Attenuator Design TutorialSheet 1 of 14 Attenuator Design Tutorial Introduction Attenuators are devices used to adjust signal levels, to control impedance mismatch and to isolate circuit stages. Passive design Passive attenuators consist of two types ‘pi’ and ‘Tee’ attenuators. (1) Pi Attenuator The circuit for the Pi attenuator is shown in Figure 1. R3 Zout Zin R1 R2 Zin >= Zout Figure 1 Pi Attenuator R3 = L 1 10 10 1 Zin * Zout L 2 10 10 R2 = 1 10 + 1 1 L 10 R3 Zout 10 1 L 10 R1 = 1 10 + 1 1 L 10 R3 Zin 10 1 L 10 Where L = desired loss in dB Zin = desired input impedance (ohms) Zout = desired output impedance (ohms) Sheet 2 of 14 (2) Tee Attenuator The circuit for the T attenuator is shown in Figure 2 R1 R2 Zin R3 Zout Zin >= Zout Figure 2 Circuit of the T attenuator L R……