ECE 2202

Electronic Chapter 7 - Multi vibrators and wave shaping circuits

circuits II
7.1 Types of multi vibrators

7.2 Schmitt trigger circuits

7.3 Timer circuits

7.1 Multivibrators

These are most often used to generate square or triangular waves. A multivibrator is basically two-amplifier
circuit arranged with regenerative feedback. Usually one of the amplifiers is conducting while the other is
cutoff.
In general, there are three types of multivibrators namely Astable, Monostable and Bistable.

Astable (free running) multivibrator

Has no stable state. With no external signal applied, the two active devices (transistors)
alternatively switch from cutoff to saturation, at a frequency determined by the RC time constants
of the coupling circuits. Its circuit and wave form is shown below:
+VCC +VCC
Vc1
0v
R1 R2 R3 R4 0v

VC1 VC2 -v
C1 C2 Vc2
+VCC

0v
Q1 Q2
0v

-v
(a) T0 T1 T2 T3
(b)

Fig. 7.1 Astable multivibrator (a) circuit (b) wave shape

Operation of astable multivibrator circuit shown above is stated as follows:

Because the characteristics of the two transistors are not the same, when the circuit is first switched on the
current through one of the transistors say Q1 will increase faster than the current through Q2. Due to the
rise of current through R1, the voltage across it will increase, causing the collector voltage of Q1 to fall. This
fall in voltage is coupled to the base of Q2. This causes the collector current of Q2 to fall, and its collector
voltage to rise, due to less voltage being dropped across R4. This rise in collector voltage is cross coupled to
the base of Q1, increasing the forward bias of Q1 and increasing its collector current. Since the collector
current was already rising, its rise is aided by this rising forward bias. The effect is cumulative and Q1
becomes rapidly fully on and Q2 completely off.

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The collector voltage of Q1 is now low, and that of Q2 is high. C1 now begins to discharge from the supply
rail, via R2. As the voltage on the right hand side of C1 starts to rise, Q2 starts to conduct. Again we have the
cumulative effect and Q2 rapidly comes on and Q1 goes off. The collector voltage of Q1 is now high and that of
Q2 low. It is now the turn of C2 to discharge from the supply via R3. As the voltage on the left hand side of C2
begins to rise, the base voltage of Q1 increases, turning it on and turning Q2 off.

The whole process repeats continuously.

From T0 to T1: Q1 is saturated, Q2 is cutoff and its collector voltage is at VCC.

Base wave shape for Q2 indicates a negative signal, going towards zero which is the result of C1
discharging. And base voltage of Q1 is positive to keep it saturation.

From T1 to T2 : Q1 is cutoff and Q2 is saturated. The circuit remains in this condition until C2
discharges enough to allow Q1 to conduct at T2.

Monostable (one shot) multivibrator

The monostable has only one permanent stable state. When triggered by an external pulse, it changes
over to an unstable state for a time determined by a CR time constant. It then reverts to its stable state
and waits for another trigger pulse.

Consider the following circuit to illustrate the operation of monostable multivibrators.

+V

R1 R3 R4
R2

C1

Q1 Q2
Negative
pulses
0V

Fig. 7.2 Monostable multivibrator circuit

At switch on, Q1 is forward biased by R3. This turns Q1 hard on, giving it a high collector current and a
low collector voltage. This low collector voltage is cross connected to the base of Q2, turning Q2 off.
This is the stable state.

A negative pulse to the base of Q1 turns Q1 off. The collector voltage of Q1 goes high and turns Q2 on.
The circuit is now in the unstable state. C1 now charges from the supply rail via R3.

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Eventually the voltage on the left hand side of C1 will be high enough to turn Q1 back on, which in turn
switches Q2 off. The circuit is now back in its stable state.

The monostable can be used as a short duration timer or a pulse width stretcher.

Bistable Multivibrator

It has two stable states. It remains in one of the stable states until a trigger is applied, then it goes to the
other stable condition to remain these until another trigger is applied to change it back to the original stable
state. Take a look at the following figure, to see the operation of bistable multivibrators.

+V

Set Reset R2
R1
R3 R4

Q1 Q2

0V

Fig. 7.3 Bistable multivibrator

This circuit is similar to an astable multivibrator, except that there is no charge or discharge time, due
to the absence of capacitors. Hence, when the circuit is switched on, if Q1 is on, its collector is at 0 V. As
a result, Q2 gets switched off. This results in more than half +V volts being applied to R4 causing current
into the base of Q1, thus keeping it on. Thus, the circuit remains stable in a single state continuously.
Similarly, Q2 remains on continuously, if it happens to get switched on first.

Switching of state can be done via Set and Reset terminals connected to the bases. For example, if Q2 is
on and Set is grounded momentarily, this switches Q2 off, and makes Q1 on. Thus, Set is used to "set" Q1
on, and Reset is used to "reset" it to off state.

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7.2 Schmitt Trigger Circuits

This is a class of circuit which uses positive feedback and can be used in the class waveform generators
called multivibrators. Of the three multivibrators (bistable, astable and monostable), we will examine
the bistable one which has a comparator with positive feedback and has two stable states.

Basic inverting Schmitt Trigger

The Schmitt trigger or bistable multivibrator uses positive feedback with a loop gain greater than unity
to produce a bistable characteristic. Positive feedback occurs because the feedback resistor is
connected between the output and the non inverting input terminals.

