WAVEFORM GENERATORS USING OP-AMP
AIM :-
To study and design square waveform, triangular waveform and
sawtooth waveform generator using the Opamp (LM741) IC.
COMPONENTS REQUIRED:-
[Link] Component’s Specification Quantity
Name
1 Opamp IC LM741 1
2 Resistors 10k,100k,4.5k, Each 1
15.9k,159k
3 Capacitors 0.01uF,0.1uF Each 1
4 Breadboard - 1
5 Connecting wires - As required
6 DSO - 1
THEORY:-
SQUARE WAVE OSCILLATOR :-
The basic square wave oscillator is based on the charging and
noninverting input is a portion of the output fed back through resistors 𝑅1 and 𝑅2.
discharging of a capacitor. Op-amps inverting input is the capacitor voltage and the
When the circuit is first turned on, the capacitor is uncharged, and thus the inverting
input is at 0 V. This makes the output a positive maximum, and the capacitor begins to
charge towards voltage at VO through resistor R. When the capacitor voltage reaches a
value equal to the feedback voltage (Vf) on the non-inverting input, the op-amp
switches to the maximum negative state. At this point, the capacitor begins to
discharge from +Vf towards –Vf. When the capacitor voltage reaches –Vf, the op-amp
switches back to the maximum positive state. This action repeats and a square wave
output voltage is obtained.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM(Sqaure wave generator):-
MODEL GRAPH:-
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM(triangle wave generator):-
TRIANGULAR WAVE OSCILLATOR:-
To generate a triangular waveform, a square wave is passed through an
integrator. This means that a triangular wave generator using Op Amp can be formed by
simply connecting an integrator to the square wave generator. Assume that output of first Op
Amp is high at +Vsat. This forces a constant current (+Vsat/R3) through capacitor in 2nd
stage (left to right) to drive Vo negative linearly. When V’ is low at -Vsat, it forces a constant
current (-Vsat/R3) through capacitor in 2nd stage (right to left) to drive Vo positive, linearly.
The frequency of the triangular wave is same as that of square wave. Although the amplitude
of the square wave is constant (± Vsat), the amplitude of the triangular wave decreases with
an increase in its frequency, and vice versa. This is because the reactance of capacitor
decreases at high frequencies and increases at low frequencies.
Assume that output of first Op Amp is high at +Vsat. This forces a
constant current (+Vsat/R3) through capacitor in 2nd stage (left to right) to drive Vo negative
linearly. When V’ is low at -Vsat, it forces a constant current (-Vsat/R3) through capacitor in
2nd stage (right to left) to drive Vo positive, linearly. The frequency of the triangular wave is
same as that of square wave. Although the amplitude of the square wave is constant (± Vsat),
the amplitude of the triangular wave decreases with an increase in its frequency, and vice
versa. This is because the reactance of capacitor decreases at high frequencies and increases
at low frequencies.
SAWTOOTH WAVE OSCILLATOR:-
The difference between the triangular and sawtooth waveform is
that the rise time of the triangular wave is always equal to its fall time while in
sawtooth wave generator, rise time may be much higher than its fall time or vice versa.
This circuit uses two operational amplifiers. Op-amp A1 functions as a comparator
and the op-amp A2 as an integrator. Comparator compares the voltage at point P
continuously with respect to the voltage at the inverting input; which as at ground
potential. When the voltage at P goes slightly below zero, the output of A1 will switch
to negative saturation and vice versa if VP goes slightly above zero. Suppose the
output of A1 is at positive saturation +Vsat. Since this voltage is the input of the
integrator, the output of A2 will be a negative going ramp. Thus, one end of the
voltage divider R1-R2 is at +Vsat and the other at the negative going ramp. At time t =
t1, when the negative going ramp attains value of –Vramp the effective voltage at
point P becomes slightly less than 0 V. This switches output of A1 from positive
saturation to negative saturation level –Vsat.
MODEL GRAPH :-
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM (Sawtooth Wave Generator):-
MODEL GRAPH
During the time when the output of A1 is at –Vsat, the output of A2 increases in positive
direction. At the instant t = t2, the voltage at point P becomes just above 0 V, thereby
switching the output of A1 from –Vsat to +Vsat. The cycle repeats and generates a triangular
waveform as the duty cycle of square wave at the output of the A1 is 50%.
The sawtooth wave can be generated by injecting a variable dc voltage
into the non- inverting terminal of the integrator. This can be done by using a potentiometer,
when the wiper of the potentiometer is at the centre, the output will be a triangular wave
since the duty cycle is 50%. If the wiper moves towards –V, the rise time of the sawtooth
becomes longer than the fall time. If the wiper moves towards +V, the fall time becomes
more than the rise time.
DESIGN CALCULATION :-
SQUARE WAVE GENERATOR:-
Expression for period is
1+ β
T =2 RCln where β=R2 /(R ¿ ¿ 1+ R2 )¿
1−β
If R1 = R2, the equation for period reduces to T = 2RC ln 3
The frequency of oscillation,
f =1/2 RCln3
Let C = 0.1 F and f = 1 kHz, thus R can be designed using above equation
1
R= ohm
2 k ×0.1 μ ×1.0986
R ≈ 4.5 k ohm
TRIANGULAR WAVE GENERATOR:-
The design of stage 1 is same as that of the square wave generator as in
previous section. The frequency at which the integrator gives unity gain output is given by
f =1/2 π R3 C
The oscillating frequency of square wave generator is f = 1 kHz. Let C = 0.01 μF, R3 is
computed using above formula and R4 is 10 times the R3.
1
R 3= ohm
2 × π ×1 k ×0.01 μ
R3 ≈ 15.9 k ohm
R4 =10 R3=159 k ohm
SAWTOOTH WAVE GENERATOR:-
Let the frequency of oscillation be 1 kHz and C1 = 0.01uF, we
have
1 R2
f= ×
2C 1 ( R 3+ R 4 ) R 1
Assume, R1 = 10k, R2 = 100k, (Rcomp = 10k) for First Stage
We get R3 = 10k, R4 = 100k for Second Stage
Hence the values are,
R1=R 3=10 k R2=R 4=100 k C 1=0.01 μF
PROCEDURE:-
1. Set up the circuit after testing the components.
2. Set up the square wave generator as shown in figure and observe the output waveform
and note down their amplitudes and frequencies.
frequencies of output waveform by varying the values of resistances 𝑅1, 𝑅2 𝑎𝑘𝑑 𝑅3
3. Set up the triangular wave generator as shown in figure and observe the variation in
4. Set up the sawtooth wave generator as shown in figure and note down the rise time and
fall time.
5. Move the wiper of the potentiometer in both directions and observe the changes taking
place in the waveform.
RESULT:-
Circuits of square wave generator, triangular wave generator and sawtooth wave generator
are designed, setup and waveforms observed.