The Phase-Shift Oscillator: The following figure shows the circuit diagram of the phase-shift oscillator.

Oscillation occurs at the frequency where the total phase shift through the three RC feedback circuits is 180. The inversion of the op-amp itself provides the another 180 phase shift to meet the requirement for oscillation of a 360 (or 0) phase shift around the feedback loop.
Rf

+V C1
0V

C2

C3 Vo

-V

R1

R2

R3

The feedback circuit in the phase-shift oscillator is shown in the following figure. In the derivation we assume, R1 = R2 = R3 = R and C1 = C2 = C3 = C
C C C

Vi

I1

R I2

I3

R Vo

Using mesh analysis we have, (R + 1 / jC)I1 RI 2 = Vi RI1 + (2R + 1 / jC)I 2 RI 3 = 0

... ... (1) ... ... (2) ... ... (3)

RI 2 + (2R + 1 / jC)I 3

In order to get V0, we must solve for I3 using determinants:

( R + 1 / j C ) I3 = R 0 ( R + 1 / j C ) R 0 R ( 2 R + 1 / j C ) R R ( 2 R + 1 / j C ) R Vi 0 0 0 R ( 2 R + 1 / j C )

R 2 Vi ( R + 1 / j C ) ( 2 R + 1 / j C ) 2 R 2 R 2 ( 2 R + 1 / j C )

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Now, =
= = = = =

V0 RI 3 R3 = = Vi Vi ( R + 1 / j C ) ( 2 R + 1 / j C ) 2 R 2 R 2 ( 2 R + 1 / j C )

R (R + 1 / jC)(2R + 1 / jC) R 2 (R + 1 / jC) R 2 ( 2R + 1 / jC) 1 2 (1 + 1 / jRC)( 2 + 1 / jRC) (1 + 1 / jRC) ( 2 + 1 / jRC) 1 (1 + 1 / jRC)( 4 + 4 / jRC 1 / 2 R 2 C 2 ) (3 + 2 / jRC) 1 2 2 2 ( 4 + 4 / jRC 1 / R C + 4 / jRC 4 / 2 R 2 C 2 1 / j 3 R 3 C 3 ) 3 2 / jRC ) 1 2 2 2 (1 5 / R C + 6 / jRC 1 / j 3 R 3 C 3 ) 1 ... ... (4) 2 2 2 (1 5 / R C ) j(6 / RC 1 / 3 R 3 C 3 )
2

For oscillation in the phase-shift amplifier, the phase shift through the RC circuit must be equal to 180. For this condition to exist, the j term must be 0 at the frequency of oscillation 0. 3 3 6 / 0 RC 1 / 3 0R C = 0

2 6 0 R 2C2 1 =0 3 3 3 0R C

2 6 0 R 2C2 1 = 0

2 0 =

0 = f0 =

1 6R 2C 2 1

RC 6 1 2RC 6

Now, from the equation (4) we have, V0 1 1 = = Vi (1 5x 6) 29 The negative sign results from the 180 inversion by the circuit. Thus, the value of voltage gain by the RC circuit is, V0 1 = Vi 29
To meet the greater-than-unity loop gain requirement, the closed-loop voltage gain of the op-amp must be greater than 29. So, Rf 29 R3

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Exercise:

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The Colpitts Oscillator: The following figure shows the circuit diagram of the Colpitts oscillator. Oscillation occurs at the frequency where the L-C feedback circuits is at resonance. Rf

R1

+V Vo -V V2 C1

L C 2 V1

L-C feedback circuit

L C1 C2

Colpitts oscillator Assuming R1>>XC1 we have the impedance of the L-C circuit, ( jX C 2 )( jX L jX C1 ) Z= ( jX C 2 + jX L jX C1 ) X C 2 ( X L X C1 ) Z= j(X L X C 2 X C1 ) At parallel resonance the impedance will be maximum and we can write, X L X C 2 X C1 = 0 X L X C1 = X C 2 ... ... (1) L 1 / C1 = 1 / C 2 L = 1 / C1 + 1 / C 2 = 2 = =
= 1 LC T 1 2 LC T 1 1 L C1C 2 /(C1 + C 2 ) 1 LC1C 2 /(C1 + C 2 ) where C T = C1 C 2 C1 + C 2

1 C1 + C 2 C1C 2

f =

Again, the voltage gain of the LC circuit, V2 jX C1 X C1 = = V1 jX L jX C1 X L X C1 Here negative sign is for 180 phase shift by the circuit. So magnitude of the voltage gain is,

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X C1 X L X C1 X (from equation (1)) = C1 X C2 C = 2 C1 For oscillation to sustain, the loop gain must be greater than unity. Therefore, the voltage gain of the amplifier should be, 1 AV > Rf C1 > R1 C 2

The Hartley Oscillator:

The following figure shows the circuit diagram of the Hartley oscillator. Oscillation occurs at the frequency where the C-L feedback circuits is at resonance. Rf

