LC AND CRYSTAL OSCILLATOR

Prepared By: Mrs. Nisha G R

Asst. Professor
Dept of ECE
VCET, Puttur
 LC AND CRYSTAL OSCILLATORS

• Oscillators utilizing transistors (FETs or BJTs), with LC-tuned circuits or

crystals as feedback elements, are used in the frequency range of 100 kHz to
hundreds of megahertz. They exhibit higher Q than the RC types. However, LC
oscillators are difficult to tune over wide ranges, and crystal oscillators operate
at a single frequency.
 LC-TUNED OSCILLATORS

• Figure 17.12 shows two commonly used configurations of LC-tuned oscillators. They are known as the Colpitts
oscillator and the Hartley oscillator. Both utilize a parallel LC circuit connected between collector and base
(or between drain and gate if a FET is used) with a fraction of the tuned-circuit voltage fed to the emitter (the
source in a FET).
• This feedback is achieved by way of a capacitive divider in the Colpitts oscillator and by way of an inductive
divider in the Hartley circuit.
• In both circuits, the resistor R models the combination of the losses of the inductors, the load resistance of the
oscillator, and the output resistance of the transistor.
• If the frequency of operation is sufficiently low that we can neglect the transistor capacitances, the frequency of
oscillation will be determined by the resonance frequency of the parallel-tuned circuit (also known as a tank
circuit because it behaves as a reservoir for energy storage). Thus for the Colpitts oscillator we have

• The ratio L1/L2 or C1/C2 determines the feedback factor and thus must be adjusted in conjunction with the
transistor gain to ensure that oscillations will start.
 INTRODUCTION

• A crystal oscillator is basically a tuned-circuit oscillator using a piezoelectric

crystal as a resonant tank circuit. The crystal (usually quartz) has a greater
stability in holding constant at whatever frequency the crystal is originally cut
to operate.
• Crystal oscillators are used whenever great stability is required, such as in
communication transmitters and receivers.
 CRYSTAL OSCILLATOR

• A piezoelectric crystal, such as quartz, exhibits electromechanical-resonance characteristics that are very stable
(with time and temperature) and highly selective (having very high Q factors). The circuit symbol of a crystal is
shown in Fig. 17.15(a), and its equivalent circuit model is given in Fig. 17.15(b).

=CM
• A quartz crystal (one of a number of crystal types) exhibits the property that when mechanical stress is applied
across the faces of the crystal, a difference of potential develops across opposite faces of the crystal. This
property of a crystal is called the piezoelectric effect.
• Similarly, a voltage applied across one set of faces of the crystal causes mechanical distortion in the crystal
shape.
• When alternating voltage is applied to a crystal, mechanical vibrations are set up—these vibrations having a
natural resonant frequency dependent on the crystal.
• Although the crystal has electromechanical resonance, we can represent the crystal action by an equivalent
electrical resonant circuit as shown in Fig.
• The resonance properties are characterized by a large inductance L (as high as hundreds of henrys), a very small
series capacitance Cs (as small as 0.0005 pF), a series resistance r representing a Q factor ω0 L/r that can be as
high as a few hundred thousand, and a parallel capacitance Cp (a few picofarads). Capacitor Cp represents the
electrostatic capacitance between the two parallel plates of the crystal. Note that Cp >> Cs.
• The crystal as represented by the equivalent electrical circuit of Fig. 17.15 can have two resonant frequencies. One
resonant condition occurs when the reactances of the series RLCs leg are equal (and opposite). For this condition,
the series-resonant impedance is very low (equal to R).

• The other resonant condition occurs at a higher frequency when the

reactance of the series-resonant leg equals the reactance of capacitor Cp.
This is a parallel resonance or antiresonance condition of the crystal.

• At this frequency, the crystal offers a very high impedance to the external circuit. In order to use the crystal
properly, it must be connected in a circuit so that its low impedance in the series- resonant operating mode or
high impedance in the antiresonant operating mode is selected.
• We observe that the crystal reactance is inductive over the very narrow frequency band between ω s and ωp. For
a given crystal, this frequency band is well defined.
• Thus we may use the crystal to replace the inductor of the Colpitts oscillator. The resulting circuit will oscillate at
the resonance frequency of the crystal inductance L with the series equivalent of Cs and (Cp + C1C2 ⁄ (C1 + C2))
• Since Cs is much smaller than the three other capacitances, it will be dominant and
 RECOMMENDED QUESTIONS

• With a neat diagram explain working of a crystal oscillator. Explain series and
parallel resonance action with equivalent circuits and relevant expressions. A
crystal has L=0.334H, C=0.065pF, CM=1pF and R=5.5k𝛀. Calculate its series
and parallel resonant frequency.

• Explain the working of a Colpitts oscillator.