ELG4139: Oscillator Circuits

Positive Feedback Amplifiers (Oscillators)

LC and Crystal Oscillators
JBT; FET; and IC Based Oscillators
The Active-Filter-Tuned Oscillator
Multivibrators

1
 Introduction

• There are two different approaches for the generation of

sinusoids, most commonly used for the standard
waveforms:
– Employing a positive-feedback loop that consists an
amplifier and an RC or LC frequency-selective
network. It generates sine waves utilizing resonance
phenomena, are known as linear oscillators (circuits
that generate square, triangular, pulse waveforms are
called non-linear oscillators or function generators.)
– A sine wave is obtained by appropriate shaping a
triangular waveform.

2
 The Oscillator Feedback Loop
A basic structure of a sinusoidal oscillator consists of an amplifier and a frequency-
selective network connected in a positive-feedback loop.

The condition for the feedback loop to provide sinusoidal oscillations of

frequency w0 is

Barkhausen Criterion:
 At w0 the phase of the loop gain should be zero.
 At w0 the magnitude of the loop gain should be unity.
 LC and Crystal Oscillators
For higher frequencies (> 1MHz)

1
wo  1
C1C 2 wo 
L( ) ( L1  L2)C
C1  C 2

(a) Colpitts and (b) Hartley.

 Hartley Oscillator
Used in radio receivers and transmitters More stable than Armstrong
oscillators Radio frequency choke (RFC)

L1 L2

1
f0  where Leq  L1  L2  2M
2 LeqC
M  Mutual coupling between L1 & L2
 Colpitts Oscillators
BJT; FET; and IC Based

Rf

Ri -

C1 C2 C1 C2

LC network LC network
1 C1C2
f0  where Ceq 
2 LCeq C1  C2

RFC is an impedance which is high (open) at high RF frequencies and low (short)
to dc voltages
Equivalent Circuit of the Colpitts Oscillator

1
wo 
C1C 2
L( )
C1  C 2

Complete Circuit for a Colpitts Oscillator

 Crystal Oscillators
Crystal is a piezo-electric device which converts mechanical pressure to electrical voltage or vice-vasa

1
Series frequency  f S 
2 CS L

1
Parallel frequency  f P 
 CC 
2  S P  L
 CS  CP 

Radio communications, broadcasting stations

Piezoelectric effect
Why are crystal oscillators used in many commercial
transmitters? 8
 An Application of Crystal Oscillator
Crystals are fabricated by cutting the crude quartz in a very exacting
fashion. The type of cut determines the crystal’s natural resonant frequency
as well as it’s temperature coefficient.

Crystal are available at frequencies about 15kHz and up providing the

best frequency stability. However above 100MHz, they become so small
that handling becomes a problem.

Two crystals producing two different frequencies for measuring

temperature Timing devices
9
 Op-Amp Crystal Oscillator
Op-amp voltage gain is controlled by the negative feedback circuit formed by Rf and
R1. More NFB will damp the oscillation, critical NFB will have a sine wave output and
less NFB will have a square wave output.

It is very flexible to construct the Op. Amp. Rf

crystal oscillator due to high amplifier gain
and differential input facility of the Op. R1

Amp. -
Op-amp

The two Zener diodes connected face to + Vz

face is to limit the peak to peak output

voltage equal to twice of Zener voltage. Cs
R2

The crystal is fed in series to the positive feedback which is required for oscillation.
Therefore the oscillation frequency will be crystal series resonant frequency fs.

10
 Example

Crystal used instead of inductor in the tank

circuit of Colpitts oscillator

11
 The Phase Shifter Oscillator
The phase-shifter consists of a negative gain amplifier (-K) with a third
order RC ladder network in the feedback.
The circuit will oscillate at the frequency for which the phase shift of the
RC network is 180o. Only at the frequency will the total phase shift around
the loop be 0o or 360o.
The minimum number of RC sections is 3 because it is capable of
producing a 180o phase shift at a finite frequency.
 VDD
A FET Phase-shift Oscillator
Phase-shift Oscillator
RD= ? b
Vi A
f = 1kHz
bAVi AVi C C C= ?
R R
R Rb R
R
C C C
bAVi = Vi (or) Ab =1 rd= 40k 
gm= 5000mS
Frequency of oscillation R=10k 
1
f  Example:
2RC 6 Determine the value of capacitance C and the
value of RD of the Phase-shift oscillator
Condition of oscillation shown, if the output frequency is 1 kHz. Take
rd = 40k and
1 Ab  1 gm=5000mS, for the FET and R = 10kW.
b
29  A  29 1 1 1
f  C    6.5nF
2RC 6 2Rf 6 2 10k  1k 6
40 40
Ab  1 Let A  40  29 A  g m RL  40  RL    8k
g m 5000S
8k  40k
But RL  RD // rd  RD // 40k  8k  RD   10k
40k - 8k
 BJT Phase-Shift Oscillator
R VDD
Example:
RC C= ? Determine the value of capacitance C and
R1 the value of hfe of the Phase-shift oscillator
C C shown, if the output frequency is 1kHz.
R R Take R=10 k. RC =1 k.
R2
1 1
R’ f   1kHz 
2RC 6  4 RC / R 2 10kC 6  4  1k / 10k
1
C  0.006F  6nF
2 10k  1k 6  4  1k / 10k
Frequency of oscillation
1
f 
2RC 6  4 RC / R
R R
Condition of oscillation 1 for BJT  h fe  23  29 4 C
b RC R
Ab  1  A  29 29
10k 1k
R R
for BJT  h fe  23  29  4 C  23  29 4  23  290  0.4  313.4
RC R 1k 10k

