Unit (Title of the unit) Lecture No 1

MULTIVIBRATORS: Astable Multivibrator

Topic
Bloom’s
Lecture Outcome (LO) At the end of this lecture, students will be
Knowledge
able to
Level
LO1 Explain the concept of different types of Multivibrators Remembering
LO2 Describe the Concept of Collector Coupled Astable Understanding
Multivibrator
LO3 Develop a Astable Multivibrator to operate Applying

MULTIVIBRATORS:
 It is an oscillator that produces non-sinusoidal signals like square wave.
 Its construction is given below:
 Two stage switching circuits.
 Output of the first stage is fed to the input of the second stage
 Output of the second stage is fed to the input of the first stage
Applications:
 Square wave generation (clock Generation)
 Timers
 Flip Flops (Memory element)
Types:

 Astable or Free Running Multivibrator

 Collector Coupled
 Emitter Coupled
 Monostable or One shot Multivibrator or Delay Circuit
 Collector Coupled
 Emitter Coupled
 Bistable or Eccles Jordan circuit or Flip Flop
 Collector Coupled
 Emitter Coupled or Self Biased Bistable Multivibrator
 Very important circuit called Schmitt Trigger is a derivative of a Bistable
Multivibrator.

COLLECTOR COUPLED ASTABLE MULTIVIBRATOR:

 Q1∧Q2 are two identical transistors cross coupled through C 1 and C 2 as shown in fig
1.1 (a).
 Fig 1.1 (a) Circuit Diagram

 R1∧R 2 provide bias for the transistor.

 It has two quasi stable states. (quasi means resembles) (Quasi stable state: Resembles
the stable state).
 Circuit oscillates between the states ( Q1 ON , Q2 OFF ) and ( Q 1 OFF , Q2 ON )
 Output at each collector is a square wave as shown in fig 1.1(b).

Working:
 Assume state: Q1 ON , Q2 OFF initially, V C 2=V CC ; V C 1=V CE ( sat )
( ¿ approximately C 1 grounded through E1 ), Capacitor C 1 charges through (positive on
the right side plate)
 When C 1 reaches enough charge, voltage across C 1 is used to forward bias the base of
Q 2.
 When Q2 starts conducting , V C 2 decreases, which causes V B 1 to decrease ,which then
causes,V C 1increases, which in turn causes V B 2 increases.
 Finally it (this regeneration) drives Q2 to saturation, and hence V C 2=V CE ( sat )
 As a result, V B 1reduces the same amount as V C 2 causing Q1 to OFF state (cut-off).
(Also C 2 is charged to −V CC )
 So, V C 1 rises to V CC which then causes small overshoot in V B 2. Now Q2 ON , Q1 OFF .
(C 1 makes Q2 ON , C2makes Q 1 OFF)
 (state is inverted ). This causes, C 2 to charge through R2 from −V CC .
 So, C 2 has to discharge to 0V and then charged to V CC .
 When C 2 is charged sufficiently to forward bias the base of Q1, the entire process
repeats.
 So the circuit continuously changes state of Q1 and Q2, and hence called astable
multibrator.
 V C 1 and V B 2 resembles a little, since C 1 and B2 connected through a capacitor and
also V C 2 and V B 1, V C 1 and V C 2 are inverse as shown in fig
 Fig 1.1 (b) Waveforms at base and collector of Q1∧Q2
Expression for time period T in astable multivibrator:
 The expression for time period T can be derived by finding the ON time T 1for Q 1 and
the ON time T 2for Q2.
 The waveform at the base of transistor as shown in Fig 1.1(b) is taken for
consideration.
 The equation at the output can be written as
−t / τ
V 0=V f −( V f −V i ) e
Where V 0 means the base voltage at B2.
 As the capacitor C 2 discharges exponentially, the voltage V B 2 at base B2 increases
exponentially.
Here, i=¿ initial value of V B 2=−V CC
V
and V f =¿ final value of V B 2=+V CC
Though it stops increasing beyond the cut in voltage V γ , its rise in towards +V CC ,which is its
final steady state value with the time constant τ 2=R2 C 2.
Therefore, V B 2=V CC −( V CC −(−V CC ) ) e
−t / R C
2 2

−t / R2 C 2
¿ V CC −2V CC e
 ¿ V CC ( 1−2e−t / R C ) 2 2

Here, at switching time,t=T 2 and V B 2=V γ

Therefore, V γ =V CC ( 1−2 e−T / R C )
2 2 2

The best approximation to obtain T 2is, V γ =0 V

Therefore, 0=V CC ( 1−2 e−T / R C )
2 2 2

i.e , 1−2 e−T / R C =0

2 2 2

e−T / R C =0.5
2 2 2

ln ( e−T / R C ) =ln (0.5)

2 2 2

−T 2
=−0.693
R2C2
T 2=0.693 R2 C 2
Hence the ON time for 2is 2 Q T =0.693 R 2C2
Similarly the ON time T 1 for Q 1 ,can be expressed as the same as T 2by the equation,
T 1=0.693 R1 C 1
Therefore, the total period of the waveform is
T =T 1+T 2=0.69 ( R 1 C 1+ R 2 C 2)
If R1=R 2=R and C 1=C2 =C , we have a symmetrical multivibrator, with outputs at the two
collectors having the same waveforms but out of phase with each other.
1 1
Therefore, T =1.386 RC and f = =
T 1.386 RC
To ensure oscillations, the value of resistors should satisfy the following conditions.
R1 ≤h FE (min ) and R2 ≤h FE ( min ) RC 2
Where h FE (min ) is the minimum value of d.c. current gain of transistors Q 1 and Q2.
Applications:
1. Square wave generator,
2. Used to produce clock signal.
3. Used in construction of Digital Voltmeter and SMPS.
4. Astable Multivibrator can be modified into voltage to frequency converter.
5. It can be operated as an oscillator over a wide range of audio and radio frequencies.

Title and author of the reference book

Multiple Choice Questions or Multiple Select Questions to assess the learning of the
students during the class (Refer GATE/IES or other state or national level competitive
examination)

Bloom’s
Qn. No Question Knowledge
Level

Short Questions (Refer Anna University questions)

Qn. No Question Bloom’s

 Knowledge
Level

Descriptive Questions (Refer Anna University or GATE/IES Questions)