SINUSOIDAL OSCILLATORS
OBJECTIVE
In this experiment, you will use a JFET transistor to design and build sinusoidal oscillators. You
will then study its most dc and ac properties.
PREPARATION
JFETs, and sinusoidal oscillators are discussed in the chapters 5 and 12 of the theory text you are
using 1. These topics are presented in the course notes as well.
BACKGROUND
An oscillator is an electronic device for generating an ac signal voltage. The frequency of the
generated signal depends on the circuit constants. Oscillators are used in radio and TV receivers,
in radar, in all transmitting equipment, and in military and industrial electronics.
An oscillation is a back-and-forth motion. In a parallel LC circuit, electrons oscillate when the
circuit is excited. In the circuit of Figure 7.1, when S 1 is closed, capacitor C will charge to the
battery voltage V. If S 1 is then opened and S 2 closed, C will discharge through L, creating an
expanding magnetic field about L. After C has discharged, the magnetic field collapses and
induces a current in L in the same direction as when C was discharging. This electron flow
charges C in the opposite polarity. After the magnetic field has collapsed, C again tries to
discharge. Electron flow through L is now in the opposite direction. An expanding magnetic field
again appears around L but this time it is in the opposite direction. This process continues back
and forth, causing electrons to oscillate in the tunes circuit, also called tank circuit. However,
owing to the resistance in the circuit the amplitude of oscillation is damped, as in Figure 7.1,
although the period of every cycle is the same. The frequency of oscillation is
1
f
2 LC
When the energy fed into the circuit has been used up, it is necessary to supply more energy by
recharging capacitor C from the power supply and again permitting it to discharge through L. By
switching S 1 and S 2 after each cycle, we can maintain oscillation. Moreover, a sine wave of
constant amplitude may be generated. In this process dc energy is used by the circuit to offset
losses.
Another method of maintaining oscillation in the LC tank circuit is to connect a tank circuit in
the output of an amplifier. The transistor amplifier is cut off by V BB , which reverse-biases the
base-emitter circuit. A sine wave is injected into the base circuit with such amplitude that
collector current flows at the peak of the negative alternation. This shock excites the LC circuit
in the collector of Q, and the tank circuit oscillates. If the input sine wave has the same frequency
as the frequency of oscillation of the tank circuit, the oscillation in the LC circuit is maintained.
In this experiment, you will:
Start with choosing component values for an oscillator to meet given specifications;
Analyze the obtained circuit;
Simulate, verify, and adjust the design if needed;
1 th
Microelectronic Circuits, Sedra and Smith, 5 Ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 2004.
53
Implement and measure the oscillator.
S1 S2
V C
Figure 7.1: RC coupled common-emitter amplifier.
DESIGN OF A COLPITTS OSCILLATOR
Choosing component values to meet given specifications
As a designer, your first task is to calculate the value of R1, L2, and C4 of the Colpitts oscillator
shown in Figure 5.2 in order to meet the following specifications (You need to derive the
oscillation frequency formula):
A DC IS current, IS= 350 A;
An oscillation frequency f= 360 kHz;
Power supply, VCC= 10 V.
Note that at the oscillation frequency, L1 is equivalent to an open circuit, a resistance R (13.5
k ) between drain and source models the losses of the inductors and the output resistance of the
transistor, R1 can be approximated with an open circuit, and R2 in series with R3 can be
D
assumed as short circuit. C1 and C2 are equivalent to a short circuit at the oscillation frequency. S
Ignore Cgs and Cgd.
VCC= 10V G
I MA
C1= 0.1 uF
A
L1=
10 mH 10K
D C3=
ont
220 pF
G L2
S R2= 5k R3= 1k
B
R1
C4
IS
2nF
10mA
C2= 0.1 uF
Figure 7.2: Colpitts oscillator
Simulation 115 22OF
To obtain more accurate view of your oscillator characteristics, use PSpice run bias point and
transient simulations and determine:
The DC operating point (all DC currents and voltages);
The oscillation frequency and amplitude at point A.
Add a 100 M (equivalent to an open circuit) resistor between the common node of L2, C4 and
C2 to avoid floating point error. For the transient simulation, you may need to excite the circuit
with a very small current pulse between G and D to simulate the noise. Use IPWL in Pspice and
54
double click it to configure it as shown in Figure 7.3. Leave AC and DC values blank. Run the
simulation for more than 2 ms with a maximum step size of 10 ns.
