Correlation Between Insertion Loss and Input Impedance of EMC Filters

EMC concepts explained

Part 3: Cascaded LC and CL Filters

his is the third article of a three-article series devoted to the correlation between the insertion loss and input impedance of passive EMC filters. In the first article, [1], LC and CL filters were discussed, while the second article, [2], was devoted to the π and T filters. This article focuses on LCLC and CLCL, or cascaded LC and CL, filters. Analysis, simulation, and measurement results show that the frequencies at which the insertion losses of these filters are equal are the same frequencies at which the input impedances are equal. These frequencies define the regions where one filter configuration outperforms the other (with respect to the insertion loss). To determine these regions analytically, we compare the input impedances of the two filters.

Input Impedance to the Cascaded LC Filter

The input impedance

_IN to the cascaded LC filter is calculated from the circuit shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Input impedance to the cascaded LC filter

The input impedance of this filter can be obtained by using the input impedance of the π filter [2] and combining it in series with the impedance of an inductor.

(1)

or [3]

(2)

or in terms of the frequency

(3)

The magnitude of the input impedance is

(4)

Input Impedance to the Cascaded CL Filter

The input impedance

_IN to the cascaded CL filter is calculated from the circuit shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Input impedance to the cascaded CL filter

The input impedance of this filter can be obtained by using the input impedance of the T filter [2] and combining it in parallel with the impedance of a capacitor.

(5)

or [3]

(6)

or, in terms of the frequency

(7)

The magnitude of the input impedance is

(8)

Cascaded LC Filter vs. Cascaded CL Filter – Input Impedance – Simulations and Calculations

Let’s look at the input impedances of the two filters. The simulation circuit for this comparison is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Simulation circuit for comparison of input impedances

The input impedances of the two filter configurations are shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Simulation results: Input impedance – cascaded LC filter vs. cascaded CL filter

Note that the two input impedances are equal at three frequencies: 561.04 kHz, 1.04 MHz, and 1.36 MHz.

Next, let’s calculate the frequencies at which the input impedances of the two filters are equal. Equating the expressions in equations (4) and (8) produces

(9)

This equation can be solved for ω [3] resulting in

(10a)

(10b)

(10c)

The corresponding frequencies in Hertz are

(11a)

(11b)

(11c)

These results are consistent with the values obtained from the simulation in Figure 4.

Cascaded LC Filter vs. Cascaded CL Filter – Insertion Loss – Simulations and Measurements

Figure 5 shows the simulation circuit used for the comparison of insertion losses.

Figure 5: Simulation circuit for comparison of insertion losses

The simulation results are shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Simulation results: Insertion loss – cascaded LC filter vs. cascaded CL filter

The insertion losses are equal at the frequencies of 561.05 kHz, 1.04 MHz, and 1.358 MHz. These are the same frequencies at which the input impedances of the two filters were equal!

Note that up to the frequency of 561 kHz, the insertion loss of the CLCL filter is larger than that of the LCLC filter. Between the frequencies of 561 kHz and 1.04 MHz, the insertion loss of the LCLC filter is larger. Between the frequencies of 1.04 MHz and 1.36 MHz, the insertion loss of the CLCL filter is larger. Beyond the frequency of 1.36 MHz, the insertion loss of the LCLC filter is again larger.

Once again, [1,2], we have arrived at a very important observation: once the filter components values L and C are chosen, we can determine the frequencies at which the insertion losses of the two filters are equal. These are the frequencies at which the input impedances are equal, given by Equations (11).

To verify the simulation results of the insertion loss, the measurement setup shown in Figure 7 was used.

Figure 7: Measurement setup: Insertion loss – cascaded LC filter vs. cascaded CL filter

The measurement results are shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8: Measurement results: Insertion loss – cascaded LC filter vs. cascaded CL filter

Note that the measurement results agree with the calculated and simulated results.

References

Bogdan Adamczyk and Jake Timmerman, “Correlation Between Insertion Loss and Input Impedance of EMC Filters – Part 1: LC and CL Filters,” In Compliance Magazine, October 2023.
Bogdan Adamczyk and Jake Timmerman, “Correlation Between Insertion Loss and Input Impedance of EMC Filters – Part 2: π and T Filters,” In Compliance Magazine, November 2023.
Bogdan Adamczyk, Principles of Electromagnetic Compatibility: Laboratory Exercises and Lectures, Wiley, 2024.

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Dr. Bogdan Adamczyk is professor and director of the EMC Center at Grand Valley State University (http://www.gvsu.edu/emccenter) where he performs EMC educational research and regularly teaches EMC certificate courses for industry. He is an iNARTE certified EMC Master Design Engineer. He is the author of the textbook Foundations of Electromagnetic Compatibility with Practical Applications (Wiley, 2017) and the upcoming textbook Principles of Electromagnetic Compatibility: Laboratory Exercises and Lectures (Wiley, 2024). He has been writing this column since January 2017. He can be reached at adamczyb@gvsu.edu.

Jake Timmerman is an EMC Engineer at E3 Compliance, which specializes in EMC & SIPI design, simulation, pre-compliance testing, and diagnostics. He received his B.S.E in Electrical Engineering from Grand Valley State University. Jake participates in the industrial collaboration with GVSU at the EMC Center. He can be reached at jacob.timmerman@e3compliance.com.

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