Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology

Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE)

Oscillators

Course Title: Analog Electronic Circuit II

Course No.: ECE 2205
 Outline
1. Oscillator
2. Frequency and amplitude stability of oscillator
3. Phase shift oscillator
4. Assignment

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 Oscillator
An oscillator is a circuit that generates a repetitive
waveform of fixed amplitude and frequency without
any external input signal.
vve =i=v i +vvef
= Av
vvf 0=β vo e
v 0= Av e =A ( v i + v f )
→ v 0 = A (v i + β v o ) Barkhausen
→ v0 = A vi + A β vo Criteria
v0 A
→ = As
v i 1− A β
| A β|=1∧ A β = 0°
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 Oscillator
Aβ=1

Aβ>1

Aβ<1

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 How does an oscillator work?
An oscillator generates a
repetitive waveform without
any external input signal.
How can we get a output
without any input?
Thermal Noise
 In practice, while starting the operation of an
oscillator, is kept slightly greater than 1.
 So output voltage starts rising
 So after reaching the predefined output voltage, the
becomes 1. (Because of the non linearity of the
amplifier or feedback circuit)
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 Application of oscillator
An oscillator can generate-
1. Sinusoidal signal
2. Square wave
3. Triangular wave

 Used in signal generator

 Used in modulator circuit to generate carrier
signal etc.

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 Difference between Alternator and Oscillator

Sr. No. Content Alternator Oscillator

What type of An oscillator is an electronic
01 Device is it? An alternator is a mechanical device. device.
The electronic device which
The mechanical device which converts converts DC energy into the AC
02 Definition mechanical energy to the AC supply electrical energy is known as the
energy is called the ‘Alternator’. ‘Oscillator’.

An alternator can produce the high-frequency The oscillator can produce

Functionality
03 (more than 50Hz) oscillations according to the high-frequency oscillations
Difference
prime mover rpm. with the several MHz frequencies.
Nature of It is a non-rotating and frequency
04 It is a rotating and energy converting device.
Device generating device.

05 Working The alternator operates on the principle An Oscillator operates on the

Principles of Electromagnetic Induction. principle of the Oscillation.

7
Types of oscillator

1. RC oscillators
Wien Bridge
Phase-Shift
2. LC oscillators
Hartley
Colpitts
[Link] oscillators

8
Tank circuit operation

9
 Frequency Stability
The ability of an oscillator to oscillate at an exact
frequency is called frequency stability.
Cause of frequency deviation: Temperature changes,
device replacement, or parasitic elements
 For frequency stability, (at ) is made large so that
only a slight change in is required to correct any
phase shift and restore the loop gain to zero phase
shift.
 The frequency stability can be described by Q
factor (or figure of merit). With higher Q factor, the
stability of frequency will be higher.
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 Amplitude Stability
The ability of an oscillator to oscillate with an exact
amplitude is called amplitude stability.
Cause of deviation in amplitude: Temperature
changes, age and operating point
 In practice, an oscillator is designed with a value of that is
slightly higher than unity. The greater the value of , the
greater will be the amplitude of the output signal and the
amount of its distortion. This distortion will usually lower
the gain A to the value required to sustain oscillation.
 For amplitude stability, must be a large negative number. So
that, with increasing output voltage amplitude, the gain of
the amplifier is reduced quickly and vice-versa.

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 Phase Shift Oscillator

φ=180 °
Inverting
− Op-Amp (A)

𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 = 𝐀 𝛃
RC Circuit
(β)

φ=180 °

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 Phase Shift Oscillator
i C
+¿ 𝐯 𝐨= 𝐢𝐑
𝐯𝐢 R 𝐯 𝐨 𝐯 𝐢= 𝐢 𝐑 +( 𝟏
𝐉 𝛚𝐂 )
− 𝐯𝐨 𝐑 𝟏
= =
𝐯𝐢
( 𝐑 + 𝐉𝛚 𝐂 ) (
𝟏
𝟏−
𝐉
𝛚 𝐂𝐑 )
𝛗 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧 −𝟏
( )
𝟎
𝟏
− 𝐭𝐚𝐧
−𝟏 −𝟏
𝛚 𝐂𝐑 (
= 𝐭𝐚𝐧
−𝟏 𝐗 𝐜
𝐑 ) ( )
09/01/2025
𝐗 𝐜→
𝐈𝐟 , 𝐑 →𝟎 ,𝛗
𝟎 ,𝛗 == 𝐭𝐚𝐧
𝐭𝐚𝐧 −𝟏
−𝟏
(( ))
𝐗𝐗
𝐜 𝐜
𝐑𝐑
𝟗𝟎
≅≅ 𝟎°
13
 Phase Shift Oscillator
C C
But if, R=0
𝐑 R Then, Gain=0

