Pulse and Digital Circuits Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.

Chapter-7
Astable Multivibrators

1. For the multivibrator in Fig.7p.1, R
1
= R
2
= R = 47 kO, C
1
= C
2
= C = 0.01 F.
Find the time period and frequency.

Fig.7p
.
1 Un-symmetric astable multivibrator

Solution:
Given R
1
= R
2
= R = 47 k ,C O
1
= C
2
= 0.01 F.

This is a symmetric astable multivibrator.
3 6
1.38 1.38 47 10 0.01 10 0.648 ms T RC

= = =

3
1 1
1.54 kHz.
0.648 10
f
T

= = =

2. For the astable multivibrator in Fig.7p.1, R
1
= 20 kO, R
2
= 30 kO,C
1
= C
2
= C =
0.01 F. Find the time period, duty cycle and the frequency.
Solution:
This is an un-symmetric astable multivibrator.

3 6
2 1 1
0.69 0.69 20 10 0.01 10 0.2 ms T R C

= = =
3 6
1 2 2
0.69 0.69 30 10 0.01 10 0.138 ms T R C

= = =
1 2
0.138 0.2 0.338 ms T T T = + = + =
1
0.138
per cent 100 per cent 100 per cent 59.17 per cent
0338
T
D
T
= = =
3
1 1
2.95 kHz.
0.338 10
f
T

= = =

Dorling Kindersley India Pvt. Ltd 2010 1
Pulse and Digital Circuits Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.









3. For the symmetric astable multivibrator that generates square waves with vertical
edges shown in Fig.7p.3, V
CC
=10 V, R
C
= R
3
= 2 kO, R
1
= R
2
= 20 k , C = 0.1 O F ,
h
FE(min)
= 30. Show that the ON device is in saturation. Also find f. Assume suitable
values for V
CE(sat)
and V
BE(sat).
Si transistors are used.

Fig.7p.3 Astable multivibrator with vertical edges
Solution:
Assume Q
1
is OFF and Q
2
is ON and in saturation. If Q
2
is ON and in saturation, for
silicon transistors, V
C2
=V
CE(sat)
= 0.2 V, V
B2
= = 0.7 V then D

V
2
is ON. The collector
load is R
3
//R
C
.
'
C
R
= R
3
//R
C
=
2 2
1 k
4

=
(sat)
2
' 3
10 0.2 9.8
9.8 mA
1 k 1 10
CC CE
C
C
V V
I
R

= = = =

2
3
10 0.7 9.3
0.465 mA
20 k 20 10
CC
B
V V
I
R
o

= = = =

2
2min
min
9.8 mA
0.326 mA
30
C
B
FE
I
I
h
= = =
I
B2
>> I
B2min

Hence Q
2
is in saturation.
To find f:
For a symmetric astable multivibrator: f =
3 6
0.7 0.7
350 Hz
20 10 0.1 10 RC

= =



Dorling Kindersley India Pvt. Ltd 2010 2
Pulse and Digital Circuits Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.
4. Design a symmetric collector-coupled astable multivibrator to generate a square wave
of 10 kHz having peak-to-peak amplitude of 10 V where h
FEmin
= 30,
V
CE(sat)
= 0.2 V, I
C(sat)
= 2 mA.

Solution:
Given V
CE(sat)
= 0.2 V, V
BE(sat)
= V
o
= 0.7 V, I
C(sat)
= 2 mA, f = 2 kHz, h
FEmin
= 30.
As the output amplitude is specified as 12 V, choose V
CC
= 12 V.
As f = 2 kHz,
3
1 1
0.1 ms
10 10
T
f
= = =

The astable is symmetric, hence
R
1
= R
2
= R and C
1
= C
2
=C

1 2
0.1
0.05 ms
2 2
T
T T = = = =
To calculate R
C2
:
(sat)
2
3
(sat)
10 0.2
4.9 k
2 10
CC CE
C
C
V V
R
I

= = =

R
C1
= R
C2
= 4.9 k.
To calculate R
2
:

