Gtll'PTER 16

Signal Generators
:;:----
objectives
. be able to:
)'O il 1VI11 •
aw the following types of sine 7 Analyze square and tr·iangular
1 Dr . . d
wave oscillator crrctuts an waveform generators to
eXPlain the operation of each: determine the amplitude and
phase-shift, Colpitts, Hartley,
frequency of the output
and Wein bridge. waveform.
2 Analyze each of the above
8 Design square and triangular
oscillator circuits to determine
the oscillation frequency. waveform generators to
3 Design each of the above produce a specified output
oscillator circuits to produce a amplitude and frequency.
specified output frequency. 9 Analyze and design pulse·
4 Sketch oscillator amplitude generator circuits using 555 IC
stabilization circuits and explain timers.
their operation. lO Explain piezoelectric crystals
5 Design circuits to limit oscillator and sketch the crystal
outputs to a specified equivalent circuit and the crystal
amplitude. impedance/ frequency graph.
6 Draw square-wave and
11 Show how crystals may be used
tri. angular-wave generator
CU'CUI·ts. Sketch the circuit
for oscillator frequency
stabilization, and design crystal-
waveforms, and expla~ the
operation of each circuit. controlled oscillators.

INTR
ODUCTION
A·
nsinuso1·ctal oscill . .
etwork, 1"L ator usually consists of an amplifier and a phase-shifting
PhaSe-shiftine. ampl"fi
1 er receives the output from the network, amp1·fi 1 es 1·t,
,Phase shift8 1t bY 180°, and applies it to the network - , ·
input. The network
· lllg it b the amp1·fi
1eect· · b f ore
8
1 ·er output by a further 180° ~nd attenuates it
:verse of tl:k
to the amplifier input. When the amplifier ga~ equals the
t\vork Ph network attenuation and the amplifier phase shift equals the
ase sh·f ,
I t, the circuit is amplifying an input to produce an output
 . es and Circuits
666 Electronic 0ev1c . .
d to become the input. The crrcuit is
which is attenuate t te of oscillation exists.
. I and a s a
input s1gna ,
Some s
ignal gene
rators produce square or triangular
.
r ear circuits and resistor-capacitor
genera%o .

Wavef
ch . ol'tl\s
o its
°'
normally use non- m arging circ~ 'th~
ts,
16-1 PHASE SHIFT OSCILLATORS

Phase Shift Oscillator

~p-Amlp6-l hows the circuit of a phase shift oscillator, which .
Figure. mplifier
s h
and an RC p ase-s hifting network The a cons tsts of
inverting a h RC h 1 . lllplifie an
·ts input by -180°, and t e p ase- ead network ph r Phase.
shifts i o • • t t II ase-sl..:t,
amplifier output by a +180 ' giving a__o a_ oop _phase shift of z'llllS the
attenuated feedback si~a! (at the ~mp~1~er input) ~s amplified tor ero, lne
the output. In this condition the crrcmt 1s generating its own in epr~duce
consequently, it is oscillating. The output and feedback voltage w put 81gitaJ;
. . avefonns •
Fig. 16-1 illustrate the circmt operation. Ill
For a state of oscillation to be sustained in any sinusoidal oscill t .
.. . . a orarCUi
certain conditions, known as the Barkhausen criteria, must be fulfilled: t,
The loop gain must be equal to (or greater than) one. .
The loop phase shift must be zero.

The RC phase-lead network in Fig. 16-1 consists of three equal-value

resistors and three equal-value capacitors. Resistor R1 functions as the last

jlnverting R2 I
/ amplifier I
--,----~
I
I R1 I Output
I yo!tage
I
I
I
I
:R3
I I
I I Feedback
I -
---,---:::=-------- voltage

