Lattice and bridged-T equalizers

Lattice and bridged-T equalizers are circuits which are used to correct for the amplitude and/or phase errors of a network or transmission line. Usually, the aim is to achieve an overall system performance with a flat amplitude response and constant delay over a prescribed frequency range, by the addition of an equalizer.

In the past, designers have used a variety of techniques to realize their equalizer circuits. These include the method of complementary networks; the method of straight line asymptotes; using a purpose built test-jig; the use of standard circuit building blocks,; or with the aid of computer programs. In addition, trial and error methods have been found to be surprisingly effective, when performed by an experienced designer.

In video or audio channels, equalization results in waveforms that are transmitted with less degradation and have sharper transient edges with reduced overshoots (ringing) than before. In other applications, such as CATV distribution systems or frequency multiplexed telephone signals where multiple carrier signals are being passed, the aim is to equalize the transmission line so that those signals have much the same amplitude. The lattice and bridged-T circuits are favoured for passive equalizers because they can be configured as constant-resistance networks such as the Zobel network, as pointed out by Zobel and later by Bode.

The single word description “equalizer” is commonly used when the main purpose of the network is to correct the amplitude response of a system, even though some beneficial phase correction may also be achieved at same time. When phase correction is the main concern, the more explicit term "phase equalizer" or "phase corrector" is used.