14
 IC Phase-shift Oscillator
Frequency of oscillation Rf
1 A b
f 
2RC 6 -
C C C
Condition of oscillation
R
Ab  1 A  29 i +
R R R
for IC inverting amplifier ,
R 1
A  f  29 b 
Ri 29
Example:
Determine the value of capacitance C and the value of Rf of the IC Phase-shift oscillator
shown, if the output frequency is 1kHz. Take R =10kW. Ri =1kW.
1 1 1
f  C    6.5nF
2RC 6 2Rf 6 2 10k  1k 6
for IC inverting amplifier ,
R
A  f  29  R f  29 Ri  29k
Ri

15
 Wien Bridge Oscillator
R1 C1 Frequency of oscillation
+ 1 1  if R1  R2  R 
f  f   
- 2 R1C1 R2C2 2RC  C1  C2  C 

Condition of oscillation
R2 C2
R4 R3 R3 R1 C2 R3  if R1  R2  R 
   2  
R4 R2 C1 R4  C1  C2  C 
Example: Determine the value of capacitance C1 and R1 if R2 =10kW C2 = 0.1mF R3 =10k R4
=1kW in the Wien bridge oscillator shown has an output frequency of 1kHz.
1 1
f   f2
2 R1C1 R2C2 4 2 R1C1 R2C2 Frequency of oscillation
1 1 0.025ms
R1C1    0.025ms  C 
4 2 f 2 R2C2 4 2 1k  10k  0.1
2 1
R1

R3 R1 C2 10k R 0.1F R 0.1

    1   1  10 -  9.996
R4 R2 C1 1k 10k 0.025ms 10k 25
R1  9.996  10k  99.96k  100k
0.025ms Condition of oscillation
C1   0.00025  250 pF
100k
Tuned Oscillators (Radio Frequency Oscillators)
Tuned oscillator is a circuit that generates a radio frequency output by using LC
tuned (resonant) circuit. Because of high frequencies, small inductance can be
used for the radio frequency of oscillation.
Tuned-input and tuned-output Oscillator

tuned-output
L2 C2
Cci
feedback coupling RF output
Cco

1 1
tuned-input f0  
C1 L1 2 L1C1 2 L2C2

17
 The Active-Filter-Tuned Oscillator

Assume the oscillations have already started. The output of the band-pass filter will be
a sine wave whose frequency is equal to the center frequency of the filter.
The sine-wave signal is fed to the limiter and then produces a square wave.
Practical implementation of the active-filter-tuned oscillator
 Bistable Multivibrators
Another type of waveform generating circuits is the nonlinear oscillators
or function generators which uses multivibrators.
A bistable multivibrator has 2 stable states. The circuit can remain in
either state indefinitely and changes to the other one only when triggered.

Metastable state: v+=0 and vO=0. The

circuit cannot exist in the mestastable
state for any length of time since any
disturbance causes it to switch to
either stable state.
 Bistable Circuit with Inverting Transfer Characteristics

Assume that vO is at one of its two possible levels, say L+, and thus v+ = βL+.
 As vI increases from 0 and then exceeds βL+, a negative voltage developes between
input terminals of the op amp.
 This voltage is amplified and vO goes negative.
 The voltage divider causes v+ to go negative, increasing the net negative input and
keeping the regenerative process going.
 This process culminates in the op amp saturating, that is, vO = L-.

The circuit is said to be inverting Trigger signal

Bistable Circuit with Noninverting Transfer Characteristics
 Application of the Bistable Circuit as a Comparator
To design a circuit that detects and counts the zero crossings of an arbitrary
waveform, a comparator whose threshold is set to 0 can be used. The comparator
provides a step change at its output every time zero crossing occurs.
 Bistable Circuit with More Precise Output Level
Limiter circuits are used to obtain more precise output levels for the bistable circuit.

L+ = VZ1 + VD and L– = –(VZ2 + VD), L+ = VZ + VD1 + VD2 and L– = –(VZ +

where VD is the forward diode drop. VD3 + VD4).
 Operation of the Astable Multivibrator
Connecting a bistable multivibrator with inverting transfer characteristics in a
feedback loop with an RC circuit results in a square-wave generator.
Operation of the Astable Multivibrator
 Generation of Triangular Waveforms
Triangular waveforms can be obtained by replacing the low-pass RC circuit
with an integrator. Since the integrator is inverting, the inverting characteristics
of the bistable circuit is required.
 Generation of a Standard Pulse
In the stable state, VA=L+ (why?), VB=VD1, VC=βL+ (D2: ON and R4>>R1).
When a negative-going step applies at the trigger input:
 D2 conducts heavily and pulls node C down (lower than VB).
 The output of the op amp switch to L- and cause VC to go toward βL-.
 D2 OFF and isolates the circuit from changes at the trigger input.
 D1 OFF and C1 begins to discharge toward L-.
 When VB < VC, the output of the op amp switch to L+.
Generation of a Standard Pulse
 The 555 Circuit
Commercially available integrated-circuit package such as 555 timer exists that
contain the bulk of the circuitry needed to implement monostable and astable
multivibrator.

2/3 VCC
1/3 VCC