TRANSFER FUNCTION FOR PI FILTER CIRCUIT

Figure 1: π Filter Circuit

In the practical application of a π-network, two additional resistances are typically included in the circuit. These two resistors
correspond to the source resistance associated with the stage feeding this circuit and along with the input resistance associated with the
stage into which it feeds. These resistors have been included in this analysis. If you choose, you can replace RS with 0 and RL with
very large value if you are interested in seeing what effect that has on the transfer function.

The analysis of this passive filter circuit is divided into two major steps. The first step involves using Millman’s Theorem to compute
the Thevenin equivalent voltage source and Thevenin impedance section composed of RS and the first capacitor in the circuit.. The
second step involves applying Millman’s Theorem to write the overall expression for the network using the expressions for the
Thevenin equivalent voltage and Thevenin impedance to obtain the basic expression.

With this expression in hand, it is just a matter of turning the crank to get to the final transfer function for the circuit.

This analysis assumes that the two capacitors are of equal value.

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Using Millman’s Theorem, the expression for the Thevenin voltage Vth is:

Vi
RS X C Vi
Vth = =
1 1 X C + RS
+
RS X C
Equation 1

The Thevenin impedance is the source resistor RS in parallel with the first capacitor C. The expression for this value is:

X C RS
Z th =
X C + RS

Equation 2

Vth Zth Vo

C RL

Figure 2

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Redrawing the circuit (see Figure 2) to show the use of the Thevenin values yields a much simpler circuit that lends itself to Millman’s
Theorem nicely. Equation 3 below shows the Millman’s derived expression and then the simplification that result from multiplying
the numerator and the denominator of equation 2 by the factor x where:

x = (Zth + X L )X C RL

Vth

VO =
(Z t h + X L ) =
RL X CVth
1 1 1 X C RL + RL (Z th + X L ) + X C (Z th + X L )
+ +
(Z th + X L ) X C RL
Equation 3

Next, expand the terms in the denominator of equation 3 to get the results shown in equation 4 below.

RL X CVth
VO =
X C RL + RL Z th + RL X L + X C Z th + X C X L

Equation 4

Equation 5 shows the results of substituting the expressions for Vth (see equation 1) and Zth (see equation 2) into equation 4.

RL X C X CVi
X C + RS
VO =
R X R X X R
X C RL + L C S + RL X L + C C S + X C X L
X C + RS X C + RS

Equation 5

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Equation 6 below is obtained by multiplying the numerator and the denominator of equation 5 by the factor x where:

x = X C + RS

RL X C X CVi
VO =
X C R L ( X C + RS ) + R L R S X C + R L X L ( X C + R S ) + X C X C R S + X C X L ( X C + R S )

Equation 6

Equation 7 shows the results of expanding the terms contained in parentheses from equation 6. Both sides of the expression are
divided by Vi.

2
VO RL X C
= 2 2 2
Vi X C R L + X C R L R S + R L R S X C + R L X C X L + R L RS X L + X C R S + X C X L + X C X L R S

Equation 7

Equation 8 is obtained by substituting the XC terms and the XL terms with their corresponding values in the s domain.

These values are:

1
XC = and X L = sL
sC

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 RL
VO ( s ) s 2 2
C
=
Vi ( s ) RL R L R S R L RS R L L RS L RS L
+ + + + R R
L S sL + + +
s 2C 2 sC sC C s 2 C 2 sC 2 C
Equation 8

2
Multiplying the numerator and the denominator in equation 8 by the factor s C2 yields the expression in equation 9.

VO ( s ) RL
=
Vi ( s ) RL + RL RS sC + RL RS sC + RL Ls C + RL RS s 3C 2 L + RS + sL + RS Ls 2 C
2

Equation 9

By collecting the terms that share the same exponent of s in equation 9 the expression in equation 10 is obtained.

VO ( s ) RL
=
( )
Vi ( s ) R L R S C Ls + (R L LC + R S LC )s 2 + 2 R L R S C + L s + (R L + R S )
2 3

Equation 10

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 3
By dividing the numerator and the denominator of equation 10 by the coefficient of the s term, equation 11 is obtained.

RL
R L RS C 2 L
VO ( s ) =
 1 1  2  2 1  R + RS
s 3 +  +  s +  + 2
 s + L
 RS C R L C   LC R L RS C  R L RS C 2 L

Equation 11

At this point it is desirable to have the term in the numerator match the coefficient of the corresponding s term in the denominator. In
0
this example, the coefficient of interest is the coefficient of s . To do this it is necessary to multiply the numerator of equation 11 by
the factor:

RL + RS
RL + RS

Once this is done, you get the expression in equation 12 below.

 RL  R L + RS  
   
VO (s )  RL RS C 2 L  RL + RS  
=
V I (s )   1 1  2  2 1  R L + RS 
 s + 
3
+  s +  + s +
2  2

 R
 S C R L C   LC R R
L S C  R R
L S C L 
Equation 12

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By regrouping the terms in the numerator of equation 12, the expression in equation 13 is obtained. Note that the numerator is now in
0
the form of the product of two terms with one of the terms identical to the coefficient of the s term in the denominator. This was the

goal, so we are ready to proceed with the final manipulations required to get to the desired results.

 R L + RS  R L  
   
VO (s )  RL RS C 2 L  RL + RS  
=
V I (s )  3  1 1  2  2 1  R L + RS 
 s +  + 
 s +  + 
2 
s+ 2

 R
 S C R L C   LC R R
L S C  R R
L S C L 
Equation 13

We arrive at the end of this long journey by factoring out that portion of the product in the numerator so that there remains only the
term that is equal to the constant term in the denominator and placing it on the outside of the bracketed expression. Note that the term
that was factored out is the expression that corresponds to the voltage divider formed by RL and RS. The term in the brackets is the
3rd-order low-pass transfer function of the circuit.

 RL + RS 
 
VO (s ) RL  R L RS C 2 L 
=
V I (s ) R L + R S  3  1 1  2  2 1  R L + RS 
 s +  + 
 s +  + 
2 
s+ 2

 R
 S C R L C   LC R R
L S C  R R
L S C L 

Equation 14

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