Vf{-i I
C
R
C
R I
i
I I
l: I
__..___ : I

-=- L----~~~h_!ftnetwork _ :
Flgu~ ~8-1 A phase shift ~-- - - - ~=--~ h8S8
shifting feedback netw oscillator consists of an inverting amplifier and an RC piflS It bY
180°. 1he amplifier am:i~ The RC ~etwork attenuates the output and pha58-~rther 180°·
ies the nelWork output and phase-shifts it through a
 Chapter 18 s·
ignal Generators 667
RC network and as the amplifier .
i.Jl the mput resist0 A
sistor ould give a total loop phase shift of _ 3600 , and _r. phase-lag
re rwor1' w the phase-lead network. so it would work
re ell as .
. st as w ncy of the oscillator output depend
10 file frequ;C network. The circuit can be analyz : upon the component
oes jJ:l the h n e to show that the phase
l
,,a . 1800 w e
shi~ 15 Xe = V6R
n oscillation frequency:
flliS ~ves a
f = l (16-1)
21rRCV6

As well as phase-shifting the amplifier output, the RC network attenuates

the output. It can be shown that, ~hen the required moo phase shift is
produced, the feedback factor (B) 1s always 1/29. This means that the
arnplifier must have a closed-loop voltage gain (AcL) of at least 29 to give a
loop gain (BAcd of one; otherwise the circuit will not oscillate. For example,
if the amplifier output voltage is 10 V, the,feedback voltage is
Vf = Bv0 = lOV /29

To reproduce the 10 V output, Vf must be amplified by 29:

V0 = ACLVf = 29 X (10 V/29)
=l0V
If the amplifier voltage gain is much greater than 29, the output waveform
will be distorted. When the gain is slightly greater than 29, a reasonably pure
sine wave output can be expected. The gain is usually designed to be just
over 29 to ensure that the circuit oscillates. The output voltage amplitude
nonnally peaks at ±(Vcc - 1 V) unless a tail-to-rail op-amp is used (see
Section 14-9).

~~stmp Phase Shift Oscillator Design ..

cl gn of a phase shift oscillator begins with design of the amplifier to have a
ar,llSed-loop gain just greater than 29. The resistor values for the RC network
c ~en selected to be equal to the amplifier input resistor (R1), and the
apac1to this procedure
11ligh r va1ues are calculated from Eq,, 16-1. In some cases, .
t prod h tray capacitance. So,
alte .· uce capacitor values not much larger t an s . .
rnativel h . f onveroent capacitor
Value Y, t e design might start with selection _c ° ( d R)
FinaJi'° Equation 16-1 is then used to calculate the resistance of R an ,.
y, R2 is calculated to give the required amplifier gain.
 888 Electronic Devices and Circuits

Example 16-1
Using a 741 op-amp with a ±10 V supply, design the phase shift oscillator in
----
Fig. 16-2 to produce a 1 kHz output frequency.

R2
180kO

S.6kO

R3
180kO

0.01 µ.F 0.01 µ.F 0.01 µ.F

Figure 16-2 Phase shift oscillator circuit for

Ex. 16-1.

Solution
Select Ii 100 X lB(max) = 100 X 500 nA

=SOµA

Vo~± (Vcc -1 V)~± (l0V-1 V)

~±9V

Vo ±9V
V·1 = - - =
AcL 29

=±0.31 V

R1 = Vj = 0.31 V
11 50 µA

= 6·2 kn (use 5.6 k!l stmdard value)

R2 = Aa.,R1 = 29 X 5.6 k!l
162 kn (use 180 kn to give Au> 29)

R3 = R2 = 180 kO (the de path through R1

is interrupted by C)
R=R1 = 5.6kn
 Chapter 18
l Signal Generators 889

1· C ==---= 1
Jl16q.16-- . 21rRfV6 21r X 5.6 kO X 1 kH .. r,
zXv6
0.01 µF (standard value)

h the 741 op-amp used in Ex. 16-1 is likel to be . .

