Electronics

Principles & Applications

Seventh Edition

Charles A. Schuler
Chapter 11

Oscillators (student version)

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INTRODUCTION
Oscillator Characteristics RC Circuits LC Circuits Crystal Circuits Relaxation Oscillators Undesired Oscillations Troubleshooting Direct Digital Synthesis

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Dear Student:

This presentation is arranged in segments. Each segment is preceded by a Concept Preview slide and is followed by a Concept Review slide. When you reach a Concept Review slide, you can return to the beginning of that segment by clicking on the Repeat Segment button. This will allow you to view that segment again, if you want to.

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Concept Preview
Oscillators convert dc to ac. Oscillators use positive feedback. An amplifier will oscillate if it has positive feedback and has more gain than loss in the feedback path. Sinusoidal oscillators have positive feedback at only one frequency. A lead-lag network produces a phase shift of 0 degrees at only one frequency.

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Oscillators convert dc to ac.

Oscillator
dc in

ac out

Some possible output waveforms

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Vin

A
An amplifier with negative feedback.

Vout

Feedback

Recall: A = open-loop gain and B = feedback fraction

A
This amplifier has positive feedback. It oscillates if A > B.

Vout

B
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Feedback
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A
Sinusoidal oscillators have positive feedback at only one frequency.
out in

Vout
fR

in Feedback
+ 90o phase

out

0o

lead-lag

- 90o frequency

fR

This can be accomplished with RC or LC networks.

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Oscillator basics quiz Oscillators convert dc to _______. ac In order for an oscillator to work, the feedback must be __________. positive An oscillator cant start unless gain (A) is ________ than feedback fraction (B). greater Sine wave oscillators have the correct feedback phase at one ___________. frequency The phase shift of an RC lead-lag network at fR is _____________. 0o
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Concept Review
Oscillators convert dc to ac. Oscillators use positive feedback. An amplifier will oscillate if it has positive feedback and has more gain than loss in the feedback path. Sinusoidal oscillators have positive feedback at only one frequency. A lead-lag network produces a phase shift of 0 degrees at only one frequency.

Repeat Segment
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Concept Preview
The Wien bridge oscillator can produce a lowdistortion sine wave output. A Wien bridge oscillator operates at the resonant frequency of its lead-lag network. The gain of some oscillator circuits must be reduced after oscillations begin to avoid clipping. Since common emitter amplifiers produce a phase inversion, a second phase inversion is required for positive feedback. RC networks can provide a 180 degree phase shift at the desired frequency of oscillation.
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Wien bridge oscillator

Only fR arrives at the + input in phase.
in R C R C 1 2pRC

lead-lag
out

fR =
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The feedback fraction at fR in this circuit is one-third:

A must be > 3 for oscillations to start. After that, A

must be reduced to avoid driving the op amp to VSAT.
in

R2 @ 2R1
R2 A=1+ R1

out

in B = out =
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1 3

R1

One solution is a positive temperature coefficient device here to decrease gain.

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Vout
RL 2R1 R1 C
Tungsten lamp

After the oscillations start, the lamp heats to reduce gain and clipping.

C
Vout
time

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Notice that the clipping subsides as Q1 reduces the loop gain.

D
S

Q1
G

Q1 is an N-channel JFET. After oscillations start, the output signal is rectified and the negative voltage is applied to the JFETs gate. This increases its D-S resistance which decreases the gain of the op amp.
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When common-emitter amplifiers are used as oscillators, the feedback circuit must provide o a 180 phase shift to make the circuit oscillate.

A
180
o o

o o o

180 + 180 = 360 = 0 In-phase 180

Bo

Out-of-phase

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A phase-shift oscillator based on a common-emitter amplifier RL

