IEC 60263:2020

Scales and sizes for plotting frequency characteristics and polar diagrams

IEC 60263:2020 specifies standard aspect ratios for logarithmic or level characteristics expressed in decibels versus a logarithmic frequency axis and ranges for the radius of polar diagrams of level. Applications include hard copy printouts, electronic files (e.g., PDF files), scientific publications, screen displays in computer programs and apps, as well as graphs in standards.
Informative examples of graphs that conform to the requirements in this document are found in Annex A.
Although outside the scope of this document, graphs with a linear y-axis versus logarithmic frequency (e.g., phase, group delay, etc.) often accompany the standard aspect ratio graphs of level described in the normative part of this document. These are described in informative Annex B.
IEC 60263:2020 cancels and replaces the third edition published in 1982. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) the scope is expanded to include electronic files (e.g., PDF), scientific publications, graphs in other standards, and screen displays in programs and apps;
b) a Terms and Definitions clause has been added;
c) aspect ratios of 20 dB/decade, and 0,5, 1, 1,25, and 2,5 decades/decade have been added;
d) ranges of 60 dB or 30 dB are specified for polar plots of absolute level; a 30 dB range is specified for polar plots of relative level;
e) as most graphs are now computer generated, tolerances and sizes have been removed;
f) all informative figures have been updated with contemporary examples;
g) an informative annex with information about linear y-axis vs. logarithmic frequency has been added.

Échelles et dimensions des graphiques pour le tracé des courbes de réponse en fréquence et des diagrammes polaires

L'IEC 60263:2020 spécifie les formats normalisés des caractéristiques logarithmiques ou de niveau exprimées en décibels en fonction d'un axe de fréquence logarithmique et des domaines de variation du rayon des diagrammes polaires de niveau. Les applications incluent les copies papier, les fichiers électroniques (fichiers PDF, par exemple), les publications scientifiques, les affichages à l'écran des programmes et applications, ainsi que les graphiques dans les normes.
Des exemples de graphiques conformes aux exigences du présent document sont donnés à l'Annexe A.
Bien qu'ils n’entrent pas dans le domaine d'application du présent document, les tracés avec un axe y linéaire en fonction d'une fréquence logarithmique (par exemple phase, temps de propagation de groupe, etc.) accompagnent souvent les graphiques de format normalisé du niveau décrit dans la partie normative du présent document. Ces tracés sont décrits à l'Annexe B (informative).
L'IEC 60263:2020 annule et remplace la troisième édition parue en 1982. Cette édition constitue une révision technique.
Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l'édition précédente:
a) le domaine d'application a été élargi pour intégrer des fichiers électroniques (PDF, par exemple), des publications scientifiques, des graphiques d'autres normes et des affichages à l'écran des programmes et applications;
b) un article Termes et définitions a été ajouté;
c) les formats 20 dB/décade, et 0,5, 1, 1,25 et 2,5 décades/décade ont été ajoutés;
d) des plages de 60 dB ou 30 dB ont été spécifiées pour les diagrammes polaires de niveau absolu; une plage de 30 dB a été spécifiée pour les diagrammes polaires de niveau relatif;
e) la plupart des graphiques étant aujourd'hui générés par ordinateur, les tolérances et dimensions ont été supprimées;
f) toutes les figures informatives ont été mises à jour avec des exemples contemporains;
g) une annexe informative contenant des informations relatives à l'axe y linéaire en fonction de la fréquence logarithmique a été ajoutée.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 25-Jun-2020
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 17.140.50 - Electroacoustics
• Technical Committee: TC 29 - Electroacoustics
• Drafting Committee: MT 25 - TC 29/MT 25
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 10-Jul-2020
• Completion Date: 26-Jun-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 60263 ®
Edition 4.0 2020-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Scales and sizes for plotting frequency characteristics and polar diagrams

Échelles et dimensions des graphiques pour le tracé des courbes de réponse
en fréquence et des diagrammes polaires

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IEC 60263 ®
Edition 4.0 2020-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Scales and sizes for plotting frequency characteristics and polar diagrams

Échelles et dimensions des graphiques pour le tracé des courbes de réponse

en fréquence et des diagrammes polaires

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 17.140.50 ISBN 978-2-8322-8497-1

– 2 – IEC 60263:2020 © IEC 2020
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Characteristics plotted versus a logarithmic frequency scale . 6
4.1 Decibel vs. log frequency plots . 6
4.2 Log quantities vs. log frequency plots . 7
5 Polar level diagrams . 7
5.1 General . 7
5.2 Polar plots of absolute level . 7
5.3 Polar plots of relative level . 7
Annex A (informative) Examples of the requirements specified in this document . 8
Annex B (informative) Information regarding linear y-axis vs. logarithmic frequency
plots . 14
B.1 General . 14
B.2 Phase . 14
B.3 Group delay . 14

Figure A.1 – Example of a microphone calibration curve showing the relative response
in dB as a function of frequency with an aspect ratio of 10 dB/decade . 8
Figure A.2 – Example of the response of a loudspeaker crossover filter network with
an aspect ratio of 20 dB/decade . 9
Figure A.3 – Example of the response of a loudspeaker with an aspect ratio of

25 dB/decade (dB re. 20 µPa) . 9
Figure A.4 – Example of the response of a hearing aid with an aspect ratio of
50 dB/decade. 10
Figure A.5 – Example of the noise from a mobile communications device with an
aspect ratio of 0,5 decades/decade (10 dB/decade) . 10
Figure A.6 – Example of amplifier noise with an aspect ratio of 1 decade/decade

(20 dB/decade) . 11
Figure A.7 – Example of total harmonic distortion of an earphone with an aspect ratio
of 1,25 decades/decade (25 dB/decade) . 11
Figure A.8 – Example of total harmonic distortion of a loudspeaker with an aspect
ratio of 2,5 decades/decade (50 dB/decade) . 12
Figure A.9 – Example of a polar diagram of absolute level with a range of 60 dB,

showing the sound pressure level from a siren at a distance of 3 m . 12
Figure A.10 – Example of a polar diagram of relative level with a range of 30 dB and a
reference circle radius of 25 dB, showing the directional response of a highly
directional shotgun microphone at 2,5 kHz . 13

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
SCALES AND SIZES FOR PLOTTING FREQUENCY
CHARACTERISTICS AND POLAR DIAGRAMS

FOREWORD
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International Standard IEC 60263 has been prepared by IEC technical committee TC 29:
Electroacoustics.
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition published in 1982. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) the scope is expanded to include electronic files (e.g., PDF), scientific publications, graphs
in other standards, and screen displays in programs and apps;
b) a Terms and Definitions clause has been added;
c) aspect ratios of 20 dB/decade, and 0,5, 1, 1,25, and 2,5 decades/decade have been added;
d) ranges of 60 dB or 30 dB are specified for polar plots of absolute level; a 30 dB range is
specified for polar plots of relative level;
e) as most graphs are now computer generated, tolerances and sizes have been removed;
f) all informative figures have been updated with contemporar
...