[SOLVED] Difference between low pass filters and smoothing filters

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iVenky

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Is there any difference between low pass filter and smoothing filter?

I can see that a smoothing filter has a diode and a capacitor whereas a low pass filter has a resistor and a capacitor. Yet they both seem to give me the same output. Is there any important difference between these two?


thanks in advance

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iVenky
 
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They don't give the same output. Basically, the rectifier diode with filter capacitor forms a non-linear circuit. It e.g. converts a sine in something like a triangular waveform.
 

FvM said:
They don't give the same output. Basically, the rectifier diode with filter capacitor forms a non-linear circuit. It e.g. converts a sine in something like a triangular waveform.
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But both are low pass filters right? I mean envelope detector is also a low pass filter.
 

Strictly spoken it's not a low pass filter. A low pass filter is assumed as a linear system. You possibly get similar magnitude versus frequency characteristics of the said circuits for a specific input waveform.
 
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    iVenky

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Okay I am getting it.
Smoothing circuits are non-linear while low pass filters are assumed as linear.

Okay. Thanks
 

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