CHAPTER 3

OSCILLATOR
 OSCILLATOR
• A circuit that produces a periodical signal without an input
signal

• Produce signal waveform just by supplying a dc voltage

• Oscillation in oscillator circuit happens due to positive

feedback

• Found in AM modulation, FM modulation, local oscillator,

clock pulse and other circuits.

• Output waveform generation are in the form of sinusoidal,

square, triangular, sawtooth and ramp

• Oscillator can be categorized into two types: harmonic and

non-harmonic
 OSCILLATOR
• Harmonic Oscillator – A sinusoidal signal oscillator depends on the
feedback network to determine its oscillating frequency.

• Non-harmonic oscillator – A non-sinusoidal signal oscillator

depends on time constant to determine its oscillating frequency.

• Build-up for both types of oscillators comprises of

– an active device such as BJT or FET transistor and Op-Amp as
the gain element
– passive devices are such as resistor, inductor and capacitor

• Oscillator is commonly associated to sine wave signal generator

• Multivibrator is associated to square wave signal generator

 SINE WAVE OSCILLATOR
• Most sine wave oscillation causes by positive feedback
• Positive feedback is a condition where part of in-phase output voltage is
feedback to the input.
• The in-phase output with input signal causes the output signal to self-amplify
until it comes to an oscillation state.
• Oscillation principle
– Closed loop phase shift must be 0 to produce the feedback voltage
in phase with input signal

0º 180º

Amp Vo Amp Vo

Feedback circuit Feedback circuit

0º 180º
 POSITIVE FEEDBACK
• Block diagram of an oscillator using positive feedback

VS Vi Amplifier Vo
A Ɵ

Feedback
Network
Vf
ß Ø

 Positive feedback is produced when voltage feedback Vf or ßVo

added with the input voltage, Vi
 Voltage ßVo must be in phase with input voltage, Vi
 Source voltage, Vs is a voltage signal produced from noise.
 Positive feedback increases voltage output, Vo continuously and
brings system to an astable state
 POSITIVE FEEDBACK
 From the block diagram,

• Amplifier input voltage,

Vi = VS + Vf = VS + ßVo

• Amplifier output voltage,

Vo = AVi = A(VS + ßVo)
Vo - AßVo = AVS
Vo(1 – Aß) = AVS

• So overall gain with feedback,

Vo A
Af = ----- = --------
VS (1 – Aß)
 POSITIVE FEEDBACK
 In oscillation state,
• The closed l oop gain, ACL becomes unity where
ACL = Aß = 1
 In general,
• Closed loop gain, A and feedback gain, ß in complex form is
A Ɵß Ø =1 0
Aß Ɵ + Ø = 1 0

 From the above equation, the two conditions to allow the feedback
system to produce oscillation are such that:
• Closed loop gain must be unity in which Aß = 1
• Closed Loop phase shift must be zero which Ɵ + Ø = 0

 These two conditions are known as Barkhausen criteria

 OSCILLATION OCCURENCE
• At the beginning of oscillation, the closed loop voltage gain must be
greater than 1 so that output voltage amplitude can reinforce until it
reaches a particular value
• This closed loop gain, ACL later on reduces to 1 where at this point and
onwards the output voltage amplitude is maintained.
• Gain condition during the start of the oscillation and at the steady state
is shown in the figure below

+VCC
Vo
to

to
A Vo
0 t

ß ACL>1 ACL=1
 SINE WAVE OSCILLATORS
 Feedback network must provide appropriate voltage gain
and the determination of the oscillating frequency
 Feedback network to determine the frequency could
comprise of RC or LC circuits
 RC circuit is used for low frequency oscillation
 LC circuit is used for high frequency oscillation
 Low frequency oscillators that used RC network are
• Wein Bridge Oscillator
• Phase Shift Oscillator
 High frequency oscillators that used LC network are
• Colpitts Oscillator
• Hartley Oscillator
• Clapp Oscillator
• Crystal Oscillator
• Piece Oscillator
 WEIN BRIDGE OSCILLATOR
 Wein Bridge Oscillator uses lead-lag feedback circuit
as shown in figure below