VO
R1 // R2  R1 
VTH   VH
 R1  R2
V1 -

VO
V+ Vl
+
R1

R2 (a) (b)

VO

Vl

 R1 
VTL   VL
 R1  R2  (c)

(a) Schmitt trigger circuit, (b) voltage transfer characteristics as input voltage increases and (c) voltage transfer
characteristics as input voltage decreases

Voltage V+, in terms of the output voltage, can be found by using a voltage divider equation to yield:

( )

From the above equation we can see that, the voltage V+ is not constant rather it is a function of the
output voltage. Using this equation we can determine the voltage transfer characteristic, by taking only
one state at a time and replacing the output voltage VO with the corresponding state VH and/or VL. The
output curve is shown in figure 4.18 (b) and (c) above.

( )

( )

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Non inverting Schmitt Trigger Circuit

Consider the circuit:

VO
R1 // R2
-

VO VTL VTH
V+
+ Vl
V1 R1

R2

Non inverting Schmitt Trigger Circuit and voltage transfer characteristics

As it is shown the inverting terminal is held at ground potential and the input signal is applied to
resistor R1 at the non inverting terminal. The voltage V+ at the non inverting terminal is a function of
both the input voltage and the output voltage.

Now using superposition, one can write

( ) ( )

If VL is negative, and the output is in its low state, then VO=VL (assumed to be negative), this results in
V+ to be negative, and the output remains in its low saturation state.

Substituting V+ = 0 and VO = VL in the equation of V+ above, the higher crossover voltage Vl = VTH is given
by:

Hence,

( )

Similarly, the lower crossover voltage Vl=VTL is found by substituting V+=0 and VO=VH as follows,

This can be written as

( )

The voltage transfer characteristic is shown above.

From the complete transfer characteristics and the analysis given above it can be stated that, with Vl
sufficiently positive, the output is in its high state; with Vl sufficiently negative, the output is in its low
state. Hence, the circuit exhibits the non inverting transfer characteristic.

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7.3 Timer Circuits

The 555 Timer is a general purpose Integrating Circuit (IC) that can be used for:

 Create time delay

 Control alarms
 Ramp(Rise) outputs
 Build train of pulses for modulator circuits

It can operate in both the astable and monostable multivibrator modes.

Operation

The 555 internal circuit consist of two comparators which set/reset the flip flop, which in turn determines
whether the discharge transistor, which discharges the external timing capacitor, is ‘on’ or ‘off’, and an
output buffer.

+VCC

R3
Comparator 1
Threshold +
- R Flip-Flop

Control R4 Q
Comparator 2 Out
voltage
S
+
Trigger -

R5
Discharge
Discharge Transistor
R6
Q

555 timer internal circuit block diagram

RS-Flip Flop: is a digital circuit, when the input R high and input S is low output Q is high. The
complementary state occurs when R is low and S is high. When both R and S are low Q remains in its
previous state.

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Comparator 1: is the threshold comparator, which compares its input with an internal voltage reference
set at ( ⁄ ) by the voltage divider . When the input exceeds this reference level, the
threshold comparator output goes high, producing a high output at flip flop terminal Q. This turns the
discharge transistor on and an external timing capacitor starts to discharge.

Comparator 2: is the trigger comparator, compares its input trigger voltage to an internal voltage
reference set to ( ⁄ ) . When the input trigger level is reduced below this reference level, the trigger
comparator goes output high, which resets the RS-flip flop and the discharge transistor turns off.

The timing functions of the 555 depend on how the inputs of the comparators are configured and how the
discharge path is used.

Modes of function of 555 Timer:

Monostable mode:

In this mode, the 555 functions as a "one-shot", it changes state once triggered, but returns to its original
state after a certain time delay. Applications include timers, missing pulse detection, bounce free switches,
touch switches, frequency divider, capacitance measurement, pulse-width modulation (PWM) etc.

VCC

R1 +VCC Reset

Discharge

Threshold
+ Output
C1 555
VC(t) +
-
VO
Trigger Monostable Pulse Out

Trigger Pulse In Ground -

Vin

555 circuit connected as a monostable multivibrator

This mode operates by charging a timing capacitor with a current set by an external resistance.

With a high voltage applied to the trigger input, the trigger comparator output is low, the flip flop output ̅
is high, the discharge transistor is turned on and the timing capacitor C1 is discharged to nearly ground
potential. The output of the 555 timer is then low, which is the quiescent state of the one shot. When the
negative pulse is applied to the trigger input, the output of the trigger comparator goes high when the
trigger pulse drops below ( ⁄ ) . Output ̅ goes low, which means that the output of 555 goes high and
the discharge transistor turns off.The monostable 555 timer circuit, in effect, produces a pulse at the output
whose width t is just the product of R1 and C1, i.e.,

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Astable Mode (Free running mode)

In this mode both the ‘low’ and ‘high’ states are unstable. Thus, the output toggles between low and high
continuously, in effect generating a train of pulses. Uses include LED and lamp flashers, pulse generation,
logic clocks, tone generation, security alarms, pulse position modulation, etc.

VCC

R1 +VCC Reset

Discharge

R2
Output
555
+
Threshold

VO
Trigger
+
Ground -
C1 VC(t)
-

Astable multivibrator 555 circuit

In this circuit, capacitor C1 charges through R1 and R2, eventually building up enough voltage to
trigger an internal comparator to toggle the output flip-flop. Once toggled, the flip-flop discharges
C1 through R2 into discharge pin. When C1's voltage becomes low enough, another internal
comparator is triggered to toggle the output flip-flop. This once again allows C1 to charge up
through R1 and R2 and the cycle starts all over again.

C1's charge-up time t1 is given by:

( )

C1's discharge time t2 is given by:

( )

Thus, the total period of one cycle is:

( )

The frequency f of the output wave is the reciprocal of this period, and is therefore given by:

( )

Wherein f is in Hz if R1 and R2 are in megaohms and C1 is in microfarads.

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