3

Feedback 1 2

VCC

C R

RB

3 RC networks provide a total phase shift of 180 .

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RC oscillator quiz A properly designed Wien bridge oscillator provides a ________ waveform. sine The feedback fraction in a Wien bridge oscillator is ________. 0.333 A tungsten lamp has a _________ temperature coefficient. positive The feedback circuit in a common-emitter oscillator provides _______ of phase shift. 180o A phase shift oscillator uses three RC sections to provide a total shift of ______. 180o
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Concept Review
The Wien bridge oscillator can produce a lowdistortion sine wave output. A Wien bridge oscillator operates at the resonant frequency of its lead-lag network. The gain of some oscillator circuits must be reduced after oscillations begin to avoid clipping. Since common emitter amplifiers produce a phase inversion, a second phase inversion is required for positive feedback. RC networks can provide a 180 degree phase shift at the desired frequency of oscillation.
Repeat Segment
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Concept Preview
RF oscillators often use LC tank circuits to control the frequency of oscillation. The tank circuits are tapped to control the amount of feedback. Hartley oscillators use tapped coils while Colpitts oscillators use capacitive taps. Common emitter oscillators require a 180 degree phase shift across their tank circuits. Quartz is a piezoelectric material. When it vibrates, it produces an electrical signal. Quartz crystals can replace tank circuits and provide exceptional frequency stability.
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The supply tap is a signal ground. There o is a 180 phase shift across the tank. +VCC
180
o

+VCC
signal ground

tank circuit

feedback

The Hartley oscillator is LC controlled.

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The output frequency is equal to the resonant frequency. +VCC

L
C

+VCC

fR =

1 2p LC

L is the value for the entire coil.

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This is called a Colpitts oscillator. +VCC

The capacitive leg of the tank is tapped.

feedback

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+VCC

Note that the amplifier configuration is common-base.

signal ground The emitter is the input and the collector is the output. The feedback circuit returns some of the collector signal to the input with no phase shift.

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+VCC
fR =

1
2p LCEQ

L CEQ

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Quartz is a piezoelectric material. Quartz crystal Slab cut from crystal Schematic symbol

Electrodes and leads

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Quartz crystals replace LC tanks when frequency accuracy is important.

Quartz disc
Front metal electrode

Rear metal electrode

CP CS Equivalent circuit
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Crystal equivalent circuit

The equivalent R is very small and the Q is often several thousand.

High-Q tuned circuits are noted for narrow bandwidth and this translates to frequency stability.
CP

R
CS

The equivalent circuit also predicts two resonant frequencies: series and parallel. A given oscillator circuit is designed to use one or the other.
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Crystals
The fundamental frequency (series resonance) is controlled by the quartz slab or quartz disk thickness. Higher multiples of the fundamental are called overtones. The electrode capacitance creates a parallel resonant frequency which is slightly higher. Typical frequency accuracy is measured in parts per million (ppm).
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+VCC

Crystal oscillator circuit

RFC

RB1

vout

C1
RB2 C2 RE CE

Xtal

Replaces the tank circuit

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Packaged oscillators contain a quartz crystal and the oscillator circuitry in a sealed metal can.

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High-frequency oscillator quiz A Hartley oscillator has a tapped _______ in its tank circuit. coil When the capacitive leg is tapped, the circuit might be called ________. Colpitts A quartz crystal is a solid-state replacement for the ________ circuit. tank Crystals are more stable than LC tanks due to their very high ________. Q Higher multiples of a crystals resonant frequency are called ________. overtones
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Concept Review
RF oscillators often use LC tank circuits to control the frequency of oscillation. The tank circuits are tapped to control the amount of feedback. Hartley oscillators use tapped coils while Colpitts oscillators use capacitive taps. Common emitter oscillators require a 180 degree phase shift across their tank circuits. Quartz is a piezoelectric material. When it vibrates, it produces an electrical signal. Quartz crystals can replace tank circuits and provide exceptional frequency stability.
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Concept Preview
Relaxation oscillators are controlled by RC time constants. Unijunction transistors have a relatively high resistance from emitter to base 1 before they fire. A UJT relaxation oscillator produces two waveforms: exponential sawtooth and pulse. The operating frequency of a UJT oscillator is approximately equal to the reciprocal of its RC time constant. Astable multivibrators are also RC controlled and provide a rectangular output.
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So far, we have learned that:

Oscillators can be RC controlled by using phase-shifts. Oscillators can be LC controlled by using resonance. Oscillators can be crystal controlled by using resonance or overtones. There is another RC type called relaxation oscillators. These are time-constant controlled.
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RECALL that a unijunction transistor fires when its emitter voltage reaches VP.
Emitter voltage

VP

Then, the emitter voltage drops due to its negative resistance characteristic. Base 2 Emitter

Emitter current

UJTs can be used in relaxation oscillators.

