Module 2

Oscillators
and Operational Amplifiers
Prepared By

Dr. Vikash Kumar Divyashree M

Assistant Professor, Dept. of E & C Assistant Professor, Dept. of E & C
Engg, RVITM, Bengaluru Engg, RVITM, Bengaluru
Oscillators – Barkhausen criterion, sinusoidal and non-
sinusoidal oscillators, Ladder network oscillator, Wein bridge
oscillator, Multivibrators, Single-stage astable oscillator, Crystal
controlled oscillators (Only Concepts, working, and waveforms.
No mathematical derivations)

Operational amplifiers - Operational amplifier parameters,

Operational amplifier characteristics, Operational amplifier
configurations, Operational amplifier circuits.
 BARKHAUSEN CRITERION FOR OSCILLATION

• An oscillator is a circuit which

basically acts as generator,
generating the output signal which
oscillates with constant amplitude
and constant desired frequency.
• The feedback is a property which
allows to feedback the part of the
output, to the same Circuit as its
input. Such a feedback is said to be
positive whenever the part of the
output that is feedback to the
amplifier as its input, is in phase
Figure: The basic structure of a sinusoidal oscillator with the voltage gain A is shown in
figure
Classification of Oscillators

Electronic oscillators are classified mainly into the following two

categories −
•Sinusoidal Oscillators − The oscillators that produce an output having a
sine waveform are called sinusoidal or harmonic oscillators. Such
oscillators can provide output at frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 1
GHz.
•Non-sinusoidal Oscillators − The oscillators that produce an output
having a square, rectangular or saw-tooth waveform are called non-
sinusoidal or relaxation oscillators. Such oscillators can provide output
at frequencies ranging from 0 Hz to 20 MHz.
 Sinusoidal Oscillators
Tuned Circuit Oscillators -These oscillators use a tuned-circuit consisting of inductors
(L) and capacitors (C) and are used to generate high-frequency signals. Thus they are
also known as radio frequency R.F. oscillators. Such oscillators are Hartley, Colpitts,
Clapp-oscillators etc.
RC Oscillators − There oscillators use resistors and capacitors and are used to generate
low or audio-frequency signals. Thus they are also known as audio-frequency (A.F.)
oscillators. Such oscillators are Phase –shift and Wein-bridge oscillators.
Crystal Oscillators − These oscillators use quartz crystals and are used to generate highly
stabilized output signal with frequencies up to 10 MHz. The Piezo oscillator is an example
of a crystal oscillator.
Negative-resistance Oscillator − These oscillators use negative-resistance characteristic
of the devices such as tunnel devices. A tuned diode oscillator is an example of a
negative-resistance oscillator.
 Non Sinusoidal Oscillators
Saw tooth Generators- The sawtooth wave generator is one kind of linear, nonsinusoidal
waveform, and the shape of this waveform is a triangular shape in which the fall time and
rise time are different. The sawtooth waveform can also be named an asymmetric
triangular wave.
Blocking Oscillators- A blocking oscillator is a waveform generator that is used to
produce narrow pulses or trigger pulses. While having the feedback from the output
signal, it blocks the feedback, after a cycle, for certain predetermined time.
Multivibrators- A multivibrator circuit is nothing but a switching circuit. It generates
non-sinusoidal waves such as Square waves, Rectangular waves and Saw tooth waves etc.
 Problem
Determine the frequency of oscillation of a three-stage ladder
network oscillator in which C = 10 nF and R = 10 kΩ.
A phase shift oscillator uses 5 pF capacitors. Find the value of R to
produce a frequency of 800 kHz.
 Wein bridge oscillator (Cont..)
• The minimum amplifier gain required to sustain oscillation is given by:

• When C1 = C2 and R1 = R2, hence the minimum amplifier gain is Av=3

• The frequency at which the phase shift will be zero is given by:

• When R1 = R2 = R and C1 = C2 = C the frequency at which the phase shift will be

zero will be given by:
 Problem

Figure shows the circuit of a Wien bridge oscillator based on an operational

amplifier. If C1 = C 2 = 100 nF, determine the output frequencies produced by
this arrangement (a) when R1 = R2 = 1 kΩ and (b) when R1 = R2 = 6 kΩ.
Single stage Astable Multivibrator
Circuit Operation

(i). When power is turned ON, V0 automatically

swings either Vsat or to –Vsat since these are the
only stable states allowed by Schmitt trigger.
Assume it swings to +Vsat .

(ii). Now capacitor starts charging towards +Vsat

through the feedback path provided by the
resistor Rf to the inverting input. As long as the
capacitor voltage Vc is less than VUT , the output
voltage remains at Vsat.
Circuit Operation (Cont.)

(iii). As soon as Vc charges to a value slightly

greater than VUT , the input goes positive with
respect to the input. This switches the output
voltage from +Vsat to –Vsat.

(iv). As V0 switches to 0 –Vsat , capacitor starts

discharging via . The current I discharges
capacitor to 0 V and recharges capacitor
to VLT When Vc becomes slightly more negative
than the feedback voltage VLT, output voltage
switches back to +Vsat.
OP-amp Circuits
Subtractor/Difference Amplifier
Thank You…