Free-Running Sawtooth Generator

Nur Amirah M. Haji Mohamad1

Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute
University of the Philippines Diliman
Quezon City, Philippines
1 amirah.haji.mohamad@eee.upd.edu.ph

Abstract-This design project aims to implement a free- The operational amplifier used was LM358. The Vcc
running sawtooth generator by using a Bootstrap Ramp is 12V and Vee is -12V. The following parameters are given
Generator as a trigger to the input of the Schmitt Trigger. based on the specifications on the output.
The specifications for this project are as follows: VUTP= -1V
Vmin is -8V and Vmax is -1V. The desired minimum and VLTP= -8V
maximum frequency is 300Hz and 3kHz respectively. The The values of the resistors of the Schmitt Trigger can
circuit was first simulated using SIMetrix to test its be solved using these equations.
functionality and then was implemented as an actual circuit. 𝑅2
𝑉𝐿𝑇𝑃 = (𝑉𝑐𝑐 − 𝑉𝑒𝑒 ) + 𝑉𝑒𝑒
This design project aims to assess the understanding of ramp 𝑅2 + 𝑅1
generators and Schmitt triggers. 𝑅2
−1 = (12 + 12) − 12
𝑅2 + 𝑅1
I. INTRODUCTION 𝑅2 11
The variable free-running sawtooth generator’s topology is =
𝑅2 + 𝑅1 24
shown in Figure 1. The output of the bootstrap ramp generator Assuming that 𝑅1 = 100𝑘Ω, the value of 𝑅2 based
is a ramp waveform which is the input of the Schmitt trigger. At from the equation above is 𝑅2 = 84.6𝑘Ω ≅ 100kΩ
a given peak-to-peak voltage, the sawtooth waveform should 𝑅2
have varying frequency. 𝑉𝑈𝑇𝑃 = (𝑉𝑒𝑒 − 𝑉𝑑 )
𝑅2 + 𝑅1
𝑅3
−1 = (−12 − 0.7)
𝑅3 + 𝑅4
8 𝑅3
=
5 𝑅3 + 𝑅4
Assuming that R3 is equal to 100kΩ, solving for R4
𝑅4 = 41.25𝑘Ω ≅ 33kΩ
𝑅5 was set to 100kΩ to minimize the current into the
Fig. 1 Free-Running Sawtooth Generator base of the PNP transistor.

An operational amplifier was used in both bootstrap B. Bootstrap Ramp Generator

and Schmitt trigger. The Schmitt trigger controls the voltage
levels which are the UTP and LTP which are -1V and -8V
respectively. The bootstrap ramp generator varies the frequency
of the waveform using a potentiometer from 300Hz to 3kHz.
II. CIRCUIT DESIGN AND EQUATIONS
A. Schmitt Trigger

Fig. 3 Bootstrap Ramp Generator Schematic Diagram

Note that the maximum reverse current for D1 is 3uA.

Allowing 1% non-linearity 𝐼𝑟5 = 100(3𝑢) = 300𝑢𝐴.
1 1
𝐼𝑟5 𝑓 300𝑢 3000
𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐶1 = = = 14.285𝑛𝐹 ≅ 14.7nF
∆𝑉 (−1 − (−8))
𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝑑 − 𝑉𝑑 − 𝑉𝐶𝐸,𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝑉𝑒𝑒
𝑅6 =
𝐼𝑅5
Fig. 2 Schmitt Trigger Schematic Diagram 12 − .7 − .7 − 0.2 − (−12)
𝑅6 = = 74.66kΩ
300𝑢
 𝐶1 ∆𝑉 14.2𝑛(7)
𝐼𝑅5 = = = 30 uA
1 1
𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛 300
𝑅7 𝑉𝑟1 22.8
𝑅7 ||𝑉𝑟1 = = = 739.581𝐾Ω
𝑅7 + 𝑉𝑟1 30.87𝑢
𝑉𝑟1 is set to 1MegΩ. Solving for 𝑅7 ,
𝑅7 = 2.8𝑀𝑒𝑔Ω
1 1
𝐼𝑟5
𝑓𝑚𝑎𝑥 300𝑢 3000
𝐶2 = = = 833𝑛𝐹 ≅ 1000𝑛𝐹 𝑜𝑟 1𝑢𝐹
0.01𝑉𝑐𝑐 0.01(12)

There were some approximations made to the values of

other components used in the simulation in order to achieve
accuracy in the specifications of the output. This may be due to
the inconsistencies of the simulator software. The final values
used in the software simulation is shown below in Figure 4.

Fig. 5. Bootstrap Ramp Generator and Schmitt Trigger Output at minimum

frequency 300Hz

The potentiometer was set at 0% to achieve maximum

frequency. It can be shown in Figure 6 that the frequency of
the output of the ramp generator is at 3kHz however the
minimum and maximum voltage is greater than -1V and less
than -8V.

Fig 4. Free-Running Sawtooth Generator

III. SOFTWARE SIMULATION

The given schematic of the circuit was simulated and the
output of both operational amplifiers were probed. The
potentiometer is set at 100% for minimum frequency. It can be
shown in Figure 5 that the frequency of the output of the ramp
generator is X2-out which is at 315Hz and -1V to approximately
-8V.

Fig. 6. Bootstrap Ramp Generator and Schmitt Trigger Output at maximum

frequency 3kHz
 IV. ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION
In Figure 7 is the actual set-up of the circuit. It was
connected to a +12V and -12V DC power supply and an
oscilloscope was used to show the output waveform. A
multimeter was also used to debug and check the continuity of
the circuit. There were some changes to the values of R6 and R7
in order to achieve accuracy in the specifications in the actual
implementation. R6 was change to 63k Ω and R7 was changed
to 2Meg Ω.

Fig. 9. Actual Output of Bootstrap Ramp Generator and Schmitt Trigger

at maximum frequency 3kHz

Fig. 7. Actual Circuit Implementation
The output of the circuit at minimum frequency is shown in
Figure 8. It can be shown that the frequency is at 303 Hz. The
minimum and maximum voltage is at -600mV and -8.40V
respectively.
V. CONCLUSION
The software simulation was challenging since every
time the potentiometer is varied from 0% to 100%, the Vmin
and Vmax of the ramp generator also varies.
In the actual implementation, the deviation from the
specifications based on the schemati diagram was different. It
was much smaller compared to the software simulation. The
specifications of -1V to -8V was achieved since a ±0.5V
deviation was accepted. The minimum and maximum
frequency was also met.
Debugging and continuity test was very essential in
this project. Understanding also how to obtain the values of the
components of both Bootstrap ramp generator and Schmitt
trigger made it easier to meet the output specifications.

VI. REFERENCES
[1] D. Bell, Solid State Pulse Circuits 4th Ed. Reston, Prentice Hall,
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
[2] EEE 54 Design Problem 2 Specifications.
[3] L.R. Tria. EEE 53: Electronic Circuits II: Ramp Generators
[4] L.R. Tria. EEE 53: Electronic Circuits II: Op-Amp Schmitt
Triggers

Fig. 8. Actual Output of Bootstrap Ramp Generator and Schmitt Trigger at

minimum frequency 300Hz

The output of the circuit at maximum frequency is shown in

Figure 9. It can be shown that the frequency is at 3.01kHz and
the minimum and maximum voltage is at -600mV and -8.40V
respectively. Despite the deviations in the software simulations,
the voltage levels in the actual circuit remained the same. It can
be inferred that some of the inconsistencies of the simulation and
actual is due to the non-idealities of the components and
equipment.