𝟗𝟎° +¿ 𝟗𝟎° ¿𝟏𝟖𝟎° [Given, R=0]

C C C

𝐑 R R

6 6 6
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 Phase Shift Oscillator
𝐢𝟏 𝐯 𝟏 𝐢𝟐 𝐯 𝟐 𝐢𝟑
C C C 𝐯𝟎
𝐯𝐢 𝐑 R R

𝟏 𝐯𝟐
𝐯 𝟐= 𝐯 𝟎+ 𝐢 𝟑 𝐢 𝟐=𝐢 𝟑 + 𝐑
𝐉𝛚 𝐂

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 Phase Shift Oscillator
𝐢𝟏 𝐯 𝟏 𝐢𝟐 𝐯 𝟐 𝐢𝟑
C C C 𝐯𝟎
𝐯𝐢 𝐑 R R

𝟏 𝐯𝟏
𝐯 𝟏= 𝐯 𝟐+ 𝐢𝟐 𝐢 𝟏=𝐢 𝟐 + 𝐑
𝐉 𝛚𝐂 𝐯𝟎
(
𝐯 𝟏= 𝐯 𝟎 𝟏+
𝟑
𝐉 𝛚 𝐂𝐑
−
( 𝛚 𝐂𝐑 ) )
𝟏
𝟐
𝐢 𝟏=
𝐑 (𝟑+
𝟒
−
𝟏
𝐉 𝛚 𝐂𝐑 ( 𝛚 𝐂𝐑 )𝟐 )

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 Phase Shift Oscillator
𝐢𝟏 𝐯 𝟏 𝐢𝟐 𝐯 𝟐 𝐢𝟑
C C C 𝐯𝟎
𝐯𝐢 𝐑 R R

𝟏
𝐯 𝐢= 𝐯 𝟏 + 𝐢 𝟏 𝐉 𝛚 𝐂

( ( ))
𝐯𝐢 𝟓 𝟏 𝟔
= 𝟏− +𝐣 −
𝐯𝐨 ( 𝛚 𝐂𝐑 )
𝟐
( 𝛚 𝐂𝐑 )
𝟑
𝛚 𝐂𝐑
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 Phase Shift Oscillator
For an oscillator,
𝐀 𝛃 =𝟏
Gain of the Op-Amp,
𝐯𝐨 𝐑𝐅
𝐀= =−
𝐯𝐟 𝐑𝟏
Gain of the RC feedback circuit,
𝐯𝐟 𝟏
𝜷= =
𝐯𝐨
𝟏−
𝟓
( 𝛚 𝐂𝐑 )
𝟐
(
+ 𝐣
𝟏
( 𝛚 𝐂𝐑 )
𝟑
−
𝟔
𝛚 𝐂𝐑 )
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 Phase Shift Oscillator
𝐀 𝛃 =𝟏
𝐑𝐅 𝟏
− =𝟏
𝐑𝟏
( 𝟏−
𝟓
( 𝛚 𝐂𝐑 ) 𝟐
+𝐣
( ( 𝛚 𝐂𝐑 )
𝟏
𝟑
−
𝟔
𝛚 𝐂𝐑 ))
(
− 𝐑 𝐅 =𝐑 𝟏 𝟏 −
𝟓
( 𝛚 𝐂𝐑 )
𝟐
+𝐣
( 𝟏
( 𝛚 𝐂𝐑 )
𝟑
−
𝟔
𝛚 𝐂𝐑 ))
Equating the imaginary parts of both sides, we get
𝐑𝟏
( ( 𝛚 𝐂𝐑 )𝟏
𝟑
−
𝟔
𝛚 𝐂𝐑 ) =𝟎

