Circuits & Systems (ELEC 2209) Network Functions

NETWORK FUNCTIONS AND THEIR PROPERTIES FOR LUMPED

ELEMENT CIRCUITS

1. Introduction
A network function is in general a ratio of two related quantities (current
or voltage) in an electrical network where the quantities are represented in the
frequency domain. Normally the denominator corresponds to an excitation
variable E(s) and the numerator to the response variable R(s). s represents
complex frequency σ + jω . The network function has the form :
R ( s)
N ( s) =
E ( s)
In other words, a network function is formed from the ratio of the Laplace
transform of the response to the Laplace transform of the corresponding
excitation.

2. Driving-point functions
The simplest case of a network function occurs when one variable is a
current and the other a voltage at a single pair of terminals. The network is
called a one-port network and the network function called a driving-point
immittance function.
I1

+
V1
-
If the current is treated as the excitation the network function is called a driving-
point impedance Z(s) = V1(s)/I1(s). If the voltage is considered as the excitation,
then the network function is called a driving-point admittance Y(s)=I1(s)/V1(s).

3. Properties of LC driving point immittance functions

1. The poles are simple and on the jω axis.
2. The zeros are simple and on the jω axis.
3. The poles and zeros interlace the jω axis.
4. The degree of the numerator and denominator must differ by unity.
5. There is a pole or a zero at the origin.
6. There is a pole or zero at infinity.
7. The functions are either a ratio of odd to even polynomials or even to
odd polynomials.
8. The residues of the poles are real and positive.
9. The functions are reactance functions whose value along the jω axis is
purely imaginary, i.e. ZLC(jω) = jX(ω) and YLC(jω) = jB(ω).
10. dX(ω)/dω and dB(ω)/dω are always positive.

Y. Bissessur - Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering

University of Mauritius
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Circuits & Systems (ELEC 2209) Network Functions

4. Transfer functions
Another network function which is more important in filtering
applications is the transfer function. In this case, there are two pairs of terminals
called ports. The excitation variable (current or voltage) is at one port and the
response variable (current or voltage) is at the other port. Transfer functions can
be transfer impedances or admittances as well as dimensionless transfer voltage
functions such as V2(s)/V1(s) or V1(s)/V2(s) or dimensionless transfer current
functions such as I2(s)/I1(s)o or I1(s)/I2(s). Transfer voltage functions are more
commonly used.

I1 I2

+ +
V1 V2
- -

5. General properties of transfer functions for passive networks

Consider a passive linear network with lumped elements. let H(s) be a transfer
function of the network.
1. H(s) can always be written as a ratio of two polynomials in s with real
coefficients. i.e. H(s) = A(s)/B(s) were A(s) and B(s) are
polynomials in s.
m
∏( s − zi )
We can also write H ( s) = K i =1 , where K is a constant
n
∏( s − p j )
j =1
multiplier, z1,...zm are the zeros of H(s) and p1,...,pn are the poles of
H(s).
2. H(s) has no poles in the right-half s-plane and no multiple poles on the
jω-axis. i.e. the response is bounded for a bounded input (stability).
3. The degree of A(s) cannot exceed the degree of B(s) by more than
unity.
4. B(s) must be a Hurwitz polynomial.

Definition : A polynomial P(s) is said to be Hurwitz if

1. P(s) is real when s is real.
2. The roots of P(s) have real parts which are zero or negative.

Since driving-point functions are special cases of transfer functions, then, if Z(s)
is a driving-point function, both Z(s) and 1/Z(s) must satisfy all the above
properties. In particular, Z(s) has no zeros in the right-half s-plane and no
multiple zeros on the jω-axis. Also, the degree of the denominator of Z(s)

Y. Bissessur - Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering

University of Mauritius
2
Circuits & Systems (ELEC 2209) Network Functions

cannot exceed the degree of the numerator of Z(s) by more than unity, and both
the numerator and denominator of Z(s) should be Hurwitz.

6. Two-port parameters
Consider a general linear 2-port network described in terms of its y-parameters:
 y ( s) y12 ( s) 
[Y ] =  11
 y 21 ( s) y 22 ( s)
Then, y11(s) and y22(s) are one-port (driving-point) functions whereas y12(s) and
y21(s) are transfer functions.
Property : For an L-C two-port network, y12(s) and y21(s) are odd functions.
Similarly, if z-parameters are used, z12(s) and z21(s) are odd functions. (Kuo, pg.
348).
Property : For a passive two-port network, the poles of the driving-point
functions (e.g. y11(s) and y22(s)) and transfer functions (e.g. y12(s) and y21(s)) will
be the same except for the following conditions (Huelsman, pg. 176) :
1. If the first network element connected to a port is a series one, it can
produce private poles in the driving-point function that are not
present in the transfer function. This will occur when the port is
excited by a current source or when it is open circuited.
2. If the first network element connected to a port is a shunt one, it can
produce private poles in the driving-point function that are not
present in the transfer function. This will occur when the port is
excited by a voltage source or when it is short circuited.
3. If a transfer parameter has a pole on the jω axis (including the origin
and infinity), both driving-point parameters will also have that
pole.
4. If a transfer parameter has a non-jω-axis pole, this pole need not be
present in the driving-point functions.

Y. Bissessur - Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering

University of Mauritius
3