2
2(sat)
CC
B
V V
R
I
o

=
(sat)
2 min
min
2 mA
0.066 mA
30
C
B
FE
I
I
h
= = =
If Q
2
is in saturation
2(sat) 2(min)
1.5
B B
I I =
1.5 0.066 0.099 mA = =
2
3
10 0.7
93.9 k
0.099 10
R

= =

1 2
93.9 k R R = =
As C
1
= C
2

T
1
= 0.69R
2
C
2

3
2
3
0.05 10
771.7 pF
0.69 93.9 10
C

= =


C
1
= C
2
= 771.7 pF


5. Design an un-symmetric astable multivibrator having duty cycle of 40 per cent. It is
required to oscillate at 5 kHz. Ge transistors with h
FE
= 40 are used. The amplitude of the
square wave is required to be 20 V. I
C
= 5 mA, V
CE(sat)
= 0.1 V and V
BE(sat)
= 0.3 V.

Solution:
For Ge transistors, V
CE(sat)
= 0.1 V, V
BE(sat)
= V = 0.3 V
o
Dorling Kindersley India Pvt. Ltd 2010 3
Pulse and Digital Circuits Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.
Given I
C(sat)
= 5 mA, f = 5 kHz, h
FEmin
= 40, duty cycle = 40 per cent.
As the output amplitude is specified as 20 V, choose V
CC
= 20 V.
As f = 5 kHz,
3
1 1
0.2 ms
5 10
T
f
= = =

The astable is unsymmetric, hence
T
1
T
2
i.e. R
1
C
1
R
2
C
2

choose C
1
= C
2
=C
then R
1
R
2

Duty cycle =
T
T
T T
T
1
2 1
1
=
+

0.4 =
3
1
10 2 . 0

T

3
1
0.4 0.2 10 0.08 ms T

= =
T
2
= T T
1
= 0.2 0.08 = 0.12 ms
To calculate R
C2
:
(sat)
2
(sat)
20 0.1
3.98 k
5 mA
CC CE
C
C
V V
R
I

= = =
Choose R
C1
= R
C2
=3.98 k = R
C

To calculate R
2
:

2
2(sat)
CC
B
V V
R
I
o

=
(sat)
2 min
min
5 mA
0.125 mA
40
C
B
FE
I
I
h
= = =
If Q
2
is in saturation
2(sat) 2(min)
1.5
B B
I I =
1.5 0.125 mA = 0.187 mA =
2
3
20 0.3
105.3 k
0.187 10
R

= =

As C
1
= C
2
= C
T
1
= 0.69R
2
C
2

3
1
2
3
2
0.08 10
1.1 nF
0.69 0.69 105.3 10
T
C
R

= = =


1 2
1.1 nF C C = =
T
2
= 0.69R
1
C
1

9
1
3
10 1 . 1 69 . 0 10 12 . 0

= R
3
1
9
0.12 10
158.1 k
0.69 1.1 10
R

= =


h
FE
R
C
= 40 3.98 k = 159 k
Dorling Kindersley India Pvt. Ltd 2010 4
Pulse and Digital Circuits Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.
The values R
1
and R
2
are less than h
FE
R
C
. Hence the devices Q
1
and Q
2
are in
saturation, when ON.


6. For an un-symmetric astable multivibratorR
1
= 100 k, R
2
= 100 k, C
1
= 0.02 F,
C
2
= 0.01F. Find the frequency of oscillation and the duty cycle.

Solution:
3 6
2 1 1
0.69 0.69 100 10 0.02 10 1.38 ms T R C

= = =
3 6
1 2 2
0.69 0.69 100 10 0.01 10 0.69 ms T R C

= = =
1 2
0.69 1.38 2.09 ms T T T = + = + =
3
1 1
483 Hz
2.09 10
f
T

= = =

1
3
0.69
per cent 100 per cent 100 per cent 33 per cent
2.09 10
T
D
T

= = =

.