𝟏 𝟔
=
(𝛚 𝐂𝐑 ) 𝟑
𝛚 𝐂𝐑
𝟏 1 𝟏
(𝛚 𝐂𝐑 ) = 𝛚
→→
𝟐
𝐟 ==
09/01/2025
𝟔 𝟐 𝛑√
𝐑𝐂𝟔√𝟔𝐑𝐂 19
 Phase Shift Oscillator
Equating the real parts of both sides, we get

𝐑𝟏 𝟏− ( ( 𝛚 𝐂𝐑 )
𝟓
𝟐
)= − 𝐑𝐅

− 𝐑𝐅 𝟓 𝟓
= 𝐀 =𝟏 − =𝟏 −
𝐑𝟏
( )
𝟐 𝟐
( 𝛚 𝐂𝐑 ) 𝟏
𝐂𝐑
√ 𝟔 𝐑𝐂
Op-Amp Gain,

So RC filter Gain,

09/01/2025 20
 Amplitude Stability in Phase Shift Oscillator
H
If, , is open circuited.
So, gain 𝐯𝐳 𝐯𝐳
𝐯𝐤
If, ,
gain

Here,

So, if increase, will increase.

Then Op-amp gain will decrease
and thus will also decrease, and
vice versa.
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 Assignment
1. Explain the necessity of Frequency and Amplitude stability
of an oscillator.
2. What type of output can be generated using Phase Shift
Oscillator? Why?

09/01/2025 22
 Quadrature Oscillator
A Quadrature oscillator is an oscillator which
generates two signals (sine and cosine) that are in
quadrature—that is, out of phase by 90°.
Vf xc
β= =
V o xc+ R
1
j ωC
¿
1
+R
j ωC
1
¿
1+ jωCR

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 Quadrature Oscillator

V o1 R
V x=
1
+R
j ωC
Vx j ωC R
=
V o 1 1+ jωCR
j ωC R ∗V o 1
V x¿V f =
1+ jωCR

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 Quadrature Oscillator

V o / jωC
V f=
1
+R
j ωC
Vo
V 𝑓=
1+ jωCR

( )
V0 1 j ωC R
=
V o 1 1+ jωCR 1+ jωCR

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 Quadrature Oscillator
V f V 01
β A 1=
Vo Vx
V f V 01 V 01
β A 1= =
Vo V f V0
V 01 1
β A 1= =
V o j ωC R

=1

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 Quadrature Oscillator

1
|β|=
√2

→ β A 1 A 2=1
→ A 1 A 2= √ 2

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 Assignment
1. Design a quadrature oscillator to produce a output
of 10 kHz and 5 V.

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 Assignment
1. Design a quadrature oscillator to produce a output
of 10 kHz and 5 V.

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 Outline
1. Wien Bridge Oscillator
2. Colpitts Oscillator
3. Hartley Oscillator
4. Assignment

09/01/2025 30
 Three Phase Oscillator
A three-phase oscillator generates three sinusoidal
voltages of equal magnitude, but displaced by 120°
from each other.
Application: Generating control signal in power system

09/01/2025 Milton Kumar Kundu, Dept. of ECE, RUET 31

 Three Phase Oscillator

𝐀 𝟏 = 𝐀 𝟐= 𝐀 𝟑
𝛃=𝟏
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 Three Phase Oscillator

( )
3
RF
−
R
β A 1 A 2 A 3= 3 2
=1
( R F j ωC ) +3 ( R F j ωC ) +3 R F j ωC +1

( )
3
RF 3 2
− =− 𝑗 ( R F ωC ) −3 ( R F ωC ) +3 R F j ωC +1
R
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 Three Phase Oscillator

( )
3
RF 3 2
− =− 𝑗 ( R F ωC ) −3 ( R F ωC ) +3 R F j ωC +1
R
Equating the imaginary parts,
3
0=− 𝑗 ( R F ωC ) +3 R F j ωC
2
→ ( R F ωC ) =3

→ ω=
√ 3
RF C
Equating the real parts,

( ) ( )
3 2
−
RF 2
=− 3 ( R F ωC ) +1=−3 R F
√ 3
C +1
R RF C
RF
=2
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R 34
 Three Phase Oscillator
RF
−
R −2
A1 = A2 = A3 = = =1 120 °
1+ R F j ωC 1+ j √ 3

