here.

What do you mean when you say HPF has unity gain at infinite frequency?

Unity gain from what I understand is when I have a gain of 1.

I know that for derivations of corner frequencys (both high and low pass),

|T(jw)| = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} * T(jw)|_{w \rightarrow \text{Unity Gain}}

Yes, maybe I should have used a different word. Filters can have whatever gain they are designed for, so the HPF has whatever gain at infinite frequency.

I should have said more like a "reference" gain, which is the gain that it stabilizes at as the frequency goes to infinity. Like a LPF has some "reference" gain at DC. The attenuated values as you go down the slope(s) of the filter are with respect to the reference gain where there is no attenuation.

Sorry for the confusion.
 
berkeman said:
Yes, maybe I should have used a different word. Filters can have whatever gain they are designed for, so the HPF has whatever gain at infinite frequency.

I should have said more like a "reference" gain, which is the gain that it stabilizes at as the frequency goes to infinity. Like a LPF has some "reference" gain at DC. The attenuated values as you go down the slope(s) of the filter are with respect to the reference gain where there is no attenuation.

Sorry for the confusion.

So there isn't an actual accepted term that electrical engineers use to describe this "reference" gain?

Or is it just referred to as the "stable" gain?
 
  • #10
You could call it the "passband gain"...
 
  • #11
berkeman said:
You could call it the "passband gain"...

Hmph... You'd think they'd have a specific term in place to describe just this... Weird.
 

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