Haliç University

Faculty of Engineering

EEE213

ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS

’’ Oscillators’’

Asst.Prof. Zehra Merve Cinan

 Topics
• Oscillators
 Positive Feedback
 Conditions for Oscillation
 Ladder Network Oscillator
 Wien Bridge Oscillator

2
Oscillators

An oscillator is a circuit which produces a continuous,

repeated, alternating waveform without any input.
Oscillators basically convert unidirectional current flow
from a D.C. source into an alternating waveform which is of
the desired frequency, as decided by its circuit components.
The phenomenon of feeding a portion of the output
signal back to the input circuit is known as feedback. The
effect results in a dependence between the output and the
Typical Oscillator
input and an effective control can be obtained in the working
of the circuit. Feedback is of two types:
 Negative Feedback
 Positive Feedback

3
 In negative feedback, the feedback energy (voltage or
current), is out of phase with the input signal and thus
opposesit. Negative feedback reduces gain of the amplifier.
It also reduce distortion, noise and instability, increases
bandwidth and improves input and output impedances. Due
to these advantages, the negative feedback is frequently used
Amplifier with negative feedback applied
in amplifiers.
In positive feedback, the feedback energy (voltage or
currents), is in phase with the input signal and thus aids it.
Positive feedback increases gain of the amplifier also
increases distortion, noise and instability. Because of these
disadvantages, positive feedback is seldom employed in
amplifiers. But the positive feedback is used in oscillators.
Amplifier with positive feedback applied

4
5
Positive Feedback

An alternative form of feedback, where the output is

fed back in such a way as to reinforce the input (rather than
to subtract from it), is known as positive feedback.
The figure shows the block diagram of an amplifier
stage with positive feedback applied. Note that the amplifier
provides a phase shift of 180° and the feedback network
provides a further 180°. Thus the overall phase shift is 0°.
The overall voltage gain, 𝐺, is given by:

𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 Amplifier with positive feedback applied

𝐺=
𝑉𝑖𝑛

6
 By applying Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law:

𝑉𝑖𝑛 ′ = 𝑉𝑖𝑛 + 𝛽𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡

𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝐴𝑉 × 𝑉𝑖𝑛

where 𝐴𝑉 is the internal gain of the amplifier.

𝐴𝑉 × 𝑉𝑖𝑛 ′ 𝐴𝑉 × 𝑉𝑖𝑛 ′ Amplifier with positive feedback applied

𝐺= =
𝑉𝑖𝑛 ′ − 𝛽𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑉𝑖𝑛 ′ − 𝛽 𝐴𝑉 × 𝑉𝑖𝑛 ′

𝐴𝑉
𝐺=
1 − 𝛽𝐴𝑉

7
Conditions for Oscillation
We can say that the conditions for oscillation are:
 the feedback must be positive (i.e. the signal fed back
must arrive back in-phase with the signal at the input);
 the overall loop voltage gain must be greater than 1 (i.e.
the amplifier’s gain must be sufficient to overcome the
losses associated with any frequency selective feedback
network).
Hence, to create an oscillator we simply need an
Basic elements of a feedback oscillator
amplifier with sufficient gain to overcome the losses of the
network that provide positive feedback. Assuming that the
amplifier provides 180° phase shift, the frequency of
oscillation will be that at which there is 180° phase shift in
the feedback network.

8
Ladder Network Oscillator
A simple phase-shift oscillator based on a three-stage
C-R ladder network is shown in the figure. 𝑇𝑅1 operates as a
conventional common-emitter amplifier stage with 𝑅1 and
𝑅2 providing base bias potential and 𝑅3 and 𝐶1 providing
emitter stabilization.
The total phase shift provided by the C-R ladder
network (connected between collector and base) is 180° at
the frequency of oscillation. The transistor provides the other
180° phase shift in order to realize an overall phase shift of
360° or 0° (note that these are the same). The frequency of
oscillation of the circuit shown in the figure is given by: Sine wave oscillator based on
a three-stage C-R ladder network

1
𝑓=
2𝜋 6𝐶𝑅

9
Example: Determine the frequency (𝑓) of oscillation of a three-stage ladder network oscillator in which 𝐶 =
10 𝑛𝐹 and 𝑅 = 10 𝑘Ω.

