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A 1+ Low-Pass Fractional-Order Frequency

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 A 1+ Low-Pass Fractional-Order Frequency Filter
with Adjustable Parameters
Lukas Langhammer*, Roman Sotner*, Jan Dvorak, Ondrej Domansky*, Jan Jerabek and Jiri Uher
*
Department of Radio Electronics
Department of Telecommunications
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
Email: langhammer@phd.feec.vutbr.cz
AbstractA novel solution of a fractional order low-pass type
frequency filter is presented. The proposed structure comprises
of two Double-Output Current Followers (DO-CFs), two Multi-
Output Current Followers (MO-CFs) and two Adjustable
Current Amplifiers (ACAs). The slope of the transition between
the band-pass and band-stop region can be adjusted
by intentional control of the order in range from 1 to 2 given
by the change of values of resistors and current gains of ACA
elements. The proposal is supported by PSpice simulation using
transistor-level simulation models of employed active elements.
Keywordscurrent amplifier; current follower; fractional-
order filter; low-pass filter, transfer response reconfiguration
I. INTRODUCTION
Standard integer-order analogue frequency filters are being
widely spread in many industry branches in spite of the fact
that the modern technology operates mainly with digital
signals. A great attention is also paid to fractional-order filters
[1][23]. Except this field, we can also mention other
fractional-order circuits such as oscillators [24][26] and
regulators [27]. The fractional-order circuits and their
modeling can find their application in electrical engineering
[1][27], control engineering [27] as well as agriculture [28]
and modeling of biological signals [16], [17], [22], [28].
The slope of attenuation of the transition between the pass
band and stop band of conventional integer-order filters is
equal to 20n dB/decade, where n indicates the order of the
integer-order filter (i.e. 1, 2, 3, etc). The relation describing
the slope of attenuation of fractional-order filters is the same
as in case of the relation for integer-order filters, but it
contains additional parameter which is a real number having
following definition: 0 < < 1. The resulting relation for the
magnitude slope takes form of 20(n + ) dB/decade [1]. This
is substantial benefit of fractional-order filters.
The design of the fractional-order filters can be divided
into two basic approaches. The first one is based on the
utilization of so-called Fractional-Order Elements (FOEs) [5],
[15], [16], [21]. This approach involves the replacement
of standard passive parts in the circuit structure
of conventional filters by the FOEs. The FOEs are usually
approximated by the RC networks [3], [4], [6], [11], [12],
[17], [20], due to of absence of implementation of these
Research described in this paper was financed by Czech Science
Foundation under grant no. 16-06175S and the National Sustainability
Program under grant LO1401. For the research, infrastructure of the SIX
Center was used.
978-1-5090-3981-4/17/$31.00 2017 IEEE
elements. The second approach involves the usage
of approximation of the fractional-order Laplacian operator s
by an integer-order transfer function of higher order [10]. The
most commonly used approximation is the second-order
approximation [1], [2], [10], [14], [19]. The approximation
then determinates the values of individual elements included
in the resulting structure. The proposed filter (in comparison
to natural FOEs) can be implemented by easily available
active and passive elements, which is a significant advantage
for practical design.
The standard operational amplifiers (Op Amps) are most
frequently used active elements [3], [4], [6], [11], [18], [20],
[23] in the design of the fractional-order filter. Other active
elements, which are being used for the design of fractional-
order filters are Current Feedback Operational Amplifiers
(CFOAs) [13], Differential Difference Current Conveyors
(DDCCs) [8], [9], Operational Transconductance Amplifiers
(OTAs) [19] and Adjustable Current Amplifiers (ACAs) [14],
[19].
The filter presented in this paper has character of a 1 +
low-pass fractional-order filter with current followers (CF)
and adjustable current amplifiers. The proposed filter is based
on the Inverse Follow the Leader Feedback (IFLF) [8]
topology and it operates in the current mode.
II. MATHEMATICAL CALCULUS
Second order approximation design procedure of a 1+
low-pass fractional-order filter starts with the transfer function
of the following form [10]:
k1
K1LP
+ ( s ) =
, (1)
s ( s + k 2 ) + k3
where coefficients k1, k2, k3 intentionally impact the shape
of the transition area between the pass-band and stop-band
region. Approximated operator s can be expressed as:
a 0 s 2 + a1 s + a 2
s , (2)
a 2 s 2 + a1 s + a 0
724 TSP 2017
where a0 = 2+3+2, a1 = 822, a2 = 23+2 [10]. The global current distribution). Figure 2 a) illustrates the
coefficients k take the following values: k1 = 1, k2 = 1.06832 schematic symbol of the MO-CF element. The MO-CF can be
+ 0.161 + 0.3324, k3 = 0.2937 + 0.71216 [10] in order described by the equation iOUT+ = iOUT- = iIN. The CMOS
to obtain the low-pass fractional-order transfer function with model of the MO-CF element used for the simulations can be
Butterworth characteristics. found in [31].
Applying substitution of (1) into (2), the fractional-order An Adjustable Current Amplifier (ACA) [32] is the second
low-pass transfer function turns into: element used in the proposal. Figure 2 b) shows its schematic
symbol. The behavior of ACA can be described by the relation
iOUT+ = iOUT = B (iIN+ iIN). The current gain (B) of the
k1 a 2 s 2 + a1 s + a 0 ACA element supposes its control by current IsetB in this
K 1LP
+a ( s) . (3) particular case. Its CMOS simulation model is described
a 0 s 3 + b2 s 2 + b1 s + b0 in [32]. Both models (MO-CF and ACA) were implemented
in CMOS 18 m technology with supply voltage 1 V.
Coefficients b0, b1 and b2 from (3) have the following form:

b0 = ( a 0 k 3 + a 2 k 2 ) / a 0 , (4)

b1 = ( a1 ( k 2 + k 3 ) + a 2 ) / a0 , (5)

b2 = ( a1 + a0 k 2 + a 2 k 3 ) / a 0 . (6)
Fig. 2. Schematic symbol of: a) MO-CF, b) ACA
One of the possible ways how to implement the transfer
function given in (3) supposes using Inverse Follow the The proposed 1+ low-pass fractional-order filter depicted
Leader Feedback topology. A block diagram of possible in Fig. 3 has been designed in accordance to the block diagram
circuit solution using IFLF topology is shown in Fig. 1. from Fig. 1. There is a slight adjustment in relation to the
block diagram from Fig. 3 in case of the MO-CF2 element.
From the block diagram is obvious that there is a feedback
from the output of MO-CF2 which must lead to the node
connecting C3 and R3. We must add another feedback from the
output of MO-CF2 to the same node in order to create
a lossless integrator. These two feedbacks have opposite
polarities thus, they cancel each other. Therefore, they can be
omitted in the resulting structure. This structure comprises
Fig. 1. Block diagram of a 3rd-order IFLF topology used for of two DO-CFs, two MO-CFs, two ACA elements, three
an approximation of a 1+ low-pass fractional-order filter resistors and three grounded capacitors. The filter offers the
ability to control its order 1 + by adjustment of the values
The block diagram from Fig. 1 is specified by the of resistors and current gains B. This will be demonstrated
following transfer function: in the next section. Symbolical expression has following
unique form:
B2 B1 1
s2 + s+ N ( s)
I OUT 3 2 3 1 2 3 K ( s) = , (8)
K ( s) = = . (7)
D ( s)
I IN 3 1 2 1 1
s + s + s+
3 2 3 1 2 3 where
The relations for time constants () and current gains (B)
result from comparison of particular terms of (7) and (3). N ( s ) = C1C 2 G3 B2 s 2 + C1G 2 G3 B1 s + G1G2 G3 , (9)
III. CIRCUIT SOLUTION
The two types of active elements were used for the filter
proposal. The Dual-Output Current followers (DO-CFs) [29]
D ( s ) = C1C 2 C 3 s 3 + C1C 2 G3 s 2 + C1G2 G3 s +
. (10)
and Multi-Output Current Followers (MO-CFs) [30] + G1G2 G3
respectively create the first important operation (local and

725
Fig. 3. Proposed filtering structure approximating the 1 + low-pass fractional-order transfer function

Individual values of capacitors and resistors can be

obtained by the similar way as for and B parameters
by comparison of equations (7) and (8). It is also possible
e0 = G1G2G3 n13 n22 n34 n43 G1G2G3 B2 n11n31 n43 +
to adjust the pole frequency of the filter without disturbing its + G1G2G3 B1n12 n32 n43 + G1G2 G3 B2 n11 n43
order by the simultaneous change of the values of resistors .(14)
if required. G1G2G3 B2 n11n21n43 + G1G2G3 B2 n11n21n31 n43
G1G2G3 B1n12 n21 n32 n43
IV. CIRCUIT VERIFICATION
This section describes the analysis of the proposed filter. The resulting denominator is described by the following
The sensitivity analysis of the proposed filter was carried out relation:
and its function has been verified by PSpice simulations.
The proposed filter comprises of 18 parameters. The Dreal ( s ) = s 3 d 3 + s 2 d 2 + sd1 + d 0 , (15)
resulting transfer function is being influenced by the selection
of each of these parameters. The parameters which were taken
where
into consideration for the performed sensitivity analysis are:
C1, C2, C3, G1, G2, G3, n11, n12, n13 (individual outputs of MO-
CF1), n21, n22 (individual outputs of DO-CF1), n31, n32 d 3 = C1C 2C 3 , (16)
(individual outputs of DO-CF2), n41, n42, n43 (individual
outputs of MO-CF2) and B1, B2 (transfers of ACA elements).
By taking these parameters into consideration, the
numerator of the transfer function from (8) takes form of:
d 2 = C1C3G2 n31 + C 2C3G1 + C1C 3G2 +
, (17)
+ C1C 2G3 C 2C3G1n21
N real ( s ) = s 2 e 2 + se1 + e0 , (11)

