1 1 72 CHAPTER 13 SIGNAL GENERATORS A N D WAVEFORM-SHAPING CIRCUITS

3.2 OP AMP-RC OSCILLATOR CIRCUITS 1 1 7 3

+15 V

R = 3
3 kn
OK

FIGURE 1 3 . 4 A Wien-bridge oscillator without amplitude stabilization.

Substituting s = jco results in

1 + R /R
LU<o) =
2 x
(13.11)
3+ j(coCR-\/coCR)

T h e l o o p gain will b e a real n u m b e r (i.e., the p h a s e will b e zero) at o n e frequency given b y

1
co CR
0 =
co CR
0
-15 V

T h a t is, FIGURE 1 3 . 5 A Wien-bridge oscillator with a limiter used for amplitude control.

co =
0 l/CR (13.12)

T o obtain sustained oscillations at this frequency, o n e should set the m a g n i t u d e of the loop
-o v
O
gain to unity. T h i s can b e a c h i e v e d b y selecting

R /R
2 x = 2 (13.13)
50 kfl io kn
T o e n s u r e that oscillations will start, o n e c h o o s e s R /R slightly greater than 2. T h e - W r
2 x
I—vw-
r e a d e r can easily verify that if R /R 2 = 2 + 5, w h e r e 8 is a small n u m b e r , t h e roots of the
x

characteristic equation 1 - L(s) = 0 will b e in t h e right half of the s plane.

T h e amplitude of oscillation can b e determined and stabilized b y using a nonlinear control
network. T w o different implementations of the ampUtade-controlhng function are shown in
Figs. 13.5 and 13.6. T h e circuit in Fig. 13.5 e m p l o y s a symmetrical feedback limiter of the
type studied in Section 13.1.3. It is formed b y diodes D and D together with resistors R , R ,
x 2 3 4

R , and R , T h e limiter operates in the following manner: A t the positive p e a k of the output
5 6
16 n F ^>
voltage v , the voltage at node b will exceed the voltage v (which is about 1 v ), and diode D
0 x 0 2

— j | WAr-
conducts. This will clamp the positive p e a k to a value determined by R , R , and the negative s 6

C. io kn
p o w e r supply. T h e value of the positive output p e a k can b e calculated b y setting v = v + V b x D2
C
P .
and writing a n o d e equation at n o d e b while neglecting the current through D . Similarly, 2 16 nF ' RP e io kn
the negative peak of the output sine w a v e will b e c l a m p e d to the value that causes diode D to x

conduct. T h e value of the negative p e a k can b e determined b y setting v = v - V and writ­ a x D1

ing an equation at n o d e a while neglecting the current through D . Finally, note that to obtain a x

symmetrical output waveform, R is chosen equal to R , and R equal to R .

3 6 4 5
FIGURE 1 3 . 6 A Wien-bridge oscillator with an alternative method for amplitude stabilization.