OBJECTIVES: To investigate the operation of the voltage controlled oscillator which comes with the feedback kit and

have a closer look at its operation. The voltage controlled oscillator unit is capable of providing us with a square wave of variable frequency according to some input voltage value. The frequency values that the oscillator is capable of providing are both in the very high and moderate frequency ranges. In other words we can use the VCO to provide us with square wave voltages that are of either very high frequencies or that are of moderate frequencies. Results and Analysis Practical 1.1 The following table presents readings taken of the scale settings of the VCO versus the frequency range that can be obtained from these settings both in the high frequency and low frequency modes of operation of the VCO. Scale Setting ow !ange k"# "igh !ange k"# $ $ %&' ( (.&) *'(.%* % %.&) +%*.'+ ' %., -+-.*( * '.+, $&$%.( The figures in the tables along with the plot which accompanies this report indicates that the relation between the scale setting and the low frequency range is more linear that the relation between the scale setting and the high frequency range. . $.$/ 0 sequre wave with imperfect edges . $.(/ (&& 1 $&&& 2"# Q 1.3)A square wave of lower frequency and better quality . 3 .% . $.)/ 4or low range 5 linear 4or high range 5 calibration current used Practical 1.2 In this part we use an e6ternal voltage source7 namely the variable dc available at the console7 to obtain a variable frequency at the output of the VCO. .$.+/ %.+ V. .$.-/ $., V. .$.,/ almost linear relationship.

8hen the input voltage was reset to give a $ k"# low frequency output and then when socket 9 was disconnected an output frequency of &.%$) :h# resulted. .$.$$/ &.,- :"#. .$.$(/ Socket 0 yielded a lesser frequency. This is e6pected from the calibration curve. Practical 1.3 The following table was obtained from the attenuation unit of the VCO. 0ttenuator setting d; & 1% 1) 1, 1$( 1$* 1$1($ 1(' 1(+ 1%& 1%% 1%) Output volts pk1pk $.$.( &.&.) &.' &.% &.( &.$'* &.$ &.&+* &.&* &.&' &.&(* Vo<V $ &.+* &.* &.%+* &.(* &.$-&.$(* &.&, &.&)(* &.&'), &.&%$% &.&(* &.&$*) log=Vo<V/ & &.$(* 1&.%&$ 1&.'() 1&.)&( 1&.+() 1&.,&% 1$.&') 1$.(&' 1$.%(, 1$.*&' 1$.)&( 1$.-&+ 1(&log=Vo<V/ & 1(.* 1).&( 1-.*$, 1$(.&'$ 1$'.*$+ 1$-.&)( 1(&.,$* 1('.&-( 1().*++ 1%&.&-, 1%(.&'$ 1%).$%-

4rom these plots we can see that the nominal values provided on the VCO are in very good agreement with those obtained from calculation. Conclusion VCOs are very useful circuits which provide us with variable frequencies resulting from variable input voltages. In the low frequency range the relation between the input voltage and the output frequency is almost linear. In the high frequency range it is not. >ominal values for attenuation provided on the VCO unit are very close to the practical values achieved from this unit. VCOs can be used to generate square waves both in the high frequency ranges and in the moderate frequency ranges according to the mode of operation.