Laboratory Exercise 22

MONOSTABLE MULTIVIBRATOR

Performance Objectives Introductory Information

A. Identify a monostable multivibrator and The monostable multivibrator is one of three basic
measure the dc operating voltages. pulse generating circuits classified as multivibrators.
B. Demonstrate the operation of a monostable The other two multivibrators are the bistable and
multivibrator. astable, covered in subsequent laboratory exercises.
C. Demonstrate the relationship between the In circuit configuration, the monostable multi-
time determining components and the out- vibrator is similar to the Schmitt trigger, except
put pulse by measuring the output pulse that it uses an RC timing circuit and feedback
width. to insure that it returns to its initial condition
automatically and independently of the input
Basic Concepts pulse. Thus, as the name “monostable” implies,
1. A monostable multivibrator has only one it has only one stable condition (state) and that is
stable state, and that is the reset state. the initial condition. When a pulse or trigger
2. The monostable multivibrator is triggered (differentiated pulse),is applied to the input, the
to the set state only when the input is monostable is turned bn, or triggered to the “set”
triggered, and then resets automatically. state. After a period of time determined by the RC
3. The width of the output pulse is determined circuit, the circuit turns off, or returns to the
by an RC timing circuit. “reset” state automatically. Because the mono-
4. The output pulse width is independent of stable multivibrator provides a single output pulse
the input pulse width providing that the for each input trigger, it is also referred to as the
input pulse width is less than the “on” single-shot or one-shot multivibrator.
time of the multivibrator. For an example of circuit operation, refer to
5. The output pulse frequency is directly Fig. 22-1. Initially, transistor QI is cut off and
related to the input pulse frequency pro- transistor Q2 is in saturation. The reason for this is
viding that the input pulse width is less because the base of QI is isolated from any dc bias
than the “on” time of the multivibrator. voltage, while base current is supplied by the V¢c

22-1
22-2 Monostable Multivibrator

voltage applied to the base of Q2 through R2, source of signals having constant amplitude and
driving Q2 into saturation. The low potential at width that are independent of the input pulse
the collector of Q2 is coupled back through feed- width. It is used as a pulse stretcher or expander, a
back resistor Rr to the base of Q1, insuring that pulse delay circuit, a pulse squaring circuit, in
Q1 is initially at cutoff. With QI off and Q2 on, frequency divider and countdown circuits, and in
timing capacitor Cy is forced to charge positive at synchronization circuits.
Q1 collector and negative at Q2 base. It retains this
charge indefinitely as long as the circuit is in the Additional Reading
stable state.
See bibliography at the back of this manual for
additional reading material related to this subject.

Equipment And Materials

R h2 Rz
w o R1 c Re = . Power Source 9Vde, 10mA
Electronic VOM
ar 2
AF Generator
; L’_I 6 oo Oscilloscope
& il Practical Electronics Trainer
TR, 4 2 C1 — 100pF Polystyrene
T = Cc2 — 0.01uF Mylar
Cc3 — 0.022uF Mylar
Fig. 22-1 QI, Q2 — NPN Transistor,
2N2219A
The circuit is triggered to the set state by a positive RI1 — 10k, 1W
input pulse. Capacitor C1 and resistor R1 form a R2, R4 — 22kQ2, IW
differentiating circuit in conjunction with the base- R3, R5 — 1k, 1W
emitter resistance of QI, producing a positive Konnect-All board
“spike” at the base of QI. This raises the base-
emitter junction of QI above cutoff momentarily,
Exercise Procedure
triggering it into conduction. When QI collector
voltage begins to decrease, Cy is forced to follow Objective A. Identify a monostable multivibrator
the negative excursion at the collector. The voltage and measure the dc operating voltages.
drop across R2 produces a negative voltage on the
O 1.a)Connect the circuit shown in Fig. 22-2.
base of Q2, driving it into cutoff. The amount of
What identifies this circuit as a monostable multi-
time Q2 remains cut off is determined by the
vibrator?
discharge time constant of Cr and R2 toward V¢c.
Once switching action is started, it continues
regardless of any additional polarity changes in the
input signal. When Q2 goes to cutoff, its collector
goes positive, coupling a positive pulse to the output
circuit and also through feedback resistor R to the
base of QI. The positive pulse fed back to QI base
also assists in the switching action as.well as holding The single timing circuit consisting of C2 and R4
QI in conduction. The circuit remains in this and the positive output-to-input dc feedback pro-
temporary unstable state until sufficient charge has vided by R2 are the basic identifying features.
leaked off Cr and the negative voltage drop across These features plus the biasing drrangement on Q2
R2 has decreased sufficiently to allow the base of show that the circuit can have only one stable state.
Q2 to rise above cutoff. When this occurs, Q2 goes
into conduction again, driving the output negative.
a b) Adjust the dc collector supply voltage
The negative signal fed back to the base of Q1
Vee to 9Vde. The ac input voltage e; should be
again drives QI into cutoff, and the circuit auto-
Zero.
matically reverts back to its initial stable state.
a ¢) Measure and record the dc voltages (with
The resultant output is a positive pulse, the width
respect to ground) at the collector, base and
of which is primarily determined by the time
emitter of Q1. Use the Electronic VOM to make
constant of R2 and Cr. all transistor voltage measurements.
The monostable multivibrator is used extensively
in pulse and digital applications. It provides a
 Monostable Multivibrator 22-3
S
Ve ~vee
=] c) Connect the EXT SYNC/HOR terminals
ns ne & of the oscilloscope to the output of the AF
c1 R1 ® c2 2« R2 1K Generator.
1000F 10K 001 22K
our o d) Connect the input of the oscilloscope to
ar 4 the input terminals of the monostable multivibrator.
The oscilloscope should display two cycles of the
e AF Generator output square-wave as shown in
Fig. 22-3 (a). Each oscilloscope trace is triggered
by, and synchronized to, the positive transition of
Va ES Bl the square-wave used to trigger the multivibrator.

