EET 331 1

Oscillators &
Applications (June 2008)
Daniel Longstreet, Student Member, IEEE

 2R 
Abstract—This report will give you a basic understanding of T = 2τ ln1 + 2 
some oscillating circuits and how to design them. Three circuits  R1 
will be looked at; the op-amp astable multivibrator, Wien bridge
oscillator, and the Square and Triangle Wave Function Generator. 7
T = 2τ ln 
Index Terms—oscillators, operational amplifiers, signal
3
generators T ≈ 1.6946τ (1)
10 −3 = 1.6946 × R × 0.01µF
I. INTRODUCTION R = 59.011kΩ

O SCILLATORS can be divided into two categories, sinusoidal

and non-sinusoidal. Examples of sinusoidal oscillators
would be any oscillator that produced a signal that was close to
being a sine wave. Usually there are harmonics associated with
oscillators, so the signal is not a perfect sinusoid. Any other
oscillation will be considered non-sinusoidal. The timing
method and unity-loop-gain method will be used to design and
simulate different oscillators. Oscillators take advantage of the
internal limitations of the op-amp by using positive feedback.
The use of positive feedback is to maintain oscillations. First an
op-amp astable multivibrator non-sinusoidal oscillator will be
designed and simulated. Later a Wien bridge oscillator will be
used to demonstrate a sinusoidal oscillation, but will not be
simulated because of the limitations of spice. Finally a Square
and Triangle Wave Function Generator circuit will be design
and simulated.

II. DESIGNING AN OP-AMP ASTABLE MULTIVIBRATOR Fig. 1. Op-amp Astable Multivibrator circuit

A. Select components
Design an op-amp astable multivibrator to produce a 1 kHz
signal using a 0.01µF capacitor. One last thing to find is the peak differential input voltage to
First resistor values for R1 and R2 will need to be selected. ensure that the capacitor voltage rating will not be exceeded.
Letting A saturation voltage of 14V will be assumed.
R1 = 150kΩ R2
R2 = 100kΩ V1 = V SAT
The period can be calculated by
R 1 + R 2

100kΩ
V1 = 14V (2)
100kΩ + 150kΩ
V1 = 5.6V
The peak values for the differential input voltage will be
Manuscript received June 13, 2008. This work was supported in part by
Oregon Institute of Technology. slightly greater then ±2 x 5.6V = ± 11.2V.
D. L. Longstreet is with the Oregon Institute of Technology, Portland, OR
97006 USA phone: 503-866-5561 email: daniel.longstreet@oit.edu.
EET 331 2

Fig. 2. Op-amp Astable Multivibrator circuit simulation. Notice that as the negative input voltage charges toward Vout Vn will become greater then
the positive input voltage. When Vn>Vp the op-amp will switch from positive saturation to negative saturation. This will cause Vn to charge toward the
negative Vsat and the process continues.

III. WIEN BRIDGE OSCILLATOR

A. Loop Analysis
Wien bridge oscillators must satisfy the Barkhausen criterion
that requires GL(jω) = 1. But before we can apply this an
equation for gain needs to be derived. Using the basic
"skeleton" Fig. 3. for this Oscillator the equation for gain will
be found.

Letting Z1 represent the parallel combination of R1 and ZC1.

R1 × Z C1
Z1 =
R1 + Z C1
R1 × (1 / jωC1 )
Z1 = (3)
R1 + (1 / jωC1 )
R1
Z1 =
1 + jωR1C1

Let Z2 represent the series combination of R2 and ZC2.

Z 2 = R2 + Z C 2 Fig. 3. Basic form of the Wien bridge oscillator circuit.