R1 C2 R2
Vo Vf
R1 +VCC
C1 R2
V0
Vf
C R
Figure 3.25 C R
Lead-lag feedback circuit

Figure 3.26
Wein Bridge Oscillator circuit
 WEIN BRIDGE OSCILLATOR
Vf
 Feedback gain, ß = -----
Vo
C1 R1 Z1
Vf Vo Vf Vo

C2 R2 Z2

Figure 3.28

 From figure 3.28,

1 1
Impedance Z1 = R1 + ----- and Z2 = R2 // -----
jwC1 jwC2
 WEIN BRDIGE OSCILLATOR
 From figure 3.28,
Z2
Vf = ----------- x Vo
Z1 + Z2

If R1=R2=R and C1=C2=C

Vf R
----- = ------------------------
Vo (1 + jwRC)2
R + ------------------
jwC
wRC
ß = ------------------------
wRC – j(1 + jwRC)2
1
ß = ------------------------
1
3 + j(wRC - ------)
wRC
 WEIN BRIDGE OSCILLATOR
• To allow oscillation Barkhausen criteria must be met
• Imaginary part of the equation must equal to zero
Thus,
1
wRC - ------ = 0
wRC
1
w = -----
RC
1
fo = ------
2ΠRC
1 1
• Thus, the oscillating frequency, fo = ------ and feedback gain, ß= ----
2ΠRC 3
Vo 1 R2
• From figure 3.26, A = --- = --- = 1 + ----- = 3
Vf ß R1

therefore R2 = 2R1
 CIRCUIT OSCILLATION
• At the start of oscillation the amplifier voltage gain is greater than 3
allowing the output voltage amplitude to grow continuously
• Zener diode conducts whenever Vo reaches a breakdown voltage point.
Resistor R3 is short-circuited. Amplifier gain becomes 3 and ACL = Aß = 1
and the oscillation is preserved

Vo R 2 + R3
DZ1 DZ2 A = ---- = 1 + ----------
Vf R1
R2 R3 R3
A = 3 + ---- (as R2 = 2R1)
+VCC R1
V0 Vo

R1 Vf to
0 t
ß = 1/3

ACL>1 ACL=1
 WEIN BRIDGE OSCILLATOR
Problem 3.8.
Determine the oscillation frequency, fo for the Wein Bridge oscillator as
given in figure below. Prove the oscillation will start and continue after the
output voltage, Vo reaches ±6.9V. Sketch and label clearly the output
voltage, Vo once oscillation is preserved. Assume both Zener diodes are
ideal and the op-amp is supplied with voltage ±15V.
6.2V 6.2V
DZ1 DZ2

R3 15K
20K +VCC

Vo
R1 Vf
10K
ß = 1/3
R=12K,C=2.2nF
 WEIN BRIDGE OSCILLATOR
Solution 3.8.
The oscillation frequency, fo
1 1
fo 6.03KHz
2 RC 2 (12K)(2.2n )

At the start of oscillation, both Zener are open circuit, thus

R2 R3 20K 15K
A 1 1 4.5
R1 10K

Since A>3, the oscillation criteria is met.

When vo reaches ±6.9 = ± 6.2 ± 0.7 V, the two zener diodes conduct and
behave look like short circuit, thus amplifier gain,
R2 20K
A 1 1 3
R1 10K
 PHASE SHIFT OSCILLATOR
 Phase shift oscillator uses RC network circuit as in figure
below
 Each RC contributes 90 maximum phase shift between
input and output signals
 Amplifier phase shift (180 ) combines with phase shift
from the three RC (180º) to become a 360 total phase
shift.
R2

R1 +VCC
R R R
Vf
R V0 C C C

Figure 3.32
Phase shift oscillator circuit using RC feedback network
 PHASE SHIFT OSCILLATOR
 From figure 3.32, can be proved (please refer the module) and
finally obtained as
Vf 1 R2
ß = ----- = ---------------------------------------- A = ------
Vo 1 - 5w2R2C2 + j(6wRC – w3R3C3) R1