Fig. 22-2 e 5em —t

INPUT r-—l h 2
SV/em
DEFLECTION
Vinri= " Siee & (Vdc,

Ve, =
)
R1 AND C1 05V/em
You should measure nine volts collector voltage. A JUNCTION DEFLECTION
small insignificant base voltage may be measured
due to the feedback from Q2 through R2. Emitter
voltage should measure zero.

[m] d) Measure and record the dc voltages (with

respect to ground) at the collector, base and ashse [‘1 05v/em
emitter of Q2. DEFLECTION

Vo = TSt16 s _Vde
Vi = L Wdc.
(@
ouTPUT 5V/em
Ves =02« = Wdc S DEFLECTION

The collector and base voltages should measure Fig. 22-3

approximately zero point one and zero point six
volts, respectively. Emitter voltage should measure a e) Move the input probe of the oscilloscope
zero. to the junction of CI and R1. Change the vertical
deflection to 0.5V/cm. Your waveform should be
[m] e) As aresult of your measurements, would
similar to Fig. 22-3 (b). Is the trace synchronized
you say that QI is reverse biased and Q2 is forward
with the input square-wave?
biased?
What causes the positive and negative spikes on the
Yes, the nine volts at QI collector indicates that it
waveform?
is not conducting. Transistor Q2 base voltage
measures approximately zero point six volts more
positive than the emitter, indicating that Q2 is
conducting. This is verified by the low value of
collector voltage.

Objective B. Demonstrate the operation of a

monostable multivibrator.
What causes the two positive pulses approximately
O 2.a)Set the AF Generator for a square-wave
0.85cm wide?
output at a frequency of 1kHz. Adjust the output
voltage for maximum.
(=] b) Set the calibrated oscilloscope controls
for 5V/cm deflection, 0.2ms/cm sweep time, and
triggering to normal sync, external source, + slope,
and auto level. Set the vertical amplifier switch Analysis of the trace reveals that it is synchronized
(ac-gnd-dc) for dc mode operation. with the input square-wave because the positive
22-4 Monostable Multivibrator

and negative spikes are produced when the square- a i) Decrease the AF Generator frequency to
wave is differentiated by C1; these spikes occur in 500Hz. Did the width of the positive pulse change?
synchronism with the positive and negative tran-
sitions of the square-wave. The two positive pulses
are actually the output pulses of the multivibrator Did the frequency change?
which are fed back to the base of Q1 through R2.
This one waveform gives a composite picture of The oscilloscope should display one positive pulse
multivibrator operation: (1) the input square-wave approximately 0.85cm wide. The pulse width
goes positive; (2) this positive transition is dif- remains the same but the frequency is half its
original value.
ferentiated by C1, triggering the multivibrator to
the set state; and (3) the output goes positive. All a j)Would you say that the output pulse
of these actions occur simultaneously. The negative width of the monostable multivibrator remains
spike is of no consequence in this circuit because constant while pulse rate varies directly with
once switching action is started it continues until trigger frequency?
the circuit resets automatically.
Yes, the width of the positive output pulse is
5] £)Move the input probe of the oscilloscope determined by the RC timing circuit (C2 and R4)
to the base of Q1. Your waveform should appear as and is independent of the width of the trigger
shown in Fig. 22-3 (c). What has happened to the signal. However, the rate at which the monostable
positive spike? multivibrator triggers is directly related to trigger
frequency.
a k) Readjust the AF Generator frequency
for 1kHz.

