9.

3 Astable Multivibrator
9.3.1 Introduction

Astable multivibrator is a kind of selfoscillation circuit . When power is applied

It can generate rectangle pulse which has
a certain frequency and amplitude.
Because of the abundant high-order
resonance wave ponderance, it named
astable multivibrator.

It consists of switch device, feedback

network, and delay device.
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9.3 Astable Multivibrator

9.3.2 CMOS Astable Multivibrator

Switch device gate,voltage comparator,BJT

etc.
generate high or low level feedback network
returns output voltage to switch device and makes
it change its state. delay device change oscillation
frequency by charge and dischargeReturn
of RCBack
circuit.
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9.3 Astable Multivibrator

VON= VOFF= Vth= VDD/2
First metastable:
t=0 power on circuit
prime state VO1= VOH
VI= VO2= VOL
When capacitance is
charged make VI = Vth
The circuit comes into
second metastable.

V
VD

Second metastable:

0.5VDD

VI

Capacitance C discharge VI
decline when
VI = Vth the circuit turn to first
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metastable

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9.3 Astable Multivibrator

Calculation of oscillation
period
In RC serial circuit f(t)= f()+[f(0) - f()] e-t/

if Vth = VDD/ 2 then T=RCln3 2.2RC

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9.3 Astable Multivibrator

CMOS astable multivibrators frequency
stability is not very good, the oscillation
frequency is mainly decided by the time of
gates input voltage rising to transition level.

Transition level is not stable enough it is

affected easily by power and temperature.
The circuit work is easily interfered lead to the
circuit state transition ahead or lag.
On the circuit state transition, charge and
discharge is slower. If any slight change of
transition level will affect oscillation period badly.
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9.3 Astable Multivibrator

CMOS Astable multivibrator with a

compensatory resistance
generally RS=10R

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9.3 Astable Multivibrator

9.3.3 Quartz crystal oscillator
Quartz crystal has stable frequency characteristic
and high quality factor its frequency selectivity is
very good.

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9.3 Astable Multivibrator

If the input signal frequency is equal to
fs the quartz crystals equivalent
impedance is minimum. So the oscillator
frequency is also fs has nothing to do
with the external resistance and
capacitance .

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