Electronically Reconfigurable and Tunable Fractional-Order Filter Using Resonator Concept and Feedforward Path for Low-Frequency Tone Signalization

A novel electronically reconfigurable fractional-order filter allowing independent electronic frequency tuning and switchless change of the transfer response by a single parameter between standard band-pass, inverting all-pass response and special type band-reject response is presented in this work. The differences between these special transfer characteristics and standard features consist in magnitude and phase response behavior. Inverting amplification or attenuation is also available. The filter has tested frequency range between 1 Hz and 100 kHz. The proposed fractional-order filter (using two fractional-order element having equivalent capacity 8.7 uF/sec(boolean AND)1/4, alpha = 3/4) tunability yields one-decade range approximately between 10 Hz and 100 Hz by transconductance between 0.19 and 1.1 mS (fractional-order design helps with reduction of driving force less than one decade). The application example in frequency/phase detector (operationability around center frequency 100 Hz - between 50 and 180 Hz) and further signaling frequency detecting system for frequency shift keying demodulator offers maximal detectable voltage (about 300 mV) for alignment (zero phase shift) of the signals of the same frequency (center frequency of the proposed filter in inverting all-pass mode). It also offers an interesting application in frequency shift keying demodulation process (or for identification/signalization purposes of certain frequencies) by usage of a simple additional comparator generating clear output state. Cadence simulations as well as experimental tests using integrated cells of special multipliers fabricated in ON Semiconductor 0.35 mu m I3T25 CMOS process confirm operationability of the proposed concept as well as simple application of special response of the filter for phase/frequency detection and demodulation purposes.