Solution:

10
Example: Determine the frequency (𝑓) of oscillation of a three-stage ladder network oscillator in which 𝐶 =
10 𝑛𝐹 and 𝑅 = 10 𝑘Ω.

Solution:

1 1
𝑓= 𝑓= ≅ 650.1 𝐻𝑧
2𝜋 6𝐶𝑅 2 × 𝜋 × 6 × 10 × 103  × 10 × 10−9 𝐹

11
Wien Bridge Oscillator

An alternative approach to providing the phase shift

required is the use of a Wien bridge network. Like the C-R
ladder, this network provides a phase shift which varies with
A Wien bridge network
frequency. The input signal is applied to A and B while the
output is taken from C and D. At one particular frequency,
the phase shift produced by the network will be exactly zero.
If we connect the network to an amplifier producing 0°
phase shift which has sufficient gain to overcome the losses
of the Wien bridge, oscillation will result.

Sine wave oscillator based on

a Wien bridge network
12
 The minimum amplifier gain required to sustain
oscillation is given by:
𝐶1 𝑅2
𝐴𝑉 = 1 + +
𝐶2 𝑅1
In most cases, 𝐶1 = 𝐶2 and 𝑅1 = 𝑅2, hence the minimum
amplifier gain will be 3. The frequency at which the phase
shift will be zero is given by:
1 A Wien bridge network
𝑓=
2𝜋 𝐶1 × 𝐶2 × 𝑅1 × 𝑅2
When 𝑅1 = 𝑅2 and 𝐶1 = 𝐶2 the frequency at which the
phase shift will be zero will be given by:

1 1
𝑓= =
2
2𝜋 𝐶 × 𝑅 2 2𝜋𝐶𝑅

where 𝑅 = 𝑅1 = 𝑅2 and 𝐶 = 𝐶1 = 𝐶2.

Sine wave oscillator based on

a Wien bridge network
13
Example: For a Wien bridge oscillator based on an operational amplifier, if 𝐶1 = 𝐶2 = 100 𝑛𝐹, determine the
output frequencies (𝑓) produced by this arrangement (a) when 𝑅1 = 𝑅2 = 1 𝑘Ω and (b) when 𝑅1 = 𝑅2 =
6 𝑘Ω.

Solution:

14
Example: For a Wien bridge oscillator based on an operational amplifier, if 𝐶1 = 𝐶2 = 100 𝑛𝐹, determine the
output frequencies (𝑓) produced by this arrangement (a) when 𝑅1 = 𝑅2 = 1 𝑘Ω and (b) when 𝑅1 = 𝑅2 =
6 𝑘Ω.

Solution:
1
𝑓=
2𝜋𝐶𝑅
(a) when 𝑅1 = 𝑅2 = 1 𝑘Ω :
1
𝑓= ≅ 1592 𝐻𝑧 ≅ 1.592 𝑘𝐻𝑧
2𝜋 × 100 × 10−9 𝐹 × 1 × 103 

(b) when 𝑅1 = 𝑅2 = 6 𝑘Ω :

1
𝑓= ≅ 265.4 𝐻𝑧
2𝜋 × 100 × 10−9 𝐹 × 6 × 103 

15
 Important Formulas
Overall Voltage Gain:
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡
𝐺=
𝑉𝑖𝑛

Gain with Positive Feedback:

𝐴𝑉
𝐺=
1 − 𝛽𝐴𝑉

Output Frequency of a Three-Stage C-R Ladder Network Oscillator:

1
𝑓=
2𝜋 6𝐶𝑅
Output Frequency of a Wien Bridge Oscillator:
1
𝑓=
2𝜋𝐶𝑅

16
17
Asst.Prof. Zehra Merve Cinan
Faculty of Engineering
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
8th Block, Floor: 2
Office: 2521

zehramervecinan@halic.edu.tr

18