R1

+V Vo -V V2 C L L1 M L2 L1 M

C L L2 V1

C-L feedback circuit

Hartley oscillator
Assuming R1>>XL1 we have the impedance of the C-L circuit, ( jX L 2 + jX M )( jX C + jX L1 + jX M ) Z= ( jX L 2 + jX M jX C + jX L1 + jX M ) (X L 2 + X M )( X C + X L1 + X M ) Z= j(X L 2 X C + X L1 + 2X M ) At parallel resonance the impedance will be maximum and we can write, X L 2 X C + X L1 + 2X M = 0

X L1 + X M X C = (X L 2 + X M ) L 1 + 2 M 1 / C = L 2 L 1 + L 2 + 2M = 1 / C 1 1 2 = C ( L 1 + L 2 + 2M )

... ... (1)

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 =
= 1

1 C( L 1 + L 2 + 2 M ) where L T = L1 + L 2 + 2M 1

CL T

2 CL T Again, the voltage gain of the C-L circuit, V2 jX L1 + jX M X L1 + X M = = V1 jX L1 + jX M jX C X L1 + X M X C X L1 + X M = X L1 + X M X C X + XM (from equation (1)) = L1 X L2 + X M Here negative sign is for 180 phase shift by the circuit. So magnitude of the voltage gain is, X L1 + X M X L2 + X M L +M = 1 L2 + M For oscillation to sustain, the loop gain must be greater than unity. Therefore, the voltage gain of the amplifier should be, 1 AV > Rf L 2 + M > R1 L1 + M If the inductors are wound on separate core, then mutual inductance M = 0 and we can write, Rf L 2 > R1 L1 =

f =

Wein Bridge Oscillator:

The following figures show the circuit diagram of the Wein Bridge oscillator. Oscillation occurs at the particular frequency when ac balance is obtained in the Wein Bride. At the balanced condition of the bridge we can write, Z 2 V0 Z 4 V0 = Z1 + Z 2 Z 3 + Z 4 Z2 Z4 = Z1 + Z 2 Z 3 + Z 4 (R 2 )(1 / jC 2 ) /(R 2 + 1 / jC 2 ) R4 = (R 1 + 1 / jC1 ) + (R 2 )(1 / jC 2 ) /(R 2 + 1 / jC 2 ) R 3 + R 4 (R 2 )(1 / jC 2 ) R4 = (R 1 + 1 / jC1 )(R 2 + 1 / jC 2 ) + (R 2 )(1 / jC 2 ) R 3 + R 4

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j R 2 C 1 R4 = (1 + jR 1 C1 )(1 + jR 2 C 2 ) + jR 2 C1 R 3 + R 4 j R 2 C 1 R4 = (1 + jR 1 C1 )(1 + jR 2 C 2 ) + jR 2 C1 R 3 + R 4 j R 2 C 1 R4 = (1 + jR 1C1 + jR 2 C 2 2 R 1C1 R 2 C 2 ) + jR 2 C1 R 3 + R 4 j R 2 C 1 R4 ... ... (1) = 2 (1 R 1C1 R 2 C 2 ) + j(R 1C1 + R 2 C 2 + R 2 C1 ) R 3 + R 4 Since, the right hand side of the above equation is a real term, the left hand side must also be a real term. So, we can write, 1 2 R 1C1 R 2 C 2 = 0 1 = ... ... (2) R 1 C1 R 2 C 2

From equation (1) we have, R 2 C1 R4 = ( R 1C1 + R 2 C 2 + R 2 C1 ) R 3 + R 4 R 2 C1 R = 4 R 1C1 + R 2 C 2 R 3 R R C + R 2C2 R1 C2 ... ... (3) 3 = 1 1 = + R4 R 2 C1 R 2 C1 The op-amp along with the two resistors R3 and R4 constitutes a non-inverting amplifier whos voltage gain is, R AV = 1+ 3 R4 Using the of R3/R4 obtained in equation (3) we have, R1 C2 + R 2 C1 This corresponds that the attenuation of the feedback network is, AV = 1+
R1 C2 1 / 1 + R + C 2 1 R1 C2 Therefore, AV must be equal to or greater than 1 + R +C to sustain oscillation. 2 1 Mathematically, R1 C2 AV 1 + R + C 2 1 R R 1 + 3 1+ 1 R4 R 2 R 3 R1 C2 + R 4 R 2 C1
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... ... (4) C + 2 C1

For R1 = R2 = R and C1 = C2 = C we have, R3 2 R4 R 3 2R 4 Also from equation (4) we have, AV 3 From equation (2) we have, 1 = RC 1 f = 2RC

+V V0 -V C1 R1 R3

Feedback network

C1 R1 +V

R2 C2 R4

V0 -V

Wein Bridge

C2

R2 R4

R3

Noninverting amplifier

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