1
Z 2 = R2 + (4)
jω C 2
1 + jω R 2 C 2
Z2 = Substituting Z1 (3) and Z2 (4) and simplification β(jω) becomes
jωC 2
jωR1C 2
β ( jω ) =
Using the feedback transfer function β(jω) 1 − ω R1 R2 C1C 2 + jω (R1C1 + R2 C 2 + R1C 2 )
2

Vi Z1 (6)
β ( jω ) = = (5)
VO Z 1 + Z 2
EET 331 3

The forward gain is A, so the loop gain GL(ω) is A standard value of R = 16kΩ was used and the finished design
is seen is Fig. 4. Unfortunately my version of spice did not
jωAR1C 2 allow me to simulate this circuit.
G L ( jω ) =
1 − ω R1 R2C1C 2 + jω (R1C1 + R2 C 2 + R1C 2 )
2

(7)
Letting R1=R2=R and C1=C2=C
jωARC
G L ( jω ) = (8)
1 − ω R 2 C 2 + jω 3RC
2

Applying the Barkhausen criterion GL(ω)=1.

jωARC
1=
1 − ω R 2 C 2 + jω 3RC
2
(9)
2 2 2
1 − ω R C + jω 3RC = jωARC

The real part of the left side of equation (9) needs to be equal
to the real part on the right side. In this case it is zero.
1 − ω 2 R 2C 2 = 0 (10)

The imaginary part of the left side of equation (9) needs to be

equal to the imaginary part on the right side.
ω 3RC = ωARC (11)

From equation (10) the frequency of oscillation can be found Fig. 4. Wien bridge oscillator
1
f0 = (12)
2πRC
From equation (11) the required gain to maintain a stable
oscillation is
IV. SQUARE TRIANGULAR WAVE FUNCTION GENERATOR
A=3 (13)
As the title preludes this next circuit will produce both a
In summery the Wien bridge oscillator will produce a square wave and triangle wave. How this circuit works is
sinusoidal oscillation with a frequency of f0 if a non-inverting intuitive once you understand that the circuit is just a Schmitt
gain of three is provided. trigger and an integrator.

B. Design Problem A. Design Problem

A Wien bridge oscillator is desired to generate a signal with a Assume that ±VSAT = ±13V. Determine the period,
frequency of 1 kHz. frequency, peak value of the square wave, and peak value of
We will pick a standard value of capacitor of 0.01µF and solve the triangular wave.
for the resistor.
1 Referring to Fig. 6. Let
R= R = 82kΩ, C = 0.01µF, R1 = 10kΩ, and R2 = 20kΩ.
2πf 0 C
1 The value of K is
R= (14) R2
2π 1kHz × 0.01µF K=
R1 (16)
R = 15.9155kΩ
K =2
The equation for gain of a non-inverting amplifier is
Rf The period is
ACL = 1 + 4 RC
Ri (15) T=
K (17)
R f = 2 Ri T = 1.64ms
EET 331 4

Fig. 5. Square & Triangle Wave Function Generator circuit Simulation. Triangle wave peak voltage is ±6.5V and the Square wave peak voltage is ±13V

The Frequency is
1 V. CONCLUSION
f = = 610 Hz (18)
T This report looked at three main oscillating circuits. The
Wien bridge is a sinusoidal oscillator, the astable multivibrator
The peak value of the triangular wave is ±VSAT = ±13V. and the Square and Triangle Wave Function Generator are non-
The peak value of the triangular wave is the threshold voltage sinusoidal oscillators. The focus was on the design and
V T. simulations of the circuits to give the reader a brief
understanding of the material.
VSAT 13 All op-amps have limitations but for op-amps that go into
VT = = = 6.5V (19)
K 2 and out of saturation it takes "more effort" to come out of
The triangle wave will oscillate between ±6.5V. saturation. Because of this, the limitations that already exist
will be more of a problem (e.g. slew rate limitations will be
seen at lower frequencies then expected).

Daniel L. Longstreet is pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Electronic

Engineering Technology from the Oregon Institute of Technology in Portland,
OR USA and is expected to graduate June 2009. He also has an Associates of
Science in Industrial Electronics from the Technical College of the
LowCounrty Beaufort, SC. USA May 2005.
He is working at TriQuint Semiconductor in Hillsboro Oregon as a RF Test
Technician.

Fig. 6. Square & Triangle Wave Function Generator circuit

Fig. 5. show an active lowpass integrator with an input signal

from a Schmitt Trigger. As expected the Schmitt Trigger
outputs a square wave with peak voltage at VSAT. When this
signal is integrated the output is a triangular wave. The peak
voltage in this case will be the threshold voltage.