Experiment No.

: 2

Study of R-C Phase Shift Oscillator.

Objective: To design an RC Phase Shift oscillator using op-amp for

a given frequency of 2kHz.

Theory:

An oscillator is a circuit that produces a periodic waveform on its

output with only the dc supply voltage. An ac input signal is not re-
quired for this circuit. The output voltage can be either sinusoidal or
non-sinusoidal, depending on the type of oscillator. Two major classi-
fications for oscillators are feedback oscillator and relaxation oscillators.

Conditions for oscillation

1. The phase shift around the feedback loop must be effectively zero
degrees.
2. The voltage gain, ACL around the feedback loop (loop gain) must
be equal to (or greater than) one.

The voltage gain around the closed feedback loop, ACL , is the prod-
uct of the amplifier gain, Av , and the attenuation, B of the feedback
circuit.

ACL =Av .B

RC phase-shift oscillator is a linear electronic oscillator circuit that

produces a sine wave output. It consists of an inverting amplifier ele-
ment such as a transistor or op-amp with its output fed back to its input

1
through a phase-shift network consisting of resistors and capacitors in
a ladder network. Each of the three RC networks in the feedback loop
can provide a maximum phase shift approaching 90 degrees. Oscillation
occurs at the frequency where the total phase shift through the three
RC network is 180 degrees. Inversion output at the output of op-amp
itself produces the additional 180 degree to meet the requirement for
oscillation of 360 degrees (or zero degree) phase shift around the feed-
back loop.

Equipments:

1) Resistors (330Ω, 10kΩ )

2) Capacitors (0.1µF)
3) DC power supply
4) Oscilloscope
5) Multimeter
6) OP AMP (LM 741)

Procedure:

1. Construct the RC phase circuit on the breadboard as shown in the

schematics.

2. Use: VCC = 10 V, VDD = -10 V, R = 330Ω, and Rf = 10kΩ.

3. Capacitor value is 0.1 µF.

4. Analyze output waveform using an oscilloscope.

5. Find frequency of the oscillation (f ) practically and theoretically.

2
Schematics:

Figure 1

Observations:

Theoretical Frequency of the Oscillator 2 kHz

Practical Frequency of the Oscillator 1.87 kHz
Theoretical value of V(p-p) of output 20V
Practical value of V(p-p) of output 17.3V

3
Circuit design:

The attenuation constant of the three sections of RC feedback network

1
is B = 29 .

To meet the greater than one unity loop gain requirement, the closed
loop gain of the op-amp must be greater than 29.

Given frequency, f = 2 kHz

We know,
1√
f=
2πRC 6
Let R1 = R2 = R3 = R and C1 = C2 = C3 = C

Taking C = 0.1 µF
1√
R= = 324.87 Ω
2πf C 6
Standard value, R = 330 Ω

Rf = ACL × R = 29 × 330 = 9.57 kΩ

Standard value, Rf = 10 kΩ

Hence,

R1 = R2 = R3 = R = 330 Ω
C1 = C2 = C3 = C = 0.1 µF
Rf = 10 kΩ

4
Simulation:

Figure 2

5
Error Calculation:

For frequency of oscillation,

2−1.87
Percentage error = 2 × 100 % = 6.5 %

For V(p-p) of output,

20−17.3
Percentage error = 20 × 100 % = 13.5 %

Result:

From the experiment, we found the expected sine wave. It is generated

due to noise in the circuit. We are getting the signal in the form of a
sine wave without any AC input. Moreover, there is no net phase shift.
Later, comparing with the data found from simulating ideal circuit, it
is found that there were some errors in the experimental data.
For frequency and V(p-p) value of the output waveform, the percentage
of error was 6.5% and 11% respectively.

Discussion:

In the experiment there were some errors due to several reasons (i.e.
impurity in the apparatus, instrumental error, measurement error etc).
But these are within acceptable range. Therefore the errors can be
neglected. Hence, we can say that, the experiment was performed suc-
cessfully.