Alth011g jreuit some care should al b y qtute Swtable for
rtictllar c ' ways e taken when selectin
we pa.uoJla1 arnplifier. It. should
. be. recalled (from Chapter lS) that when
g ana
0
pera utpUt voltage swmg is'dreqmred, the op-amp full-power bandwidth . is.
largelVed. rr1-,
0
llLL 18 rnust be
•
consi ered when selecting an operati'ona1amplifier
..
iJlVO cillator circuit. .
fotallos
se Shift oscillator
h
B hase shift oscil·1ator usmg
. a.
JfPa smglB
e .JT amplifier is shown in Fig. 16-3.
AP gain, the amplifier and phase shift network each produce 180° of
~; ashift, the Bff amplifies the network output, and the n~twork
P uates the amplifier output.
atten . ·t ('m comparison
FirSt thoughts ab out this crrcm . to the op-amp phase shift
scillator) would suggest that a BJT amplifier with a voltage gain of 29 is
0
uifed. An attempt to design such a circuit reveals that in many cases the
:plifier output is overloaded by the phase shift network, or else the
network output is overloaded by the amplifier input. The .problem can be
solved by including an emitter follower in the circuit. However, the circuit

~;rFi - - - - - - -~J
Iamplifier 1
I I Output
I R1 I yoltage
l I
I I
I I
I I
I I Feedback
I I Vf voltage
I R2 I _[--
I CE l
l . ________. I

_____________
I
I _
I
__,I

r------------------

~{ I i
: . ____ _.___ __, I
..l I
1_ Phase shift network -::-
!
1
n:W~~~ an inverting BJT amplifier an
~~II - ----- --- - - -- -- - - - - d RCfeedback
Phase shift oscillator using an
I 670 Electronic Devices and Circuits ---------
\ . . f torily without any additional corn
1 can be made to function sans ac rent amplifier, rather than Ponellts .

I the transistor is treated a~ a c~y\is gives

.
amplifier. In this case, c
ircu1t ana
.
1
as a Voltaplf
()e

f === , (16.2)

29R 4Rc
- 2 3 + - + .-
hfe(min) - Re 'R ·
and
. . ly if the BJT current gain is equal to (or lar
The circuit oscillates on ined from Eq · 16-3· When R -- Rc, a min;ger ....
than)
· · um value d eterm . . ~LUttUrnh
the ~m . d to sustain circuit oscillation. With R = lORc, hte(min) rnu tbre
of 561s requir3e00 The output waveform is likely to be distorted
greater than · l d h B h fe
_e if;
. ll ater than the calcu ate fe(min)· ecause fe varies w·ct IS
substantia y gre b . 11 d" I ely
• tor to another Re should e partia y a JUstable to min; .....:_
from one trans1s ' .. . --~u.uuze
distortion. Note that in Fi?. 1~-3, the amph~er input resistance (Zi)
constitutes part of the last resistor m the phase shift network.

BJT Phase Shift Oscillator·Design

BJT phase shift oscillator design should be approached by first choosing an
R equal to or greater than the estimated amplifier Zi. Then, an Re is selected
equal to R, C is calculated from Eq.16-2, and the rest of the component values
are determined for the circuit de conditions. The impedance of CE should be
much lower than hie/ (1 + hfe) at the oscillating frequency.
:v - -~;,°'~•t!.:"t~; ~•r,-<'1r :1:
1· V ,J,4 ):,- ,; - 7
PracticeProblerns . '··· :,,, ·
16-1.1 Using a,BIFET ;p-amp with rail-tq-iaif operation, design a phase shift
oscillator to produce a 6.5 kHz, ±12 V output.
16-1.2 Design a BJT phase shift os~illator, as in Fig. 16-3, to produce a 900Hz
y
.,output~~~~ a 1~ peak~to-peak ~mplitude: Asstlll\e that the BJThas
'i.,-
"Je(min) ~, 60 .fand.n•hie· "'l1.5 kn
· ,. "Y. u. · ·: , t. •-~
_.,
• .'
·•
•
_,,
" ,r...._ I • .._, --s__ - ti...t~

16-2 COLPITTS OSCILLATORS

Op-Amp Colpitts Oscillator

~; Colp!tts oscillator circuit shown in Fig. 16-4 is similar to the op-amp phase
LC
phase shift in ;h
s t oscillator except th t
a an
th ecessar}'
network is used to produce e n filter
that passes the e fe~db~ck voltage. In this case, the LC network acts a~ a The
filter circuit res osc;llatmg frequency and blocks all other frequenc1es~ce,
ona es at the required oscillating frequency. For reson