— Objective C. Demonstrate the relationship be-

tween the time determining components and the
output pulse by measuring the output pulse width.
O 3. a) Set the oscilloscope for 50usec/cm sweep
The- positive spxke is used to trigger QI on. Once
time.
QI begins conducting it is held in conduction by a b) Measure and record the width in centi-
the positive pulse fed back from the collector of meters of the positive pulse displayed on the
Q2. This clamps the base of QI to the level of the oscilloscope.
feedback pulse for the duration of the multivibrator
on-time. As a result, the excess spike voltage is Pulise width =
dropped across resistor R1 and does not appear on
the waveform. However, note that the negative You should measure approximately three point
spike is still present. four centimeters.
a g) Now connect the oscilloscope probe to a c) Calculate the pulse period in micro-
the output of the multivibrator at the collector of seconds.
Q2. Change the v iflection to 5V/cm. Does
the oscilloscope waveform look like that shown in
Fig. 22-3 (d)?

If your oscilloscope controls. are set properly, the

waveform should contain two positive pulses Pulse period = i
approximately 0.85c¢m wide spaced approximately
4.15cm apart. You should calculate about one hundred seventy
=) h) Increase the AF Generator frequency to microseconds (3.4cm X 50usec/cm).
2kHz. Does the width of the positive pulse change? a d) Remove 0.01uF capacitor C2 from your
circuit and replace it with 0.022uF capacitor C3.
[m] e) Measure and record the new pulse width
Does the frequency change? in centimeters.
The oscilloscope should display four positive pulses Pulse width =
approximately 0.85cm wide, spaced 1.65cm apart.
The width of the positive pulse remains the same You should measure approximately sixpomt four
but the frequency has doubled. centimeters.-
 Monostable Multivibrator 22-5

o f) Calculate the new pulse period in micro- Quiz

seconds.
ik The monostable multivibrator can be a source
of:

Rectangular pulses.

Golshbrt)
Sine-waves.
Triangular waves.
All of the above.

Which of the following is another name for a

monostable multivibrator?
Pulse period = Lo usec
a. Astable.
You should calculate about three hundred twenty b. Bistable.
microseconds (6.5¢cm X 50usec/cm). c. Single-shot.
(m] g) Compare the results of (c) and (f). Does d. Schmitt trigger.
increasing the value of capacitor in the timing
circuit increase the output pulse width? 3. Prior to the input trigger, the monostable
multivibrator is in the:
Yes, there is a direct relationship between the RC
time constant of the timing components and the Set state.
output pulse width. In fact, an approximation of

paooe
Reset state.
output pulse width can be determined by calculating Either (a) or (b).
the RC time constant of the timing circuit. This is Neither (a) nor (b).
used in the initial design of a monostable multi-
vibrator. The output pulse width of a single-shot
[ h) Reduce the output of the AF Generator multivibrator is determined by which of the
and dc power source to zero. following?

Summary Trigger frequency.

Trigger width.
In this Laboratory Exercise you became familiar Trigger amplitude.
with the operation of the monostable multivibrator. The RC time constant of the timing
i

First, you measured the dc operating voltages and circuit.

determined that, in the reset state, the input
transistor is cut off while the output transistor is The output pulse of a single-shot multivibrator
conducting. Then you applied a square-wave to the has:
trigger input. You saw that the monostable multi-
vibrator triggered to the set state on the positive Constant amplitude.
SEGECHD

transition of the input trigger and that the output Constant width.
pulse was in synchronism with this positive tran- Both (a) and (b).
sition. By varying the trigger frequency you Neither (a) nor (b).
determined that the output pulse width was
independent of the trigger pulse width, but that the ‘A monostable multivibrator has a timing circuit
repetition rate was directly related to the trigger
with R and C‘yalues of 10kS2 and 0.05uF,
frequency. Finally, you measured the output pulse
respectively. What is the approximate width
width, and by increasing the value of timing of the output pulse?
capacitor and repeating the measurement, you
demonstrated that the pulse width increased. You a. 0.0005sec.
concluded that the output pulse width is controlled b. 500usec.
by the RC time constant in the timing circuit and is c. 0.5msec.
independent of the trigger signal characteristics. d. All of the above.