April 1969 Electronics World
Table of Contents
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles
from
Electronics World, published May 1959
- December 1971. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
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Sprague Electric engineer
Benedict Rosen, discusses how the characteristics of a circuit in need of protection
against RF interference needs to be considered when selecting filter components. He
points out that attempting to hang a shunt feedthrough capacitor on the input and/or
output of a low impedance (e.g., 50 Ω) RF circuit could make the situation worse,
depending on whether the circuit is strongly capacitive or inductive in its
out-of-band region. Sprague was a major manufacturer of all sorts of capacitors
qualified for use in military and aerospace systems, so they put a lot of effort into
characterizing device parameters over a wide range of voltage, current, power,
temperature, mechanical, and frequency environments.
R. F. Interference Filters

The author is an electrical engineering graduate of the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
He also serves as Chairman of Committee P.3.6 on electric wave fillers of the Electronic
Industries Association.
By Benedict Rosen / Asst. Manager, Filter Div., Sprague Electric Co.
Modern electronic devices with low power levels and high sensitivities require improved
EMI filters. The challenge for the filter designer is to develop smaller components and
to improve packaging techniques.
Almost every new electronic device demands a place in the frequency spectrum free
from interference of all others. And, the great majority of these new components are
more sensitive to "noise" than their predecessors. In many cases, electromagnetic interference
(EMI) filters are called upon to protect complex systems, such as missiles and computers
as well as simple electronic devices, from performance degradation due to outside electromagnetic
interference and to keep unwanted radiation "inside" away from other sensitive circuits.

In general, most of the smallest and lightest interference control
filters used in military and industrial electronic and electric equipment are packaged
in cylindrical-shaped cans. This design uses to advantage the natural shape of the rolled
capacitor sections and the toroidal inductors which form the filter. In addition, the
design facilitates mounting the units on panels, or with threaded necks, on bulkheads.
The feedthrough characteristics of this class of component enhances filter effectiveness
by eliminating mutual coupling between input, or noise source, and the output terminals.
Filters are available in an almost infinite variety of shapes and sizes. Extremely
large power-line filters are used in shielded rooms to protect communications equipment
from transients. On the other hand, subminiature filters have become commonplace. These
tiny devices are able to fit into the head of a multi-pin connector with 50 or more of
the units requiring less than one square inch of space. In both filter types, all kinds
of capacitors - paper, film, electrolytic, and ceramic - and inductive elements - ferrites,
powdered iron, etc. - are utilized in the construction. The selection of the proper capacitor-inductor
unit is, of course, entirely dependent on the intended application. A small ceramic feedthrough
device may cost as little as 50 cents; the price of some high-current power-line filters
runs as high as $1000. A typical single-line, 1-to-5-ampere, 200-V d.c. or 117-V a.c.
filter sells for $2 to $10 in large quantities. These are generally manufactured in a
cylindrical configuration and are by far the most widely used EMI filters. Size is pretty
much a function of both current and voltage - increasing with thicker dielectrics for
higher voltage ratings and larger core volumes for higher currents.
Stability
"Most filters which use film capacitors are relatively stable with voltage, and temperature.
However, insertion loss varies with frequency and current. Current instability is due
almost entirely to the change in permeability of the core material with saturation. This
phenomenon is well known and is exhibited, to some degree, by all inductors which use
magnetic material. Frequency instability, on the other hand, is a result of changes in
component impedances with frequency and other distributed parameters. An "L" circuit
filter, for example, will generally have dips in its insertion loss curve somewhere between
1 and 100 MHz, depending on the resonant frequency of the coil.

