RC phase-shift oscillators use resistor-capacitor (RC) network (Figure 1) to provide the phase-shift required by the feedback signal. They have excellent frequency stability and can yield a pure sine wave for a wide range of loads. Ideally a simple RC network is expected to have an output which leads the input by 90o. However, in … Read more
Before we go into the topic of tuned collector oscillator, we must first understand what an oscillator is and what it does. An oscillator is an electronic circuit that generates an oscillating or periodic signal, like a sine wave or a square wave. The main purpose of an oscillator is to convert a DC signal … Read more
Clapp oscillator is a variation of Colpitts oscillator in which an additional capacitor (C3) is added into the tank circuit to be in series with the inductor in it, as shown by Figure 1. Apart from the presence of an extra capacitor, all other components and their connections remain similar to that in the case … Read more
Signal generators are electronic devices that generate electronic signals and waveform. These electronic signals are either repeating or non-repeating as per the requirements and field of applications. There are different types of signal generators with different level of capability and functionality. All the signal generators have different designs, different dimensions, and parameters. So, the variety … Read more
Hartley Oscillator is a type of Harmonic Oscillator which was invented by Ralph Hartley in 1915. These are the Tuned Circuit Oscillators which are used to produce the waves in the range of radio frequency and hence are also referred to as RF Oscillators. Its frequency of oscillation is decided by its tank circuit which … Read more
Crystal oscillators operate on the principle of inverse piezoelectric effect in which an alternating voltage applied across the crystal surfaces causes it to vibrate at its natural frequency. It is these vibrations which eventually get converted into oscillations. These oscillators are usually made of Quartz crystal, eventhough other substances like Rochelle salt and Tourmaline exhibit … Read more
An oscillator is a circuit which produces a continuous, repeated, alternating waveform without any input. Oscillators basically convert unidirectional current flow from a DC source into an alternating waveform which is of the desired frequency, as decided by its circuit components. The basic principle behind the working of oscillators can be understood by analyzing the … Read more
Voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), from the name itself it is clear that the output instantaneous frequency of the oscillator is controlled by the input voltage. It is a kind of oscillator which can produce output signal frequency over a large range (few Hertz-hundreds of Giga Hertz) depending on the input DC voltage given to it. … Read more
Gunn oscillators or transferred electron device oscillators are a cheap source of microwave power and comprise of Gunn diode or transferred electron device (TED) as their major component. In these devices, the Gunn diode will be placed in a resonant cavity and comprises of two major components viz., (i) A DC bias and (ii) A … Read more
Colpitts Oscillator is a type of LC oscillator which falls under the category of Harmonic Oscillator and was invented by Edwin Colpitts in 1918. Figure 1 shows a typical Colpitts oscillator with a tank circuit in which an inductor L is connected in parallel to the serial combination of capacitors C1 and C2 (shown by … Read more