Conversion of binary to decimal (base-2 to base-10) numbers and back is an important concept to understand as the binary numbering system forms the basis for all computer and digital systems. The decimal or “denary” counting system uses the Base-of-10 numbering system where each digit in a number takes on…
Unlike a linear, or analogue circuits, such as AC amplifiers, which process signals that are constantly changing from one value to another, for example amplitude or frequency, digital circuits process signals that contain just two voltage levels or states, labelled, Logic “0” and Logic “1”. Generally, a logic “1” represents…
The Passive Attenuator is a purely resistive network that is used to weaken or “attenuate” the signal level of a transmission line while improving the impedance match, making passive attenuators the opposite of amplifiers. Passive Attenuators are electrically connected between the source supply and the load with the amount of attenuation induced being of…
As its name implies, the bridged-T attenuator has an additional resistive element forming a bridged network across the two series resistors of the standard T-pad. This additional resistive element enables the circuit to reduce the level of a signal by the required attenuation without changing the characteristic impedance of the circuit as…
The Pi-pad attenuator is so called because its basic layout and design resembles that of the Greek letter pi ( π ), meaning that it has one series resistor and two parallel shunt resistors to ground at the input and the output. The Pi-pad attenuator is another fully symmetrical purely resistive network…
The difference this time is that this type of attenuator is used in frequency dependent circuits to create loss (attenuation) in a transmission line or to match the impedances of unbalanced source and load networks. The L-pad attenuator consists of two purely resistive elements in series with each other connected across a…