XL= Xcr
 Chapter 18 Signal Generators 871

~ -- Rz --1
Iamplifier ,..-----. I
I I
I I
I I
I .R.1 I Output
I yoltage
I
I
I
I
I
I
I -
L----- - ----- --
r---------------- I
I
I L1 I

!c'T c,J
I I

i
\ Feedback network l :
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - . ___ I

figure 16-4 A Colpitts oscillator consists of an inverting amplifier and an LC phase

shitting feedback network.

where Xcr is ~pedance of the total capacitance in parallel with the inductor.
This gives the resonance frequency (and oscillating frequency) as

(16-4)

Capacitors C1 and C2 are connected in series across L1; so,

(16-5)

Consideration of the LC network shows that its attenuation (from the

amplifier output to input) is due to the voltage divider effect of Land C1. This
gives
Xc1
B ==----
Xu - Xc1
It can be shown that the required 180° phase shift occurs when
Xcz == Xu - Xc1
and this gives
Xc1 C2
B == - = = -
Xc2 C1
As in the case of all oscillator circuits, the loop gain must be a minimum of
one to ensure oscillation. Therefore,
 nd circuit'SS - - - - - - - - - -
8
. 0evices
&72 Electronic C1
AcL(min) ==== Ci
m
b e equations, it was assumed that th
en deriving the a 0 :uch srnaller than the inductor imp de induct
(R ) 15 ver)' .,. . 1bi e an o,
resistarice . w factor (wLI Rw) is 1arge.
coilWh s must be t k ce, lha1
. that the coil Q . ductor is selected. It was also assum a en int
,s, . h n all ill . ed th o
consideraoon w e. e is much greater than the impedance f at the
. . inpu
amplifier . t res1stanc . ductor resistance
B cause of the !1l . and tho CI at th,
. frequency. e ·t ff e amp1:.c-
osciliatulg db cause of stray capac1 ance e eels when th "tiei
input resistance: :ire:uen<Y, the a!Ilplifier voltage gain usual] e~SCi!Iato,
operates at a hig C1/C Y as to b
substantially Jarger tJ,an ,. '
-Am Colpitts oscillator Design . .
Op d _P fa Colpitts oscillator can begin with the choice of the
The .es,gn(C)o much larger than stray capacitance,
. or with. the sele tisma]J,st
capacit~rnt !a1ue of L To keep the a!Ilplifier input voltage fairlycl on of a
converoe ·
feedback network is often . d to attenuate the output voltage
des1gne owbth'
factor oflO. This requireS that Cii C,"' 10. (It should be recalled that Jar a 1
values require larger op-alllP d u· Also,
. bandwidths,) C Xe,d should
. be muchgleargerCL
than the amplifier output unpe ance. smg T ~- the desired oscillatin
frequency, Lcan be calculated frorn Eq. 16-4. Amphfier mput resistor R g
be large enough to avoid overloading the feedback network (R, >~ ~us)t
Resistor R is determined from AcL and R1. a·
2

Example 16-2
Design the Colpitts osci~ator in Fig. 16-5 to produce a 40 kHz output
frequency. Use a 100 mH mductor and an op-amp with a ±10 V supply.

R2
270 kil

+Vee
+l0V

-VEE
-l0V

C1 C
1500 pF 1180 p~ I Figure 16-5 Colpitts oscillator circuit for
Ex. 16-2.
 Chapter 18 Signal Generators 873

1 - 1
Cr = 2/2L - :,2-----=---=------
41r 41r X (40 kHz)2 x lOO mH
= 153.BpF
C1,::;i lOCr = 10 X 153.8 pF
~tOCz,
fo! C1 ,::;i 1538 pF (use 1500 pF standard value)
1 1
C2=-----=
Eq- t6-5, (1/Cr) - (l/C1) (1/158.3 pF) - (1/1500 pF)
fro01
= 177 pF (use 180 pF standard value)
1 1
X - --=---------
cz - 21r/C2 - 21r X 40 kHz X 180 pF
=22k!l
Xa >> Zo of the amplifier
1 1
Xci = 21r/C1 = 21r X 40 kHz X 1500 pF
= 2.65k!l
R1>>Xa
Select R1 = lOXa = 10 X 2.65 kn
= 26.5 k!l (use 27 kn standard value)
From Eq. 16-6,
C1 lS00pF
AcL{min) = C2 = 180 pF
=8.33
R2 = Aa,R1 = 8.33 X 27 k!l
= 225 kn (use 270 k!l stand~ value)

