Wien-Bridge Oscillator Circuits

By Darren De Ronde
May 15, 2002
Why Look At the Wien-Bridge?
 It generates an
oscillatory output
signal without
having any input
source
Basics About the Wien-Bridge
 Uses two RC
networks
connected to the
positive terminal to
form a frequency
selective feedback
network
 Causes
Oscillations to
Occur
Basics About the Wien-Bridge
 Amplifies the
signal with the two
negative feedback
resistors
Modification to Circuit
Analysis
 The loop gain can
be found by doing
a voltage division
Z 2( s )
V o( s ) V 1( s ) 
Z 1( s )  Z 2( s )
Analysis
 The two RC
Networks must
have equal
resistors and
capacitors
1
Z 1( s ) R
sC

1
R
sC
Z 2( s )
1
R
sC
Analysis
Need to find the Gain over the whole Circuit: Vo/Vs
Operational amplifier gain

V1( s ) R2
G 1
Vs( s ) R1

Z 2( s )
V o( s ) V 1( s ) 
Z 1( s )  Z 2( s )
Solve G equation for V1 and substitute in for above equ.
sRC
V o( s ) G  V s( s ) 
2 2 2
s  R  C  3 s  R  C  1
Analysis
We now have an equation for the overall circuit gain
V o( s ) s  R  C G
T( s )
V s( s ) 2 2 2
s  R  C  3 s  R  C  1

Simplifying and substituting jw for s

j   R  C G
T j
1  2  R2  C2  3  j    R  C
Analysis
In order to have a phase shift of zero,
2 2 2
1 R C 0
This happens at RC When RC, T(j) simplifies to:

T j
G
3
If G = 3, oscillations occur
If G < 3, oscillations attenuate
If G > 3, oscillation amplify
 4.0V

G=3 0V

-4.0V
0s 0.2ms 0.4ms 0.6ms 0.8ms 1.0ms
V(R5:2)
Time

4.0V

0V
G = 2.9
-4.0V
0s 0.2ms 0.4ms 0.6ms 0.8ms 1.0ms
V(R5:2)
Time

20V

0V

G = 3.05
-20V
0s 100us 200us 300us 400us 500us 600us
V(R5:2)
Time
 Ideal vs. Non-Ideal Op-Amp
 Red is the ideal op-amp.
 Green is the 741 op-amp.
4.0V

0V

-4.0V
0s 0.2ms 0.4ms 0.6ms 0.8ms 1.0ms
V(R1:2) V(R5:2)
Time
 Making the Oscillations Steady

 Add a diode
network to
keep circuit
around G = 3
 If G = 3,
diodes are off
 Making the Oscillations Steady

 When output
voltage is
positive, D1
turns on and
R9 is switched
in parallel
causing G to
drop
 Making the Oscillations Steady

 When output
voltage is
negative, D2
turns on and
R9 is switched
in parallel
causing G to
drop
 Results of Diode Network
 With the use of diodes, the non-
ideal op-amp can produce steady
oscillations.
4.0V

0V

-4.0V
0s 0.2ms 0.4ms 0.6ms 0.8ms 1.0ms
V(D2:2)
Time
Frequency Analysis
 By changing the resistor and
capacitor values in the positive
feedback network, the output
frequency can be changed.
R  10k C  1nF

1 5 rad
    1  10
RC sec

f  f  15.915 kHz
2 
 Frequency Analysis
Fast Fourier Transform of Simulation
4.0V
(15.000K,2.0539)
2.0V

0V
0Hz 10KHz 20KHz 30KHz 40KHz
V(D2:2)
Frequency
Frequency Analysis
 Due to limitations of the op-amp,
frequencies above 1MHz are
unachievable.
Conclusions
 No Input Signal yet Produces
Output Oscillations
 Can Output a Large Range of
Frequencies
 With Proper Configuration,
Oscillations can go on indefinitely