Signal Generators

-
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Contents
Basic principles of sinusoid oscillators
Oscillators using Op amp and RC
Bistable Multivibrators
Square and triangular wave
generators
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Why Signal Generators?
Timing clock for computers and control
systems
Information carriers for communication
systems
testing and characterizing electronic
devices and circuits
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What Signal Generators?
Signals are usually periodic.
For examples
Sinusoidal signals --- the basic and most
widely used signals
Square waves
Triangular waves
pulses
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Principles of Signal
Generators
There are two approaches to generate
signals:
Linear oscillators
an amplifier plus a frequency selective
positive feedback network
Nonlinear oscillators using multivibrators
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Principles of Sinusoidal
Generators
+ Amplifier A
Frequency selecti ve
network B
+
+
x y
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Principles of Signal
Generators
The system is described by the following
equation:
therefore
) ( ) ( 1
) (
) (
) (
) (
s B s A
S A
S X
S Y
s T

= =
[ ] ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( s B s Y s X s A s Y + =
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Principles of Signal
Generators
The output is given by
It is desired that the system generate sinusoidal
signal with frequency 0 when there is no input
X(s)=0. This implies that the transmission
function is infinity at 0
1 ) ( ) ( 0 ) ( ) ( 1
) ( ) ( 1
) (
) (
0 0 0 0
0 0
0
0
= =

j B j A j B j A
or
j B j A
j A
j T
) ( ) ( ) ( s X s T s Y =
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Principles of Signal
Generators
The condition is called the
Barkhausen criterion
The phase of the loop gain is zero
The magnitude of the loop gain is unity
1 ) ( ) (
0 0
= j B j A
1 ) ( ) (
0 0
= j B j A
[ ]
1 ) ( ) (
) ( ) (
0 0
0 0
=
+ j j j
B A
e j B j A
0 ) ( ) (
0 0
= + j j
B A
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Principles of Signal
Generators
How to get a more pure sinusoidal wave?
1 ) ( ) (
0 0
= j B j A
0 ) ( ) (
0 0
= + j j
B A
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Principles of Signal
Generators
Nonlinear Amplitude Control
initially |AB| should be slightly greater than 1, so that
oscillation magnitude will grow when power is turned on;
when the magnitude reaches the desired level, the loop gain
to be reduced to exactly unity;
in other word, the loop gain should be nonlinearly
dependent on the output magnitude. This can be achieved
by inserting a nonlinear network into the feedback path;
a popular nonlinear network is limiter circuit;
the nonlinear network will cause some distortion to the
waveform. The distortion will be eliminated by frequency
selective network in the feedback loop.
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Principles of Signal
Generators
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Op Amp - RC Oscillator
Circuit
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sCR sCR
R R
Z Z
Z
R
R
s B s A s L
s p
p
/ 1 3
/ 1
1 ) ( ) ( ) (
1 2
1
2
+ +
+
=
+

+ = =
Op Amp - RC Oscillator
Circuit
) / 1 ( 3
/ 1
) (
1 2
CR CR j
R R
j L
+
+
=
CR
CR
0
0
1

=
Firstly, the phase should be zero:
Then , loop gain be 1, therefore:
2 /
1 2
= R R
CR
1
0
=
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Op Amp - RC Oscillator Circuit:
Wien-Bridge
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Op Amp - RC Oscillator
Circuit
The resistance between
a and b decreases with
the voltage across them.
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Phase Shifter Oscillator
The circuit will oscillate at the frequency for which the phase shift
of the RC network is 180 degree.
Three is the minimum number of RC sections capable of producing
180 degree phase shift for any high frequency.
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Phase Shifter Oscillator
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The Quadrature Oscillator
2 2 2
02
1
) (
R C s V
V
s L
x
= =
CR
1
0
=
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Active Filter Tuned
Oscillator
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Active Filter Tuned
Oscillator
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Bistable Multivibrators
A bistable circuit has two
stable output states: Positi ve
saturation or negative
saturation
A physical analogy for the
operation of the bistable
circuit.
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When v
i
increases
When v
i
decreases
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Bistable Multivibrators
The output will remain either as L+ or L+ when -VTH <Vi<VTH.
When the output is L+, a input voltage higher than VTH will
force
the output to L-;
When the output is L-, a input voltage lower than -VTH will
force
the output to L+;
Therefore the state can be changed by pulse signals with
amplitude larger than the VTH.
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Bistable Multivibrators
Triggering signal
Output signal
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Bistable Multivibrators
Noninverting Transfer Characteristics
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Square Wave Generator
Using Astable Multivibrators
A bistable
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Square Wave Generator
Using Astable Mutivibrators
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Triangular Wave Generator
Using Astable Mutivibrators
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Monostable Multivibrator:
Pulse Generator
Aim: To generate a pulse with known height
and width in response to a trigger signal.
Triggering signal
Generated pulse
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Monostable Multivibrator:
Pulse Generator
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Monostable Multivibrator:
Pulse Generator
Operation mechanism:
What are the steady states (select R4>>R1)?
Assume VA=L+. Vc=L+. D1 is conducting. D2 is also
conducting and so VB=0.7v. We can R1 and R2 and R3,
such that Vcis lower than VB. Hence this can be a stable
state.
When VA =L-, D2 is cut off and so Vc=L- . D1 is cut
off and C1 will discharge through R3 and therefore VB
will decrease toward Vb=L-. When VB <Vc, the op-amp
change the state.
Therefore the circuit only has one stable state.
) /(
2 1 1
R R R + =
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Monostable Multivibrator:
Pulse Generator
Operation mechanism:
Suppose VA=L+, and a negative-going step applied at
triggering input;
V will follow the drop and D2 will conduct and Vc will be
pulled down. If the triggering low edge is low enough Vc
can be lower than VB, and this will make VA=L-;
When VA =L-, D2 is cut off and so Vc=bL- . D1 is cut off
and C1 will discharge through R3 and therefore VB will
decrease toward Vb=L-. When VB <Vc, the op-amp change
the state.
The duration when VA stays in L- will depend on the
discharging time constant C1R3.
) /(
2 1 1
R R R + =
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Monostable Multiviberator:
Pulse Generator
What is the width of the pulse?
The initial VB is VD1 (0.7v). When VA=L-, the steady state
for C1 to discharge via R3 is L-, and therefore
The op amp will flip when VB>VC
) /(
1
3 1
) (
R C t
D B
e V L L V


=
) /(
1
3 1
) ( ) (
R C T
D B
e V L L L T V


= =

1
1
ln ln
3 1
1
3 1
R C
L L
L V
R C T
D
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