R3 = R1IIR2 = 27knll270k!l
= 24.5 kn (use 27 k!l standard value)
The 0P·amp full-power bandwidth ( + ) must be a minimum of 40 kHz when
Vo ~ :±:9 V Jp
and Ac1 = 8.33.
Froin Eq. 15-2
, Ji = Au x/p = 8.33 x 40 kHz
= 333kHz
 . • and Circuits
&74 Electronic Devices
SR :::: 2'1T/pVp === 2'1T X 40 kHz X 8 V
From Eq. tS-3,
:::: 2 V/µ,s

BJT Colpitts oscillator . .. .

AColpitts oscillator using s'."gle Bf]' amphfier ,s shown in Fi
is the basic circuit, and its suniJan!y
. to fthe
th op-amp
. . Colpitts osc1·1g1.ato
16-6a.
. 'i'L
''llS,
obvious . A more compleX version d Co . e(b)c1tcl.llt is shown m. Fir1sfair1y
ComPonents Q,, Rt, R,, R& an E m are unchanged f g. 16-6b
· 1 d ·th · d rom ( ·
collector resistor Re ,s rep ace W1 m uctor L1. A radio Ire a), hut
(RFC) is included in series with Vee and L1. This allows de colqluency
ecto choke
(le) to pass but offers a very high impedance at the oscil!atin r 'Urrent
that the top of L is ac isolated from Vee and ground. The 0: ;Illency,.,
rt.
1
network (L1, Ci, C,) is coupled via Cc to the amplifier in tpu of the Le
output voltage (v,) is derived from a secondary winding (L2 The circuit1
As in the case of the BJT phase shift oscillator, the transisto coupled lo ! .
. t c· . l . . E r current g .
unpor ant. ircmt ana ys1s gives q. 16-4 for frequency· por current ga·m, am is

C1
=-
hfe(min) · C2 (16-7)

r- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ...,

IInverting .----+-__..r. I

- :amplifier
I
I
I
Vcq
I
I
I
Vee

I I R1 RFC
I I
I I
I I
I I
I I
I I
I cEI
I I
I I
I I
I I
:--
1 -------- ---1

: ClT- - -CzI
I
I
R2
I +--- I CE
_ _ ~eedback netw k
--------~--==-
l :
(a) Basic circuit -
Figure 16-6 Colpitts . (b) Practical circuit
networic. . BJT amplifier and an LC feedback
Osci 1lator using an in verting
r Chapte1-1a Signal Generators 875

~--.
ctice p~o Colpitts oscillator circwt to produce a 12 kHz, ±10 v output.
Pra oesigrt a
,z.1 741 op-amp. . . . . .
t6 use_a the oscillator m Fig. 16-6a to produce a 20 kHz, 6 v p-to-p
.z pesigrt Use a 10 mH inductor and assume that the BJT has hib 26 n
16-Z· 0 utput.
a11d hie ~
~l ·5 kil.
RTLEY OSCILLATORS
16-3 HA
Hartley oscill_a~o~ . . .
op-Arn~ oscillator circwt is smular to the Colpitts oscillator, except that the
'[he Hart ey twork consists of two inductors and a capacitor instead of two
feedback
·torsneand an inductor. Figure 16-7a shows the Hartley oscillator circuit,
capac~ 16_7b illustrates the fact that L1 and L2 may be wound on a single
and Figthat there is mutual inductance (M) between the two windings. In this
core so .
case, the total inductance is

(16-8)

Oscillation occurs at the feedback network resonance frequency:

f = l
(16-9)
21r\/{CiLrl

IInverting · Ri-- - -I
I amplifier :
I I
I I
I I
I \r--_..--t I
I
I
I
I
I -VEE
I
IL. _ _ _ _ -- - - - - - - -
----------------
1 I--_ _ _ __. :