where
d1 = C1G2G3 C1G2G3 n31 + C1G2G3 n32 n41 +
+ C 3G1G2 n21n31 C 2G1G3 n21 C 3G1G2 n31 + , (18)
e2 = C1C 2G3 B2 n11n43 , (12) + C 3G1G2 + C 2 G1G3 C 3G1G2 n21

e1 = C1G2G3 B2 n11 n43 + C1G2G3 B1n12 n32 n43 d 0 = G1G2G3 n31 + G1G2G3 n22 n32 n42
C1G2G3 B2 n11 n31n43 + C 2G1G3 B2 n11n43 + , (13) G1G 2G3n21 G1G2G3 n21n32 n41 + , (19)

+ C 2G1G3 B2 n11n21 n43 + G1G2G3 n21n31 + G1G2G3 n32 n41 + G1G2 G3

726
 The sensitivity analysis has been performed for all
parameters of the proposed filter covering the entire frequency
band. The relative sensitivity of the given transfer function
depending on individual filter parameters is described by the
following equation [33]:
qi K
S RK_ qi = , (20)
K qi
where K = K(j) is a complex transfer of the filter K = IOUT/IIN
respectively and qi denotes the parameter of i-th element in the
circuit.
Figure 4 depicts the relative sensitivity of the magnitude
of transfer function of the proposed filter in dependence
on above mentioned parameters. It can be seen that the
individual relative sensitivities have typical values (up to 1,
or slightly above one in case of C2, G2, G3, n31 and n32). The
relative sensitivity is the highest in case of parameters C2, G2
and n32. These sensitivities were taken into consideration
during the filter design. The parameters with the highest
relative sensitivity (C2, G2, G3, n31 and n32) were subjected
to an additional analysis of the relative sensitivity of the
transfer function of the filter in dependence on values of the
these parameters in order to determinate the range of highest
sensitivity of numerical values of these parameters and
of the order control, but in case of general demonstration
of the intended proper function of the order control provided
in the paper, we consider a parallel combination of E24 series
resistors sufficiently accurate.
The proposed filter has been designed to operate at pole
frequency f0 = 100 kHz having starting value of parameter
equal to 0.5. Following values of capacitors in the structure
were applied: C1 = 680 pF, C2 = C3 = 470 pF for all
simulations. The values of remaining parameters (resistors and
current gains) can be determined from (8) based on the above
given values. Overview of all required parameters for selected
is provided in Table I.
A comparison of individual magnitude and phase
responses of the proposed filter in dependence on selected is
illustrated in Fig 5 a), b) respectively. The order of the
proposed filter can be adjusted by the change of resistors and
current gains B. Used values of the resistors, capacitors and
current gains for tested values of parameter (0.1, 0.3, 0.5,
0.7, 0.9) are summarized in Table I.
1.1 1.3 1.5 1.7 1.9
0
-10
-20
Gain [dB]

subsequently avoid the selection of the values in this range

if possible. This analysis was not included in the paper due -30
to its excessive content.
-40

-50

-60
1.00E+03 1.00E+04 1.00E+05 1.00E+06 1.00E+07 1.00E+08
Frequency [Hz]

1.1 1.3 1.5 1.7 1.9

0
-20
-40
Phase [degree]

-60
-80
-100
-120
Fig. 4. Relative sensitivity of the magnitude of transfer function of the -140
proposed filter to individual parameters in dependence on the frequency (f0 = -160
100 kHz).
-180
1.00E+03 1.00E+04 1.00E+05 1.00E+06 1.00E+07 1.00E+08
The simulations were performed using transistor-level Frequency [Hz]
simulation models of used active elements as described in the
previous section. The obtained simulation results are then
compared to the theoretical expectations. The values
of resistors were selected/taken from E24 series (parallel Fig. 5. Comparison of simulation results when adjusting parameter for f0 =
combination of two E24 fabrication series resistors in some 100 kHz: a) magnitude response, b) phase response
cases) as apparent from Table I. It would be required to use
resistors from higher series in order to improve accuracy

727
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