Synthesis of op-amp based active-RC networks using a parallel path approach

Parallel-path op-amp based networks have been used in the design of active-RC and active-R oscillators. The relative ease with which this technique can be employed to synthesize second- and higher-order transfer functions using first-order building blocks has led the author to develop a series of engineering tasks of varying length and complexity suitable for presentation to second year honours undergraduates. Students are expected to carry out the initial design work by hand calculations using simple op amp models. They are then expected to verify the performances of their circuits and to compare them with those of more established designs using PSPICE simulation. It is also intended to verify the performances of some of the designs in the laboratory in future years