: L C1 L2 :
I 1 -M I
I I
I I
I I
1 __ ~eedback network -:- _ 1
(b) L1 and L2 wound
(a) Oscillator circuit on a single core
~lg
1ure te.7 ..
Hartley oscillator circuit using an op-amp inverting amphf1er and an LC
8edback network.
 676 Electronic Devices and Circuits

The attenuation of the feedback network is

Xu
B= - - - -
Xu - Xc1

It can be shown that the required 180° phase shift occurs When
Xu= XLl -Xc1
The loop gain must be a minimum of one, giving

L2
AcL(min) = L1
(16-Io)

Design procedure for a Hartley oscillator R2

circuit is similar to that for a Colpitts 10 kO,
oscillator.

Example 16-3
Design the Hartley oscillator in Fig. 16-8 to
produce a 100 kHz output frequency with

V an amplitude of approximately ±8 V. For

simplicity, assume that there is no mutual
inductance between L1 and L2.

Solution
L1 lS00pF ½
Vcc~Vo + 1 V =±(8 V + 1 V) 150 µH l.SmH

~-iBv
Xu>> Z0 of the amplifier Figure 16-8 Hartley oscillator
circuit for Ex. 16-3.
Select Xu~lkO

L =
2
XL2 = 1 kO,
21rf 21r X 100 kHz

= 1.59 mH (use 1.5 mH standard value)

Select Li = L2 = 1.5 mH
10 10
= l50 µH (standard value)
Lr = L1 + L2 = 1.5 mH + 150 µH (assuming M = 0)
= l.65mH
 Chapter 18 Signal Generators 677
1
C ---== 1
1- 41T'J'Lr 41T' X (100 kHz)' X 1.65 mH
= 1535 pF (use 1500 pF with additi al
. on parallel
capacitance, if necessary)
C1 >> sttay capacitance

Xu = 2TTJL1 == 21T X 100 kHz x l50 µH

= 94.20
R1>>Xu

R1 = 1 kil (standard value)

5eled
prorn Eq. 16-10, .
L2 1.5mH
AcL(min) = L1 == 150 µH

= 10
R2 = AuR1 == 10 X 1 kil
= 10 kil (standard value)
R3 = R1 IIR2 = 1 kn II10 kn
= 909 (use 1 kil standard value)
The op-amp full-power bandwidth (Jp) must be a minimum of 100 kHz
when v0 ~±8 V and ACL = 10.
FromEq.15-2, h = ACL Xf = 10 x lO0kHz
=lMHz
From Eq. 15-3, SR = 2TTfpvp = 27T X 100 kHz X 8 V
=SV/µs

BJT Hartley Oscillator ·

1
:i~e _6-9 shows the circuit of a Hartley oscillator using a BJT amplifier. The
tic c~cuit in Fig. 16-9a is similar to the op-amp Hartley oscillator, and its
peration is explained in the same way as for the op-amp circuit. Note that
couplin . . . . .
thetrans·g capacitors Cc and C4 are reqmred m order to avoid de-grounding
1st
In th or base and collector terminals through L1 and Lz.
anct C e pra~tical BJT Hartley oscillator circuit shown in Fig. 16-9b L1, L2,
1
dke tl constitute the phase shift network. In this case, the inductors are
ou; y~onnected in place of the transistor collector resistor (Re). The circuit
Ut is derived from the additional inductor winding (L3). The radio
678 Electronic Devices and Circuits
-----------,
Vcq
..----....---0
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
c3 1
I
I
I
I
-----------
,- -----------1
I
: C1
I L1 -M
I I
I
I I
1 Feedback network _1
1_____________ -:-

(a) Basic circuit (b) Practical circuit

Figure 16-9 Hartley oscillator consisting of a BJT inverting amplifier and an LC feedback
network.

frequency choke (RFC) passes the direct collector current, but ac isolates the
upper terminal of L1 from the power supply. Capacitor C2 couples the output
of the feedback network back to the amplifier input. Capacitor C4 at the BJT
collector in Fig. 16-9a is not needed in Fig. 16-9b, because L2 is connected
directly to the collector terminal. The junction of L1 and L2 must now be
capacitor-coupled to ground (via C3) instead of being direct-coupled.

