RADIO FREQUENCY

CIRCUITS
RF OSCILLATORS
An electronic circuit that produces a
periodic, oscillating electronic signal.

2
RADIO FREQUENCY OSCILLATORS

■ Usually crystal controlled

■ LC circuits are more common at radio
frequencies
■ Portion of the output is fed back to the
input

3
BARKHAUSEN CRITERIA

■ Loop gain must be equal to 1

■ Phase shift around the loop must total
either 0° or some integer multiple of 360°
■ Portion of the output is fed back to the
input A

OUTPUT

B AB=1
4
1.LC
OSCILLATORS
oscillators using
inductance-capacitance
HARTLEY OSCILLATOR

Uses a tapped
inductor, part of a
resonant circuit to
provide feedback

1
𝑓=
2𝜋 𝐿𝐶
f = frequency (Hz)
L = inductance (H)
C = capacitance (F)
 COLPITTS OSCILLATOR

Uses a capacitive
voltage divider to
provide feedback

𝐶2
𝐵=− B = feedback
𝐶1 fraction

1
𝑓= f = frequency (Hz)
2𝜋 𝐿𝐶 L = inductance (H)
C = capacitance (F)
 CLAPP OSCILLATOR

Variation of the Colpitts

circuit where an additional
capacitor C3 is in series
with the inductor

1
𝐶𝑇 =
1 1 1
+ +
𝐶1 𝐶2 𝐶3
CT= total capacitance
CLAPP OSCILLATOR
CLAPP OSCILLATOR
 VARACTOR-TUNED OSCILLATORS

SLUG TUNING –
Where inducts are tuned by moving a ferrite core into or
out of the coil

VARACTORS –
a reverse-biased silicon diode which is a more convenient
substitute for variable capacitors
 VARACTOR TUNED OSCILLATOR

𝐶𝑜
𝐶=
1 + 2𝑉

C = capacitance at reverse voltage

V
Co = capacitance with no reverse
voltage
VARACTOR TUNED OSCILLATOR
VARACTOR TUNED OSCILLATOR
 CRYSTAL CONTROLLED OSCILLATORS

Greater stability by using a

small slab of quartz as a
mechanical resonator

𝑓𝑇 = 𝑓𝑜 + 𝑘𝑓𝑜 (𝑇 − 𝑇𝑜 )
fT = operating frequency at temperature T
fo = operating frequency at reference temp. To
k = temp. coefficient per degree
CRYSTAL CONTROLLED OSCILLATORS

■ A portable radio transmitter has to operate at

temperatures from -5° to 35ºC. If its signal is
derive from a crystal oscillator with a
temperature coefficient of +1x10-6 ppm/degree
C and it transmits at exactly 146MHz at 20ºC,
find the transmitting frequency at the two
extremes of the operating temp. range
CRYSTAL CONTROLLED OSCILLATORS
2.MIXERS
Non linear circuits that combines two signals in such a
way as to produce the sum and difference of the two input
frequencies at the output
 SQUARE LAW MIXERS

Output given by:

𝑣𝑜 = Avi + B𝑣𝑖 2

Output frequencies:
𝑓1 + 𝑓2
𝑓1 − 𝑓2
SQUARE LAW MIXERS

■ Sine wave signals with frequencies of

10MHz and 11MHz are applied to a
square law mixer. What frequencies
appear at the output?
SQUARE LAW MIXERS
 DIODE MIXERS

Diode mixers can use either

type of nonlinearity.

The signals is strong

enough to switch the diode
between the reverse-biased
and forward biased states.
 TRANSISTOR MIXERS

BJT or FET can be

operated in such a way
that the input causes the
device to enter nonlinear
regions.

The FET is convenient for

use as a mixer because the
parabolic shape of its
tranconductance curve
gives its approximately
square law response
 BALANCED MIXERS

The input frequencies do

not appear at the output.
Ideally, the only
frequencies that are
produced are the sum and
difference of the input
frequencies

Balanced mixers are also

called balanced
modulators