TITLE:

To build transistor based RC phase shift oscillator circuit,

and measure its frequency of operation.

AIM:

To build transistor based RC phase shift oscillator circuit, and measure its frequency of
operation.

APPARATUS:

 Analog board, AB70.

 Oscilloscope and probes
 2mm patch cords.

THEORY:

In this experiment we would like to introduce you a transistor oscillator circuit, called
as RC Phase shift Oscillator. First of all we need to know what an oscillator is. An
oscillator is an electronic circuit which acts as a sine wave generator.

The PHASE-SHIFT OSCILLATOR is a sine-wave generator that uses a resistive-

capacitive (RC) network as its frequency-determining device. In the common-emitter
amplifier configuration there is a 180-degree phase difference between the base and
the collector signal. To obtain the regenerative feedback in the phase-shift oscillator,
circuit need a phase shift of 180 degrees between the output and the input signal.

In an RC Oscillator circuit the input is shifted 180o through the amplifier stage and
1800 again through a second inverting stage giving us “180 0 + 1800 = 3600” of phase
shift which is effectively the same as 0o thereby giving us the required positive
feedback. In other words, the phase shift of the feedback loop should be “0”.

An RC network consisting of three RC sections provides the proper feedback and

phase inversion to provide this regenerative feedback. Each section shifts the feedback
signal 60 degrees in phase. Since the impedance of an RC network is capacitive, the
current flowing through it leads the applied voltage by a specific phase angle.

The phase angle is determined by the amount of resistance and capacitance of the RC
section. If the capacitance is a fixed value, a change in the resistance value will change
the phase angle. If the resistance could be changed to zero, we could get a maximum
phase angle of 90 degrees. But since a voltage cannot be developed across zero
resistance, a 90-degree phase shift is not possible. With a small value of resistance the
achieved phase shift is less than 90 degrees, but in the phase-shift oscillator it
required 180-degree phase shift for regenerative feedback, therefore, at least three
RC sections are required.
Number of RC stages will improve the frequency durability. The total phase shift
established by the feedback network must be 180 degrees for constant oscillations. If
we are using ‘N’ RC stages, each RC section provides 180/N degree phase shift. When 2
RC sections are cascaded, the frequency stability is poor. However for 4 RC sections
there is a good phase change rate resulting in the most stable oscillator configuration.
But 4 RC segments enhance cost and makes circuit complexity.

Fig.1: RC Phase Shift Oscillator

The values of resistance and capacitance are generally chosen so that each section
provides about a 60-degree phase shift. Resistors R1, R2, and RC provide base and
collector bias. Capacitor CE bypasses ac variations around the emitter resistor R E.
Capacitors C1, C2, and C3 and resistors RB1, RB3, and RB2 form the feedback and phase-
shifting network. Resistor R2 is variable for fine tuning to compensate for any small
changes in value of the other components of the phase-shifting network. A change in
the flow of base current results in an amplified change in collector current which is
phase-shifted the 180 degrees. When the signal is returned to the base, it has been
shifted 180 degrees by the action of the RC network, making the circuit regenerative.

If all the resistors, R and the capacitors, C in the phase shift network are equal in value,
then the frequency of oscillations produced by the 3 stage RC oscillator is given as:

Where: ƒo is the Output Frequency in Hertz

R is the Resistance in Ohms
C is the Capacitance in Farads
6=2N where N is the number of RC stages.
(N = 3)
Where K = RC/R.
The phase shift oscillator is suited for the range of frequency forms several Hertz to
several hundred Kilohertz, and so includes the range of audio frequencies. At
Megahertz frequency it has no marked advantage over LC circuit. By changing the
value of RC combination we can change the output frequency of the Oscillator

Fig.2: Phase Shift Oscillator kit

PROCEDURE:

1. Connect +12V DC power supplies and ground at their indicated position from
external source or ST2612 Analog Lab.
2. Calculate the frequency of phase shift oscillator by using eq.1
3. Rotate the Potentiometer ‘R2’ fully clock wise to set its value at 20KΩ
4. Rotate the Potentiometer ‘RL’ clock wise also to have maximum amplitude of
the output.
5. Connect Oscilloscope CHI at socket ‘Vout’ and ground
6. Switch ‘On’ the power supply.
7. Observe the output if the distortion is appearing rotate the Potentiometer ‘R2’
anti clock wise till the out is a perfect sine wave.
8. Still if the output is not as desired, decrease the value of RL.
9. Measure the frequency of output.
10. Compare measured frequency with the theoretically calculated value.
11. Now connect Oscilloscope CHII at TP1, TP2 and TP3 respectively
 12. Measure phase difference between test points TP1, TP2 and TP3 and output
with the help of dual channel CRO.
13. Observe the output at TP4 also to see the effect of coupling capacitor.
14. The phase shift should be at the margin of 60º

OBSERVATION TABLE:

Sr.
Parameter Value
No.
1 Theoretical value of output frequency
2 Practical value of output frequency
Phase shift between test point TP1 &
3
output
Phase shift between test point TP2 &
4
output
Phase shift between test point TP3 &
5
output

CALCULATION:

CONCLUSION:

LAB-INCHARGE