 For oscillation to happen, imaginary part = 0

(6wRC – w3R3C3) = 0

w2 =
6
--------
(RC)2

6 6
 w = --------- , fO = ----------
2ΠRC 2ΠRC

1 1
 ß = ---- 180º = - ------
29 29
 PHASE SHIFT OSCILLATOR
R2

R1 +VCC
C C C
Vf
R V0 R R R

Figure 3.34
Phase shift oscillator circuit using CR feedback network

• Formula
R2 1 1 1
A = ------ , ß = - ---- w = -------- , fO = ----------
R1 29 2Π 6 RC 2Π 6 RC
 HIGH FREQUENCY OSCILLATORS
• LC feedback network is used to establish a high oscillation
frequency
• Amplifier uses transistor as gain element for high frequency
application

Oscillator Rea ctiv e elem Amplifier

Type Z3 Z2 Z1
A Vo
Hartley L L C Inverting

Z2 Z3 Colpitts C C L Inverting

L C C Non-inver
Z1
Clapp C C LC Non-inver
Series
Crystal C C XTAL Inverting
 COLPITTS OSCILLATOR
+VCC

CC • Oscillation frequency,
R1 RC 1
CB fo = ---------------
+VO
Q1 2Π LCT
C2
R2 RE • Feedback gain, ß = - ------
CE
C1
C1C2
L(10mH) • CT = ----------
C1 + C2
Vf C1 C2

0.33µF 3.3nF
 HARTLEY OSCILLATOR
+VCC

 Oscillation frequency,
CC 1
R1 RC
CB fo = ---------------
+VO 2Π
Q1 LTC
L1
R2 RE  Feedback gain, ß = - ------
CE L2

 LT = L1 + L2
C
Vf

L1 L2
 CRYSTAL OSCILLATOR
+VCC
 Oscillation frequency
fXTAL
CC
R1 RC
CB
+VO
Q1
R2 RE
CE

XTAL

Vf

C1 C2
 MULTIVIBRATOR
• Multivibrator is a circuit to produce a square wave signal or a pulse
signal.

• Three basic types of multivibrators:

– Astable multivibrator
– Monostable multivibrator
– Bistable multivibrator

• Astable multivibrator
– has two quasi-stable states
– produces square wave signal
– is also known as free running multivibrator

Astable
Multivibrator
Vo
 MULTIVIBRATOR
• Monostable
– Produces one stable state.
– Produces astable pulse when receives a triggerring input in t1
period and returns to its stable state

Not stable
t1 t1
Stable
Vi Monostable Vo
Multivibrator
PW

– Sometimes is known as a one shot multivibrator

 MULTIVIBRATOR
• Bistable multivibrator
– has two stable output states
– has two triggering inputs Vi1 and Vi2
– signal changes from stable state to the other stable state once
receives the triggering inputs

t1
t1 t2
Vi1
t2 V Bistable Vo
i2 Mulitvibrator

• The three types of oscillators can be built by using op-amp, discrete circuit
or integrated circuit (IC)
 MULTIVIBRATOR DISCRETE CIRCUIT
• Multivibrator using discrete component capables to gain higher output wave
frequency compared to the one using op-amp circuit or IC

+VCC

Multivibrator Component Coupling

RC1 R R RC2 type
VC1 Z2 Z1 VC2 Z1 Z2
Astable C C
Q1 Q2 Monostable R C

Bistable R R
 MULTIVIBRATOR USING DISCRETE
COMPONENTS
+VCC

RC1 R R RC2 +VCC

VC1 VC2
C2 R1 RC1 RC2
RB1 RB1
Q1 VC1 VC2
VB1 VB2 Q2
VD
Q1 Q2
Triggering
signal R R
Monostable
discrete circuit S R

Bistable discrete
circuit
 MULTIVIBRATOR CIRCUIT
• Multivibrator can also be constructed by using
– operational amplifier (741)
– integrated circuit
• 555 Timer

• Multivibrator circuit using OpAmp

R1

+VCC

V0
+ C
1 -VEE
VC Vf
- R2
R3
ASTABLE MULTIVIBRATOR USING OP-AMP
Circuit ‘s equations
+
R3
V = Vf = VUTP = (Vo+ (sat))
R2 R3
R3
= R2 R3 (+Vcc)