Practice ·Problems
16-3.1 A Hartley oscillator circuit using a 741 op-amp is to produce a 7 kHz,
±10 V output. Determine suitable component values.
th
16-3.2 An;:ilyze the BJT Hartley oscillator in Fig. 16-9b to determine e
oscillating frequency. The · important component .vah,1~5 •are;
L1 _=J.,~'f 4.7 mH, C1 6p0 .Pf, _anq Cz = C3 =:= Q.O~ tµ,J. The rputua
inductance between L1 and L2 is 100 µH. •

16-4 WEIN BRIDGE OSCILLATOR

The Wein bridge is an ac bridge that balances only at a particular. su~tis

frequency. In the Wein bridge oscillator (Fig. 16-10), a Wein bridg~ c:~~The
used as a feedback network between the amplifier output and mp . nal
bridge is made up of all of the resistors and capacitors. The operatto
 Chapter 16
Signal Generators 679
~ - - -] : Non-inverting - -]
'feedbaC 1 1 amplifier 1
1 .,,,ork _ _.i._.___-"-----, 1
1ne"' I I I
I I I I
I C1 I I I
I I I I
I I I I
I R1 I I I Output
I I I I
I .1.--..,_._-j I _voltage
I - 11 I

!,,{
1, i
j - -v!' ...
!: :1....-___ !
1
} v0

Feedback
RII
1

-=- I-
...L
I
C R _voltage
1

I 21 I I_
I 2 I I 4 I
I I I I
I I I I
I I
I I I I
I I I • I
~---- ---- ------------
'
16•10 Wein bridge oscillator circuit uses an operational amplifier and a Wein
bn ge that balances at a particular frequency.
figU~d

lifter together with resistors R3 and R4 constitute a non-inverting

amplifier. The feedback network from the amplifier output to its non-
amp · 1· d f
inverting input tenruna 1s ma e up o components C1, R1, C2, and R .
2
At the balance frequency of the Wein bridge, the feedback •voltage is in
phase with the amplifier output. This (in-phase) voltage is amplified to
reproduce the output. At all other frequencies, the bridge is off balance; that
is, the feedback and output voltages do not have the correct phase
relationship to sustain oscillations. The Barkhausen requirement for zero
loop phase shift is fulfilled in this circuit by th~ amplifier and feedback
network both having zero phase shift at the oscillation frequency.
Analysis of the bridge circuit shows that balance is obtained when two
equations are fulfilled:

(16-11)

and
(16-12)

liR1C1 - RC
- 2 2, Eq. 16-12 yields

(16-13)
 680 Electronic Devices and Circuits

For simplicity, the components are often selected as R1

-
= R2 and C1 == C2,
causing Eq. 16-11 to give

(16-14)

In this case, the amplifier closed-loop gain is AcL = 3.

Sometimes it is preferable to have an amplifier voltage gain substantially
greater than 3; then the relationship between the component values is
determined by Eqs 16-11 and 16-12.
Design of a Wein bridge oscillator can be started by selecting a current
level for each arm of the bridge. This should be much larger than the op-amp
. input bias current. Resistors R3 and R4 can then be calculated from the
estimated output voltage and the closed-loop gain. After that, the other

f component values can be determined from Eqs 16-11 to 16-14.

An alternative design approach is to start by choosing a convenient value
for the smallest capacitor in the circuit. The other component values are then
calculated from the equations.

Example 16-4
Design the Wein bridge oscillator in Fig. 16-'11 to produce a 100 kHz, ±9 V
output. Design the amplifier to have a closed-loop gain of 3.

R3
3.3kil

C2 R2
lOOOpF l.5kil R4
l.5kil
Figure 16-11 Wein bridge oscillator
circuit for Ex. 16-4.

Solution
Vcc:=::J±(Vo + 1 V) = ±(9V + 1 V)
=±lOV

ForAu= 3, R1 = R2and C1 = C2
Also, R3=2~

Select C1 = 1000 pF (standard value)