Let,
So,
and,

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 Wien Bridge Oscillator If R1 R2 R and C1 C2

C1

R3
R1


R2

R4 +
C2

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 Wien Bridge Oscillator
Application: Produce Sine wave of
Radio Frequency
Phase Shift by Amplifier:
Phase Shift by Feedback circuit:

09/01/2025
𝐳 𝟏=𝐑 +
𝟏
𝐣 𝛚𝐂
=
𝟏+ 𝐣 𝛚𝐑𝐂
𝐣𝛚 𝐂 ‖
𝐳 𝟐=𝐑
𝟏
=
𝐑
𝐣 𝛚𝐂 𝟏+ 𝐣 𝛚𝐑𝐂
37
 Wien Bridge Oscillator
𝐕 𝐨 𝐳𝟐
𝐕 𝐟=
𝐳 𝟏 +𝐳 𝟐
𝐑
𝐕𝐟 𝟏+ 𝐣 𝛚 𝐑𝐂
=𝛃=
𝐕𝐨 𝟏+ 𝐣𝛚 𝐑𝐂 𝐑
+
𝐣𝛚𝐂 𝟏+ 𝐣 𝛚 𝐑𝐂
𝐣 𝛚 𝐑𝐂
→ 𝛃= 𝟐
𝟏 − ( 𝛚 𝐑𝐂 ) +𝟑 𝐣𝛚 𝐑𝐂
For
𝟏
→ 𝛚=
𝐑𝐂
𝟏
→𝐟=
09/01/2025
𝟐 𝛑 𝐑𝐂 38
 Wien Bridge Oscillator
𝐣 𝛚 𝐑𝐂 𝟏
𝛃= =
𝟎+𝟑 𝐣 𝛚 𝐑𝐂 𝟑
𝑨 𝛃 =𝟏
𝟏
→ 𝑨= =𝟑
𝛃
𝑹𝑭
→ 𝟏+ =𝟑
𝑹𝟏
𝑹𝑭
→ =𝟐
𝑹𝟏

09/01/2025 39
 Colpitts Oscillator
An LC oscillator to produce Sine wave of Radio
Frequency. Vo
V o z2 RF
V f= +Vcc
z2 + z3 )
1 -
Vf z2 j ωC2 R+¿
1 V d
→ = β= =
Vo z2 + z3 1 )+
+ jωL Vf
→ β=
1
j ωC2
+¿V f− C-V1cc¿
−
2 Vo
1− ω L C 2
C2 C1

L
09/01/2025 40
 Colpitts Oscillator Vo
)
R
) o
− AV V i z p
V o=
V o
Ro+ z p
− A
+¿
V ) zpVo
→ = A =− A V ¿ ¿ V i
Vf
V i C1¿
→ A=
− A V z1 ( z2 + z3 ) −
R o ( z 1 + z 2 + z 3 )+ z 1 ( z 2 + z 3 )
z2
− AV z 1 ( z 2+ z 3)
z 2+ z 3
S𝑜, A β=
R o ( z 1+ z 2+ z 3)+ z 1 ( z 2+ z 3)
− AV z 1 z 2
¿
Ro ( z 1+ z 2 + z 3 )+ z 1 ( z 2 + z 3 )

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 Colpitts Oscillator
AV
So , A β=
j ω R o ( − C1 −C 2 +ω 2 L C 1 C 2 ) +(ω ¿ ¿ 2 L C1 −1)¿
For 0 ° phase shift , j ω R o ( −C 1 −C 2+ ω 2 L C1 C 2 )=0

ω=
√ C 1+ C 2
L C1 C 2
→f=
1
2π √ C 1+C 2
LC 1 C 2

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 Hartley Oscillator

Resonance frequency and Gain???

Find them yourself…

09/01/2025 43
 Assignment
1. Determine the resonating frequency and amplifier
gain of the Hartley oscillator.
2. Find the resonating frequency (f), of a Colpitts
oscillator when

09/01/2025 44
 Assignment
1. Determine the resonating frequency and amplifier
gain of the Hartley oscillator.
2. Find the resonating frequency (f), of a Colpitts
oscillator when

09/01/2025 45
 Acknowledgement to…

Milton Kumar Kundu

Assistant Professor, Dept. of ECE, RUET