Crystal Filters - ECS Inc.

What is a filter? Filters are electronic circuits that emphasize certain signals and reject other signals.

What is a crystal filter?

Definition of a Monolithic Crystal Filter: A monolithic (Greek: one stone) crystal filter has 2 sets of electrodes deposited on the same quartz disc. This forms 2 resonators with acoustic (mechanical) coupling between them. If the acoustic coupling is correct a filter response will be achieved.

Typical Construction of a Discrete Crystal and a Monolithic Crystal

Discrete Crystal

Monolithic Crystal

Center Frequency

For bandpass or band reject filters, it is the arithmetic mean of the 3db point frequencies. Also used as the design midpoint of the passband

Passband Bandwidth

In a bandpass filter, these limits, or passband edges, are generally the frequencies at which 3db of attenuation is measured. The number if hertz expressing the difference between the upper 3db frequency and lower 3db frequency of a bandpass filter.

Insertion Loss

The amount of attenuation within the passband of the filter compared to the input signal level. May be measured at center frequency or within 1db passband limits.

Ripple

The difference in attenuation between the highest peak and the lowest valley within the passband. It is measured in db.

Ultimate Attenuation

The maximum attenuation guaranteed at the specified frequency range.

Spurious Response

Are produced by unwanted vibrational modes in the crystals. Every filter parameter can be moderately to severely distorted by them. They are generally located on the high frequency side of the passband, and in wideband filters, they can occur even within the passband.