Oscillators

* Feedback amplifier but frequency dependent feedback

As 
A f s  
1   f ( s ) A( s )

* Positive feedback, i.e. βf () A () < 0

* Oscillator gain defined by As 
A f s  
1   f ( s ) A( s )
* Oscillation condition at ω = ωo (Barkhausen’s criterion) Af (ωo) = 
L( o )   f ( o ) A( o )   f ( o ) A( o ) e j ( o )  1
 ( o )  phase of  f ( o ) A( o )

ECES 352 Winter 2007 Ch 13 Oscillators 1

 Wien Bridge Oscillator
* Based on op amp
* Combination of R’s and C’s in
feedback loop so feedback factor
βf has a frequency dependence.
* Analysis assumes op amp is ideal.
 Gain A is very large
 Input currents are negligibly
small (I+  I_  0).
R2
 Input terminals are virtually
R1
shorted (V+  V_ ).
V0 * Analyze like a normal feedback
Vi amplifier.
If ZS
 Determine input and output
loading.
ZP  Determine feedback factor.
 Determine gain with feedback.

* Shunt-shunt configuration.
ECES 352 Winter 2007 Ch 13 Oscillators 2
 Wien Bridge Oscillator
Define
R1 1 1  sRC
R2 Z S  R  ZC  R  
sC sC
V0 1 1
1 1  1 
Z P  R Z C       sC 
Vi ZS  R Z C  R 
If
R

ZP 1  sCR

Input Loading Output Loading

ZS ZS
Z1 V0 = 0
Vi = 0
Z2
ZP ZP

1
 1 1 
Z1  Z P Z S      1  sRC
 ZP ZS  Z2  Z S  R  ZC 
sC
R1  sCR 
1
1  sCR sC 
 R  1  sCR  
sCR  (1  sCR) 2
 

ECES 352 Winter 2007 Ch 13 Oscillators 3

 Wien Bridge Oscillator
I1 I2 Amplifier gain including loading effects
R2 V0 V0 Vi
Ar  
R1 I S Vi I S
Vi V0
V0 Vo
IS To get , we use I1  I 2  and
IS Vi R1  R2
Z2
IS Z1 Vo
Vi  V  V  I1 R1  R1 so
R1  R2
V0 R1  R2 R
  1 2
Vi R1 R1
Feedback factor
ZS Vi
If Since I   0,  Z1 and
IS

V0 V0 Vi  R 
Ar   Z1 1  2 
ZP Vi I S  R1 
R1  sCR 
where Z1  so
Xf If 1 sCR  (1  sCR ) 2
f   
Xo Vo ZS
 R  R1  sCR 
sC Ar  1  2 
 R1  sCR  (1  sCR )
2

1  sRC

ECES 352 Winter 2007 Ch 13 Oscillators 4

 Wien Bridge Oscillator
Oscillation condition
Phase of  f Ar equal to 180o. It already is since  f Ar  0.
 R  sCR
Then need only  f Ar  1  2  1
 R1  sCR  (1  sCR ) 2
Rewriting
 R  sCR
 f Ar  1  2 
 R1  sCR  (1  sCR ) 2
 R  sCR
 1  2 
 
R1  sCR  1  2 sCR  s 2C 2 R 2 
 R  sCR  R  1
 1  2   1  2 
Loop Gain  R1  1  3sCR  s C R
2 2 2
 R1  3  1  sCR
sCR
 sC 
 f Ar     Ar  R 
 1  2 
1
 1  sCR   R1   1 
3  j  CR  
 sC  R2  R1  sCR   CR 
  1   Then imaginary term  0 at the oscillatio n frequency
 1  sCR  R1  sCR  (1  sCR )
2
1
  o 
 R  sCR RC
 1  2 
 R1  sCR  (1  sCR )
2 Then, we can get  f Ar  1 by selecting the resistors R1 and R2