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Base 1
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A UJT relaxation oscillator provides two waveforms.

+VBB

t = RC

f @

1
RC
R

Exponential sawtooth

VP

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This multivibrator is also RC controlled. t = 0.69RC = 0.69 x 47 kW x 3.3 nF = 0.107 ms t = 2t = 0.214 ms f = 1/t = 4.67 kHz
0V

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Concept Review
Relaxation oscillators are controlled by RC time constants. Unijunction transistors have a relatively high resistance from emitter to base 1 before they fire. A UJT relaxation oscillator produces two waveforms: exponential sawtooth and pulse. The operating frequency of a UJT oscillator is approximately equal to the reciprocal of its RC time constant. Astable multivibrators are also RC controlled and provide a rectangular output.
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Concept Preview
Amplifiers provide gain but should not oscillate. Parasitic RC lag networks make negative feedback positive at some frequency. If there is gain at that frequency, an amplifier will be unstable. Frequency compensation stabilizes feedback amplifiers by decreasing the gain at those frequencies where the feedback becomes positive. Bypassing, shielding, neutralization, and phase compensation are other ways to ensure stability. Direct digital synthesis is a method to generate many, highly accurate, frequencies.
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Undesired oscillations:
make amplifiers useless. Why is this a problem?

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Parasitic capacitances combine with resistances to form un-wanted lag networks. R

R
R C C

Output

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Its the equivalent of a phase-shift oscillator.

o

Total Lag = 180 R

R
R C C

C
This can lead to unwanted oscillations since the feedback becomes positive at some higher frequency.

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There is always some frequency where feedback becomes positive.

R
R C C

C
However, if the gain is less than unity at that frequency, the amplifier will not oscillate.
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The typical op amp has this characteristic:

120
100 80 60 Gain in dB 40 20 0 1

Break frequency set by a dominant (intentional) internal lag circuit.

The gain is less than unity before combined lags total 180o of phase shift.

10 100 1k 10 k 100 k 1M
Frequency in Hz

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Methods of preventing oscillation:

Reduce the feedback with bypass circuits, shields, and careful circuit layout. Cancel feedback with a second path this is called neutralization. Reduce the gain for frequencies where the feedback becomes positive this is called frequency compensation. Reduce the total phase shift this is called phase compensation.
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Oscillator troubleshooting:
No output: supply voltage; component failure; oscillator is overloaded. Reduced output: low supply voltage; bias; component defect; loading. Frequency instability: supply voltage; poor connection or contact; temperature; RC, LC, or crystal. Frequency error: supply voltage; loading; RC, LC, or crystal.
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Direct digital synthesizer (also called a numerically controlled oscillator)

Phase accumulator Sine lookup table

DAC

LPF

Clock Frequency tuning word (binary)

The tuning word changes the phase increment value.
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30 phase rotation

Access the sine table o every 30

NOTE: Increasing the phase increment increases the frequency.

45 phase rotation

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Oscillator wrap-up quiz Relaxation oscillators are controlled by RC __________ __________. time constants Negative feedback becomes positive at some frequency due to _______ ______. RC lags Gain rolloff to prevent oscillation is called ____________ compensation. frequency Direct digital synthesizers are also called _____ _____ oscillators. numerically controlled Direct digital synthesizers use a sine ____________ table. lookup
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Concept Review
Amplifiers provide gain but should not oscillate. Parasitic RC lag networks make negative feedback positive at some frequency. If there is gain at that frequency, an amplifier will be unstable. Frequency compensation stabilizes feedback amplifiers by decreasing the gain at those frequencies where the feedback becomes positive. Bypassing, shielding, neutralization, and phase compensation are other ways to ensure stability. Direct digital synthesis is a method to generate many, highly accurate, frequencies.
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REVIEW
Oscillator Characteristics RC Circuits LC Circuits Crystal Circuits Relaxation Oscillators Undesired Oscillations Troubleshooting Direct Digital Synthesis

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