Practical Electronics/Generators/Oscillators

Intro

An oscillator is a circuit which generates a repetitive electric signal of given waveform (for example a sinewave).

Electronic Oscillation

Electronic Oscillator is an electronics circuit that generates oscillation when circuit is in resonance a natural process when all the frequency components cancel out . Commonly found in LC and RC Phase Shift

In electronics, oscillation occurs when the following conditions are met

• Output voltage is equal to input voltage and inverted
• The Phase Angle difference between input and output voltage must be 180

Passive Oscillation

With Series LC or Parallel LC . At Resonance, the frequency dependent components will cancel out ie impedance of inductor will cancel impedance of capacitor Z_L + Z_C = 0

Z_L = Z_C

$\omega L = \frac{1}{\omega C}$

Solving for ω

$\omega = \sqrt{\frac{1}{LC}}$

Since ω = 2πf therefore

f = 1/2π$\sqrt{\frac{1}{LC}}$

This frequency is called Resonance Frequency and usually denoted as f_o

At Resonance Frequency

V_L = Z_C or V_L − Z_C = 0 or V_C = − Z_L

The voltage of the series LC keeps oscillating between inductor's voltage and capacitor's voltage between phase angle 0 - 180

In LC circuit, oscillation occurs at the resonance frequency

f = 1/2π$\sqrt{\frac{1}{LC}}$

Active Oscillation

Fixed Frequency Oscialltor

For active cicuit, to meet the requirement for oscillation require

An Inverter that has output voltage equals to input voltage and inverted . So any Transistor or Op Amp Amplifier can be configured to act as an Inverter

A Feedback circuit between input and output that provides 180 degree difference in phase angle . This can be achieved through Resonant Tuned LC circuit or three stage of RC Phase Shift with each stage has a phase shift of 60

For Resonant Tuned LC circuit, the oscialltion frequency is equal to the resonant frequency

f_o = 1/2π$\sqrt{\frac{1}{LC}}$

When choosing the value of $\sqrt{\frac{1}{LC}}$ in power of 10 so that $\sqrt{\frac{1}{LC}}$ is equivalent to 10^-½n then the oscillating frequency can be calculated by

f_o = 0.3 x 10^-½n

For RC Phase Shift

Tanθ = 1/2π f $\frac{1}{RC}$

Tan 60 = Sin 60 / Cos 60 = $\frac{\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}} {\frac{1}{2}} = \sqrt{3}$

Therefore the frequency change through phase change is

f = 1/2π $\sqrt{3} \frac{1}{RC}$

When choosing the value of $\frac{1}{CR}$ in power of 10 so that $\frac{1}{CR}$ is equivalent to 10^-n then the oscillating frequency can be calculated by

f_o = 0.33 x 10^-n

Variable Frequency Oscialltor

Variable Frequency Oscialltor can be achieved through inverter with feedback circuit of

• 2 series inductors L₁ + L₂ in parallel to one capacitor C

f_o = 1/2π $\sqrt{\frac{1}{(L_1 + L_2)C}}$

• 2 series capacitors C₁ + C₂ in parallel to one inductor L

f_o = 1/2π $\sqrt{\frac{1}{(C_1 + C_2)L}}$

• 2 series capacitors C₁ + C₂ in parallel to a tuned LC

Electro-Mechanical Oscillation

Crystal Oscillator

A crystal oscillator is an electronic circuit that uses the mechanical resonance of a vibrating crystal of piezoelectric material to create an electrical signal with a very precise frequency.

f_o = n f_c

Reference

• Oscillator
• Electronic_oscillator