V+ = Vf = VLTP = R3 (Vo- (sat))

R2 R3
= R3 (-Vcc)
R2 R3
 MULTIVIBRATOR USING OP-AMP
 Circuit operation
 Assume C no charge at t = 0, thus V- =0
 This let Vo reaching Vcc, causes C1 to start charging towards Vo via
R1
 When Vc reaches Vf, Op-Amp switches Vo to –Vcc.
 At this instance Vc discharges from Vf to –Vf
 When Vc reaches –Vf, Op-Amp swithes Vo to Vcc.
 At this instance capacitor C backs to charging state from –Vf
towards Vo that is Vcc
 When Vc reaches Vf, O-Amp switches Vo to –Vcc.
 The above action is repeated and continued and finally a square
waveform is produces as illustrated in the following figure:
 ASTABLE MULTIVIBRATOR USING OP-
AMP
– Signal waveform across the capacitor and the generated output
waveform
VC
+Vf

0 t
-Vf
VO
+VCC

0 t
-VCC
 ASTABLE MULTIVIBRATOR USING
OP-AMP
Waveform’s equations

E - Eo
t = RC ln
E Ec
Vcc - VLTP Vcc VUTP
TH = τ1ln TL = τ1ln
Vcc VUTP - Vcc - VLTP
Vcc - VLTP Vcc VUTP
= R1C ln = R1C ln
Vcc VUTP - Vcc - VLTP
 MULTIVIBRATOR CIRCUIT
Example 3.1
By the referring to figure below, find the voltage feedback, Vf and the
generated output wave frequency

R1=1K R3
VUTP = (+Vcc)
R2 R3
+15V
1K
= 15V = 3V
V0 4K 1K
+
VC Vf -15V
R3
VLTP = (-Vcc)
C=5µF R2 R3
R2=3K
R3=1K 1K
= (-15V) = -3V
4K 1K
 MULTIVIBRATOR CIRCUIT
Vcc - VLTP Vcc VUTP
– TH = τ1ln TL = τ1ln
Vcc VUTP - Vcc - VLTP
Vcc - VLTP Vcc VUTP
– TH = R1C ln TL = R1C ln
Vcc VUTP - Vcc - VLTP
– TH = (1K)(5u)ln((15+3)/(15-3)) = 2 ms
– TL = (1K)(5u)ln((-15-3)/(-15+3)) = 2 ms

The output wave frequency,

1
fo = ------------ = 250 Hz
TH + TL
 MULTIVIBRATOR USING 555 TIMER
• 555 Timer Circuit

VCC DISCH THRESH CONT

8 7 6 5
2
3
VCC R1 Q1 R S Q Output

5K +C 0 0 Q No
change
- A 0 1 0 Reset
R2
5K R Q 1 0 1 Set

+C FF 1 1 ? Not

1 R3 - B S Q2
Allowed

VCC
3 5K
VREF
1 2 3 4
GND TRIG OUT RESET

Block diagram of 555 timer

 MULTIVIBRATOR USING 555 TIMER

• Pin configuration

– TRIG (Pin 2) – Triggering Input Terminal

– OUT (Pin 3) –Output Signal Terminal

– RESET (Pin 4) – Grounding to disable timer. Connect to Vcc, the timer is

activated

– CONT (Pin 5) –DC Input Voltage Terminal

– THRESH (Pin 6) – Threshold Voltage Activating Terminal

– DISCH (Pin 7) – Voltage Discharge Terminal

 MONOSTABLE MULTIVIBRATOR
• Monostable multivibrator circuit using 555 timer.
+15V
VCC
R 20K 4 8 Vtrigger(pin 2)
RESET
7 3 0
DISCH OUT VOUT 2VCC
6
THRESH 555 3
2 5 VC (pin 6)
Vtrigger TRIG CONT 0
C 0.045nF GND
1
VCC
PW
VOUT (pin 3)
Formula 0
• Pulse width
PW = 1.1 RC
VCC VCC 0
TH RC ln RCln3 1.1RC
• R = ---------- 2
VCC VCC
3 IC(min) 3
PW TH 1.1RC
where IC(min) = 1000 x Ith
Ith = threshold current
 ASTABLE MULTIVIBRATOR
• Astable multivibrator circuit using 555 timer.