Gain with feedback is appropriately using

 R 1 R
Ar 1  2   1 or 2  2
Arf   R1  3 R1
1   f Ar
ECES 352 Winter 2007 Ch 13 Oscillators 5
 Wien Bridge Oscillator - Example

Oscillator specifications: o=1x106 rad/s

1
Selecting for convenience C  10 nF , then from o 
RC
1 1
R   100 
oC 10nF (1x106 rad / s )
Choosing R 1  10 K , then since R 2  2 R 1 we get
R2  2(10 K )  20 K

ECES 352 Winter 2007 Ch 13 Oscillators 6

 Wien Bridge Oscillator

Final note: No input signal is needed. Noise at the desired oscillation frequency
will likely be present at the input and when picked up by the oscillator when
the DC power is turned on, it will start the oscillator and the output will
quickly buildup to an acceptable level.

ECES 352 Winter 2007 Ch 13 Oscillators 7

 Wien Bridge Oscillator
* Once oscillations start, a limiting circuit is needed to prevent
them from growing too large in amplitude

ECES 352 Winter 2007 Ch 13 Oscillators 8

 Phase Shift Oscillator
If Rf Vo V V  1 
IC3 IC2 IC1 I C 2  I R1  I C1   o  o 1  
V2 V1 sCRR f R f R f  sCR 
Vo V  1  1
VX C V2  V1  I C 2 Z C    o 1  
C C sCR f R f  sCR  sC
R I
R R1 V0
IR2
Vo  1 
 2  
sCR f  sCR 
* Based on op amp using inverting input V Vo  1 
I R2  2  2  
* Combination of R’s and C’s in R sCRR f  sCR 
feedback loop so get additional phase Vo  1  Vo  1 
shift. Target 180 to get oscillation.
o I C3  I R2  I C2   2     1  
sCRR f  sCR  R f  sCR 
* Analysis assumes op amp is ideal.
Vo 1  1  1  Vo  3 1 
  1     2     1   2
Vo Rf sCR  sCR  sCR  R f  sCR ( sCR) 
V  V  0 so I f   I C1
Rf Finally
Vo IC3 V  1  Vo  3 1 
V1  V  I C1Z C   VX  V2    o 2 
sCR f  1   2
sC sCR f  sCR  sCR f  sCR ( sCR) 
 V1  1  Vo 
  Vo Vo  4 1 
I R1    
R R  sCR f  sCRR f 3   2
 sCR f  sCR ( sCR) 

ECES 352 Winter 2007 Ch 13 Oscillators 9

 Phase Shift Oscillator
Rearrangin g

If Rf Vo  4 1 
VX   3  sCR  ( sCR ) 2 
IC3 IC2 IC1 sCR f
 
V2 V1
we get for the loop gain
VX C C C V0  sCR f
V0 L( )   ( ) A( )   1
R IR2 R IR1 VX  4 1 
3  sCR  ( sCR ) 2 
 
 jCR f  2C 2 RR f
 
Example  4 1    1 
3  j  4  j  3 CR  
Oscillator specifications: o=1x106 rad/s  CR (CR ) 2    CR 
To get oscillatio ns, we need the imaginary term to go to zero.
Selecting for convenience C  10 nF , We can achieve this at one frequency o so
1 1 1
then from  o  3CR  so   0 
3RC CR 3RC
1 1
R   58  To get oscillatio ns, we also need L(ωo )  1 so
3 oC 3 10nF (1x106 rad / s )
0 2C 2 RR f
Then L(ωo )   1 and substituti ng for ωo we get
R f  12(58 )  0.67 K
4
0 2C 2 RR f C 2 RR f 1 Rf
   1 so
Note: We get 180o phase shift from op amp 4 4 3R C 2 2
12 R
since input is to inverting terminal and R f  12 R
another 180o from the RC ladder.
ECES 352 Winter 2007 Ch 13 Oscillators 10
 Colpitts LC-Tuned Oscillator
* Feedback amplifier with inductor L and
capacitors C1 and C2 in feedback network.
 Feedback is frequency dependent.
 Aim to adjust components to get
CB
positive feedback and oscillation.
 Output taken at collector V .
o
V0
 No input needed, noise at oscillation
Vi CE frequency o is picked up and
amplified.
* RB1 and RB2 are biasing resistors.
* RFC is RF Choke (inductor) to allow dc
V0 current flow for transistor biasing, but to
block ac current flow to ac ground.
Vi
* Simplified circuit shown at midband
frequencies where large emitter bypass
capacitor CE and base capacitor CB are
shorts and transistor capacitances (C and
ECES 352 Winter 2007 ChC13)Oscillators
are opens. 11
 Colpitts LC-Tuned Oscillator
* Voltage across C2 is just V
V
IC 2   sC2V
ZC 2
* Neglecting input current to transistor (I  0),
V
I L  I C 2    sC2V
ZC 2
* Then, output voltage Vo is