Figure 7.3: IPWL configuration
Implementation
Set up the oscillator circuit shown in Figure 5.2 with the values found in section 5.4.1. Adjust R2
to start the oscillation. If oscillation doesn’t start, reduce the value of C4. Determine
experimentally:
The DC operating point (DC currents and voltages);
The oscillation frequency and amplitude at point A;
The oscillation amplitude at point B;
The DC and AC components of the signal across R1;
The source and drain signal waveforms of the JFET. Are they in or out of phase?
DESIGN OF A HARTLEY OSCILLATOR
Choosing component values to meet given specifications
Calculate the value of R1, L2, and C4 of the Hartley oscillator shown in Figure 7.4 in order to
meet the following specifications (You need to derive the oscillation frequency formula):
A DC IS current, IS= 350 A;
An oscillation frequency f= 185 kHz;
Power supply, VCC= 10 V.
Note that at the oscillation frequency, L1 is equivalent to an open circuit, a resistance R (13.5
k ) between drain and source models the losses of the inductors and the output resistance of the
transistor, R1 can be approximated with an open circuit, and R2 in series with R3 can be
assumed as short circuit. C1 and C2 are equivalent to a short circuit at the oscillation frequency.
Ignore Cgs and Cgd.
55
VCC= 10V
C1= 0.1 uF
A
L1=
10 mH
D
L2 C
G
S R3= 5 k R3= 1 k
B
R1 L3=
0.1mH
IS
C2= 0.1 uF
Figure 7.4: Hartley oscillator
Simulation
To obtain more accurate view of your oscillator characteristics, use PSpice to simulate it and
determine:
The DC operating point (DC currents and voltages);
The oscillation frequency and amplitude at point A.
For the transient simulation, you may need to excite the circuit with a very small current pulse
between G and D to simulate the noise. Use IPWL in Pspice and double click it to configure it as
shown in Figure 7.3. Leave AC and DC values blank. Run the simulation for more than 2 ms
with a maximum step size of 10 ns.
Implementation
Set up the oscillator circuit shown in Figure 7.4 with the values found in section 7.5.1 Adjust R2
to start the oscillation. Determine experimentally:
The DC operating point (all DC currents and voltages);
The oscillation frequency and amplitude A;
The oscillation amplitude at point B;
The DC and AC components of the signal across R1;
The source and drain signal waveforms of the JFET. Are they in or out of phase?
QUESTIONS
Colpitts oscillator: What can be said about the relationship of C3 and C4 with
respect to the measured voltage amplitudes at points A and B?
Hartley oscillator: What can be said about the relationship of L2 and L3 with
respect to the measured voltage amplitudes at points A and B?
Is the source signal considered to be regenerative or degenerative in nature?
56
MARKING SHEET I: SINUSOIDAL OSCILLATORS
Course Outcomes: CO5
Team Name: Team Number:
Student1: Name: ID
Student2: Name: ID
Student3: Name: ID
Question Full Mark Earned Mark
Colpitts Oscillator
Vp
7.4.1 R1= 10k r 2
(Hand L2= 3
Calculation)
Report Quality
ine
C4= 3
1
Total 9
Harley Oscillator
7.5.1 (Hand R1 2
calculation) L2= 3
C= 3
Report Quality 1
Total 9
57
MARKING SHEET II: SINUSOIDAL OSCILLATORS
Course Outcomes: CO5
Team Name: Team Number:
Student1: Name: ID
Student2: Name: ID
Student3: Name: ID
Question Full Mark EARNED MARK
Colpitts Oscillator
[Link] VA= 1
(Simulation) VB= 1
VD= 1
VS= 1
5M IS= 1
[Link] f= 2
(Simulation) Amplitude= 2
[Link] VA= 2
(Measurements) VB= 2
VD= 2
VS= 2
IS= 2
[Link] F= 2
(Measurements) Amplitude= 2
[Link] Amplitude= 2
(Measurements)
[Link] DC 2
(Measurements) AC pp 2
[Link] Vsource pp 2
(Measurements) Vdrain pp 2
In phase? 2
Question 7.6.1 2
Question 7.6.3 1
Report Quality 3
Total 41
Hartley Oscillator
[Link] VA= 1
(Simulation) VB= 1
VD= 1
VS= 1
IS= 1
[Link] f= 2
(Simulation) Amplitude= 2
58