+15V VC
RA 5K 4 8 (RA+ RB)C RBC
RESET 2VCC
7 3
DISCH OUT VOUT
RB 10K 555 3
6 THRESH 1VCC VC (pin 6)
5
2 TRIG CONT
C 0.01μF GND
30 t
1
VCC
TH TL VOUT (pin 3)
Formula 0
• TH = 0.693(RA + RB)C
Duty cycle
• TL = 0.693RBC
TH
• T = TH + TL = 0.693(RA + 2RB)C DC = ---------- x 100%
1 1.44 TH + TL
• fo = ----- = ------------------- RA + RB
T (RA + 2RB)C = ----------- x 100%
RA + 2RB
 ASTABLE MULTIVIBRATOR
• Astable multivibrator circuit using 555 timer.

+15V E Eo
TH RA R B C ln
RA 5K
E Ec
4 8
RESET VCC VLTP
7 3
DISCH OUT VOUT TH (R A R B )Cln
RB 10K 555 VCC VUTP
6 THRESH
5
2 TRIG CONT VCC VLTP
C 0.01μF GND TH RA R B Cln
1 VCC VUTP
1
Formula VCC VCC
TH RA RB C 3
• TH = 0.693(RA + RB)C 2
• TL = 0.693RBC VCC VCC
3
• T = TH + TL = 0.693(RA + 2RB)C
1 TH RA R B C ln2
• fo = ----- TH 0.693 R A RB C
T
 VOLTAGE CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR (VCO)
• an oscillator where the oscillation frequency can be adjusted by
using the adjustable dc control voltage
• can be used to produce sine wave or non sine wave
• square wave VCO using 555 Timer

VCA
+15V
(R1+ R2)C1 (R2+R3)C1
R1 68K 4 8 VCONT
7 RESET
DISCH 3
R2 15K
OUT VOUT 1V VC (pin 6)
555 CONT
6
THRESH 5 20 t
R3 5K
2 TRIG CONT VCONT VCC
GND
1 TH TL VOUT (pin 3)
C1 0.01μF 0
 SQUARE WAVE VCO
USING 555 TIMER

Formula
Vcc – ½ VCONT
• TH = (R1 + R2)C1 ln ------------------
Vcc – VCONT
0 – VCONT
• TL = (R2 + R3)C1 ln -----------------
0 – ½ VCONT

• T = TH + TL
1 TH
• fo = ----- , Duty cycle , D = ----- x 100 %
T T
 PHASE LOCKED LOOP (PLL)
• Comprises of a phase detector, a low pass filter, an voltage
amplifier and a voltage controlled oscillator
• Able to lock or adjust to the incoming input signal frequency

VOUT

fi Ve Vd
Input Phase Low Pass
Signal detector Filter
Av
(Vi)
fO
VCONT
Voltage
Controlled
Oscillator
(VCO)

Ve - an error voltage which contains the sum and the difference

components when the two frequencies are compared
Vd – a differential voltage of the smaller of the two components
 PHASE LOCKED LOOP IC (PLL)
• An application: FM demodulation circuit using PLL (IC 565)
+6V
IC 565 C2
10 220 pF
Input
Signal 2 fi Ve Vd
Phase Low Demodulated
(FM) 3 Detector Pass Filter
Av 7 Output
5 Reference
fO
VCONT Output
Voltage 6
Controlled
Output 4 Oscillator
(VCO)

8 9 C1 1
R1 330 pF
7.5 KΩ
IC 565

+6V -6V
 FM DEMODULATOR
USING PLL (IC 565)

• Free running frequency V7(demodulated output)

0.3
fO = -------- = 121.21 KHz
R1C1 +5.3 V
• Locked range +5 V
8 fO +4.7 V
fL = --------- = 161.6 KHz
V
• Catchment range f0 - fL/2 f0 + fL/2 fi
1 2ΠfL (40.41K) f0 (202.01K)0
• fC = ----- ------ = 180.2 KHz (121.21K)0
2Π R2C2
fL
( 161.6 KHz)
Note: V = 6