Vo  V  I L Z L  V  ( sC2V )( sL )  V 1  s 2 LC2 
AC equivalent circuit * KCL at output node (C)
Assuming oscillations have started, then V  ≠ 0 and Vo ≠ 0, so
sC2V 1 
sC2V  g mV    sC1 Vo  0
R 
V0
sC2V  g mV    sC1 V 1  s 2 LC 2   0
Iπ ≈ 0 1 
R 
sC2V  LC   1
s 3 LC1C2  s 2  2   s C1  C2    g m    0
 R   R

* Setting s = j


1  2 LC2 
 gm  R 

R
 3

  j  C1  C2    LC1C2  0
 
ECES 352 Winter 2007 Ch 13 Oscillators 12
 Colpitts LC-Tuned Oscillator
* To get oscillations, both the real and imaginary
parts of this equation must be set equal to zero.
 1  2 LC2 
 gm  
 R R 
 
  j  C1  C2    3 LC1C2  0


* From the imaginary part we get the expression for

the oscillation frequency
 o C1  C2    o3 LC1C2  0
C1  C2 1
o  
LC1C2  CC 
L 1 2 
 C1  C2 
* From the real part, we get the condition on the ratio
of C2/C1 1  o2 LC2
gm   0
R R
 C  C2  C
1  g m R   o2 LC2  LC2  1  1 2
 LC1C2  C1
C2
 gm R
C1
ECES 352 Winter 2007 Ch 13 Oscillators 13
 Colpitts LC-Tuned Oscillator
Example * Given:
 Design oscillator at 150 MHz

 
 o  2f  2 150 x106  9.4 x108 rad / s

 Transistor gm = 100 mA/V, R = 0.5 K

* Design:
C2
 g m R  (100mA / V )(0.5 K )  50
C1
 Select L= 50 nH, then calculate C2, and then C1
C1  C2 1  C2 
o   1  
LC1C2 LC2  C1 
1  C2  1
C2  2
 1  
  (1  50)  1.13x109 F  1,130 pF
L o  C1  50nH (9.4 x10 )
8 2

C 1,130 pF
C1  2   23 pF
50 50

ECES 352 Winter 2007 Ch 13 Oscillators 14

 Summary of Oscillator Design
Wien Bridge Oscillator
Phase Shift Oscillator
Colpitts LC-Tuned Oscillator
ECES 352 Winter 2007
* Shown how feedback can be used with
reactive components (capacitors) in the
feedback path.
* Can be used to achieve positive feedback.
 With appropriate choice of the resistor
sizes, can get feedback signal in phase
with the input signal.
 Resulting circuit can produce large
amplitude sinusoidal oscillations.
* Demonstrated three oscillator circuits:
 Wien Bridge oscillator
 Phase Shift oscillator
 Colpitts LC-Tuned oscillator
* Derived equations for calculating resistor and
capacitor sizes to produce oscillations at the
desired oscillator frequency.
* Key result: Oscillator design depends
primarily on components in feedback
network, i.e. not on the amplifier’s
characteristics.
Ch 13 Oscillators 15