Some typical subminiature electromagnetic interference filters. Low-pass
filters like these are used on low-voltage power and control lines where the low impedance
of the power source must be maintained. Many manufacturers have found that their small
size, light weight, and high performance are particularly suited for use in high-density
packaging applications.
Temperature and voltage stability have become significant additional considerations
with the newest line of interference filters - those containing ceramic capacitors and
ferrite inductors. Both ceramics and ferrites are susceptible to temperature fluctuations.
In addition, the ceramic capacitor is the first shunt element used in EMI filters which
exhibits a substantial voltage instability. This characteristic presents a potentially
serious problem since some widely used components show variations in insertion loss of
as much as 15 to 20 dB over the specified operating voltage and temperature range.
Impedance
Typically, interference filters are measured in a system where both the input and
output impedances are 50 ohms. This 50-ohm system is not too far from real life at high
frequencies (for our purposes here, we are considering frequencies above 10 MHz high
frequencies), but at frequencies up through the low megahertz region, the real terminating
impedance can be almost anything. The reactance of a line, for example, varies continuously
from positive to negative as a function of frequency.
Since manufacturers' catalogues generally describe the performance of interference
filters in a 50-ohm system, selection of parts on this basis alone cannot help but result
in problems. There are, however, several general rules which, if followed, can reduce
the hit-or-miss aspects of filter selection. If the installation in which the unit is
to be used is a low-impedance capacitive system, an inductor facing this impedance would
be desirable. Obviously in this situation a capacitive input filter would be of little
value since the input capacitor is in parallel with the system capacitance. On the other
hand, the effects of even a small inductor at 100 kHz will be significant. Conversely,
if a system is inductive, it would be helpful to have a capacitor facing this high impedance.

The minimum full-load insertion loss characteristics of subminiature
EMI filters are measured in accordance with MILSTD-220 and usually fall within the band
shown in diagram. Ideally, the loss characteristic is flat, however components resonating
at specific frequencies cause some dips and peaks.
Filter selection can be further complicated if the suppression of switching transients
is required. Sometimes the addition of a shunt capacity to a circuit amplifies the signals
it was intended to suppress. This characteristic is due to stored energy in the capacitor
being discharged and creating large current loops which normally would not have existed.
The assumption that a filter which provides 60-dB attenuation at 150 kHz in a 50-ohm
system reduces interference in the system by that amount is, more often than not, erroneous.
Most filter manufacturers, however, have personnel who are able to assist system designers
and provide general filter-application guidelines. The major point, however, is that
insertion loss cannot be assumed from a list of specs published in a catalogue. Proper
consideration must be given to the system's characteristics.
Once a filter which performs a desired function is specified, it is important that
the same circuit configuration and approximate values be used in subsequent devices to
assure system continuity. From the standpoint of cost and size, it is equally important
that only necessary performance characteristics be specified. For example, if filtering
is only required from 100 kHz through 1000 MHz, it is usually unnecessary to incorporate
feedthrough capacitors. Less expensive capacitors and manufacturing processes will provide
adequate performance. Also, unless lower frequency characteristics are actually needed,
very high premiums in size, weight, and cost will result if attenuation within this range
is also specified. In installations requiring low-frequency performance, it's desirable
to use polarized electrolytic capacitors. This allows a much smaller package to have
the same performance as a unit using conventional paper, ceramic, or film capacitors.

Here are electrical circuits of subminiature electromagnetic filters
shown in photo above. The two L filters are found in parts 1JX1001-1002, respectively.
Part 1JX1003 has a pi network (C) while T network (D) is found in part 1JX1004. Remaining
double-L configurations (E, F) are found in parts 1JX1005-1006, respectively. The pi
and L circuits handle 0.5 A; T and double-L, 0.4 A.
Another factor in the cost vs. size battle between the product designer and product
user relates to the specification of voltage, current, and temperature ratings. It is
quite common for users who will need 2-ampere circuits to specify three or four amps
as a safety margin. The cost and size for this luxury increase significantly, and are
certainly out of proportion to the end result when the design capabilities of the manufacturer
and his safety margins are considered. In order for a supplier of filters to minimize
cost, weight, and size and yet provide the desired filter, the user should specify as
nearly as possible his actual requirements in terms of insertion loss, current, voltage,
and temperature ratings, and, if possible, the general circuit configuration in which
the filter is intended to be used. As an added benefit, the user obtains the needed component
quicker.
In general, r.f. interference filters are conservatively rated with respect to voltage
and current, Thus, they are widely used in military equipment where continuous operation
within a specified ambient range is a must.
Posted January 3, 2018
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