7. Design an unsymmetrical astable multivibrator shown in Fig.7p.1 using silicon n
pn transistors having an output amplitude of 12 V. Given data,
I
C(sat)
= 5 mA, h
FEmin
= 50, f = 5 kHz, duty cycle = 0.6.

Fig.7p.1 Un-symmetric astable multivibrator
Solution:
Assume V
CE(sat)
= 0.2 V
V
BE(sat)
= V = 0.7 V
o
Given I
C(sat)
= 5 mA, f = 2 kHz, h
FEmin
= 50, duty cycle = 0.6.
As the output amplitude is specified as 12 V, choose V
CC
= 12 V.
As f = 2 kHz,
3
1 1
0.5 ms
2 10
T
f
= = =

The astable is unsymmetric, hence
T
1
T
2
Dorling Kindersley India Pvt. Ltd 2010 5
Pulse and Digital Circuits Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.
i.e. R
1
C
1
R
2
C
2

choose C
1
= C
2
=C
then R
1
R
2

Duty cycle =
T
T
T T
T
1
2 1
1
=
+

0.6 =
T
T
1

1
0.6 0.6 0.5 0.3 ms T T = = =
T
2
= T T
1
= 0.5 0.3 = 0.2 ms
To calculate R
C2
:
(sat )
2
(sat)
12 0.2 11.8
5 mA 5 mA
CC CE
C
C
V V
R
I

= = =
R
C2
= 2.36 k
Choose R
C1
= R
C2
=2.2 k = R
C
.
To calculate R
2
:

2
2(sat)
CC
B
V V
R
I
o

=
(sat )
2min
min
5 mA
50
C
B
FE
I
I
h
= =
=0.1 mA
If Q
2
is in saturation
2(sat ) 2(min)
1.5
B B
I I =
1.5 0.1 0.15 mA = =
2
12 0.7 11.3 V
75.3 k
0.15 0.15 mA
R

= = =
As C
1
= C
2
= C
T
1
= 0.69R
2
C
0.3 ms 0.69 75.3 k C =
3
3
0.3 10
5.77 nF
0.69 75.3 10
C

= =


T
2
= 0.69R
1
C
9
1
3
10 77 . 5 69 . 0 10 2 . 0

= R
3
1
9
0.2 10
50 k
0.69 5.77 10
R

=

=
h
FE
R
C
= 50 2.2 K 110 K =
The values R
1
and R
2
are less than h
FE
R
C
. Hence the devices Q
1
and Q
2
are in saturation,
when ON.


8. A Voltage-to-frequency converter shown in Fig.7p.2 generates oscillations at a
frequency f
1
when V
BB
= V
CC
. Find the ratio of V
CC
/V
BB
at which the frequency f
2
= 4f
1
.
Dorling Kindersley India Pvt. Ltd 2010 6
Pulse and Digital Circuits Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.

Fig.7p.2 Voltage-to-frequency converter
Solution:
From Eq.(7.30), the expression for the frequency of oscillations is
f =
) 1 ln( 2
1
BB
CC
V
V
+ t

Case1: The frequency of oscillations is f
1
when V
CC
= V
BB


2 ln 2
1
) 1 1 ln( 2
1
1
t t
=
+
= f
Case 2: If a new frequency f
2
= 4f
1
is desired.

) 1 ln( 2
1
2
BB
CC
V
V
f
+
=
t


2 ln
2
2 ln 2
1
4
4
1 2
t t
= =
= f f

) 1 ln( 2
1
2 ln
2
BB
CC
V
V
+
=
t
t

) 1 ln( 4 2 ln
BB
CC
V
V
+ =



2 ln ) 1 ln(
4
= +
BB
CC
V
V

Taking antilog
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Pulse and Digital Circuits Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.
Dorling Kindersley India Pvt. Ltd 2010 8
2 ) 1 (
4
= +
BB
CC
V
V

414 . 1 2 ) 1 (
2
= = +
BB
CC
V
V

189 . 1 414 . 1 1 = = +
BB
CC
V
V

189 . 0 1 189 . 1 = =
BB
CC
V
V