Digital Filters. A/DComputerD/A x(t)x[n]y[n]y(t) Example:

Digital Filters

A/D Computer D/A

x(t) x[n] y[n] y(t)

].[]1[][ nxnyny Example:

To get the current output y[n], which is sent to the D/A, we get the previous output y[n-1] (sent the last time to the D/A) and add to it the current input from the A/D. In a programming language like C++, the code would look something like this:

yp = 0; // set “previous” y to zerowhile (true){ x = inp(ad); // get new sample y = yp+x; // perform filtering operation outp(y, da); // send filtered sample to D/A yp = y; // set “current” to “previous”

// for next iteration}

).(1)(

].[]1[][

].[]1[][

1 zXzzY

nxnyny

nxnyny

Finding the z-transform transfer function:

.1

1

)(

)()(

1

zzX

zYzH

Now what does this operation do to an input signal?

Example: find the impulse and step responses to the previous filter.

Solution: we could use z-transforms or convolution to find the output when the input is an impulse or a step, but instead, let us see how the output “evolves.” A table will be created with three columns: n, x[n] and y[n]. Each column will correspond to an instance in discrete-time. For the impulse input x[n]=[n] we have

n x[n]=[n] y[n]

0 1 1

1 0 1

2 0 1

3 0 1

4 0 1

For the step input x[n]=u[n] we have

n x[n]=u[n] y[n]

0 1 1

1 1 2

2 1 3

3 1 4

4 1 5

The plots of these outputs are as follows:

1 2 3 4n

y[n] for x[n]=[n]

1 2 3 4n

y[n] for x[n]=[n]

2

4

3

1

5

Example: Find the impulse response and the step response for the following transfer function:

.1

1)(

121

z

zH

Solution: From the definition of the transfer function we have

.1

1

)(

)(1

21

zzX

zY

Cross-multiplying and converting back to discrete-time domain we have

].[]1[][

].[]1[][

).(1)(

21

21

121

nxnyny

nxnyny

zXzzY

In other words, the current output is equal to one-half times the previous output plus the current input.

n x[n]=[n] y[n]

0 1 1

1 0

2 0

3 0

4 0

21

41

81

161

For the step input x[n]=u[n] we have

n x[n]=u[n] y[n]

0 1 1

1 1

2 1

3 1

4 1

211

431

871

16151

The plots of these outputs are as follows:

1 2 3 4n

y[n] for x[n]=[n]

1 2 3 4n

y[n] for x[n]=[n]

1

2

The step and impulse functions for this transfer function look like those for an RC low-pass filter.

Suppose that we wished to construct a digital filter corresponding to an RC low-pass filter?

Can we convert an analog filter to a digital filter?

The Matched z-Transform

In the matched z-transform digital filter design method we try to “match” the impulse response of the analog filter with that of the digital filter being designed.

To match the impulse responses, we take the inverse Laplace transform of the analog filter H(s)h(t), then sample the impulse response h(t)h[n], then take the z-transform of the sampled impulse response to get the z-transform transfer function h[n]H(z).

)(sH

)(th ][nh

)(zH

L-1 Z

Once we have our z-transform transfer function H(z), we apply the definition of the transfer function to write our digital filter equations:

.)(

)()(

zX

zYzH

sample

Analog Prototype Digital Filter

Example: Use the matched filter design method to design the digital equivalent of an integrator.

Solution: The analog transfer function is

.1

)(s

sH

The inverse Laplace transform is

).()( tuth

We then sample the impulse response to get h[n]:

].[][ nunh

Finally, we take the z-transform of the impulse response to get the digital filter transfer function.

.1

1)(

1

zzH

Finally, we apply the definition of the z-transform transfer function to get the relationship between the input of the digital filter x[n] and the output of the digital filter y[n].

.1

1

)(

)()(

1

zzX

zYzH

).(]1)[( 1 zXzzY

].[]1[][ nxnyny

].[]1[][ nxnyny

Applying this formula to an arbitrary input x[n], we have

n x[n] y[n]

0 x[0] x[0]

1 x[1] x[0]+x[1]

2 x[2] x[0]+x[1]+x[2]

3 x[3] x[0]+x[1]+x[2]+x[3]

We see that the output is the summation of the input. Thus the digital filter accurately represents the analog filter.

The digital filter does not always accurately represent the analog filter as will be seen in the next example.

Example: Use the matched filter design method to design the following transfer function:

,1

1)(

c

ssH

where c = s/4, and s is the sampling frequency.

Solution: First, we find the impulse response

.)( tc

ceth

Then we sample the impulse response:

.][ 2/nc

nTc eenh c

Then we take the z-transform of the (discrete-time) impulse response:

.1

)(12/

zezH c