RF OSCILLATORS

1.1 Objectives 1 -1
1.2 Discussion Of Fundamentals 1 -1
1.3 Equipments Required 1 -7
1.4 Experiments And Records ...... 1-7
Experiment 1-1 Colpitts Oscillator
Experiment 1-2 Hartley Oscillator
1.5 Questions. 1-11


Unit 1 RF Oscillators

1.1 OBJECTIVES

Understanding the operation and characteristics of radio-frequency (RF)

oscillators.
Designing and implementing oscillators.

1.2 DISCUSSION OF FUNDAMENTALS

An oscillator is simply a signal generator converting its dc supply voltage into a

continuously repeating ac output signal without any input signal. Oscillators play
very important roles in communication systems. An oscillator generates the
carrier or local oscillation signal used in any communication system.

Fig.1-1 shows the basic block diagram of oscillator. It includes an amplifier and
a feedback network constructed by the resonator. When dc power is first
applied to the circuit, noise will appear in the circuit and is amplified by the
amplifier and then fed to the input through the feedback network that is a
resonant circuit with filter function. The feedback network permits the signal
frequency equaling the resonant frequency to pass and rejects other
frequencies. The feedback signal will be amplified and fed back again. If the
feedback signal is in phase with the signal at input and voltage gain is enough,
the oscillator will be operation.

For proper operation, an oscillator must meet Barkhausen criterion.

Barkhausen criterion is the relationship between the amplifier's gain A and the
oscillator's feedback factor 3(s) and should be equal to 1. That is

A fl(s) 1 ( 1 -1)

where
A : amplifier's gain
16' (s) : oscillator's feedback factor
Unit 1 RF Oscillators

Amplifier'
■ Output
A

Feedback network
P

Frequency selector

Fig.1-1 Basic block diagram of an oscillator

Transistor oscillators will be used in our experiments. A transistor amplifier with

nonlinear 7C-Vbe characteristic serves as an amplitude limiter. An oscillator with
limiter function is also called a self-limiting oscillator when its loop gain equals 1.
Therefore such an oscillator circuit is no need to append other amplitude
limiters.

i
Colpitts Oscillator

An ac equivalent circuit of Colpitts oscillator is shown in Fig. 1-2. Since the LC

parallel-resonant circuit is connected between the base and the collector of
transistor, partial feedback voltage is fed to the emitter through the voltage
divider constituted by and C2. In this circuit, the R represents the sum of the
output resistance of transistor, load resistance and the equivalent resistance of
inductor and capacitor.

1-2
Unit 1 RF Oscillators

If the frequency is not very high, the internal capacitances of transistor can be
neglected and the oscillating frequency of Colpitts oscillator can be calculated
by the formula

1
( Hz )
27r1 L( Cl C2 )
+ C2
(1-2)
Output

Fig.1-2 AC equivalent of Colpitts oscillator

In Colpitts oscillator circuit, the feedback factor 13 is C,/C2 and the voltage gain A
is g R. By Eq. (1-1)

A 13(S) = 1
we obtain
,
= 1
C2

or
C2
gm R = —
ci
For starting oscillation, the loop gain should be at least 1 so that the oscillation
condition can be expressed by

1 -3
Unit 1 RF Oscillators

c2
gmR - ~7T
c, (1-3)

Fig. 1-3 shows a practical Colpitts oscillator circuit. The resistors R1, R2, R3
and R4 determine the bias of transistor. is the coupling capacitor and C2 is
the bypass capacitor. The frequency of oscillation is determined by the values
of C3, C4 and L,.

+12V
o

R1 R3
22kQ<2kQ
Ci -O Output
1000 pF c: 3
Qi
C945 0.001 jj.F

R2 R4 J-C2 27 pH
IkQ 0.1 pF _LC4
10 kn
0.015 pF

i
Fig.1-3 Colpitts oscillator circuit

Hartley Oscillator

The ac equivalent circuit of Hartley oscillator, shown in Fig. 1-4, is similar to the
Copitts oscillator. The parallel LC resonant tank is connected between the
collector and base, however, two conductors L, and L2 are used instead of two
capacitors. The R represents the sum of transistor’s output resistance, load
resistance and the equivalent resistance of inductors and capacitor.

1-4
Unit 1 RF Oscillators

If operating frequency is not very high, the spray capacitance of transistor can
be neglected and the oscillating frequency is determined by the component
values of parallel-resonant circuit and can be calculated by the formula

1
( Hz )
277-AL, + L2 )C
(1-4)

Output

Fig..1-4 AC equivalent of Hartley oscillator

In Hartley oscillator circuit, the feedback factor # is L2 /Li and the voltage gain A
is g„,R . By Eq. (1-1)

A NS) = 1

we obtain

gr„R---2- =1

or
L,
g„,R =
L2

1-5
 i
Unit 1 RF Oscillators

For starting oscillation, the loop gain should be at least 1 so that the oscillation
condition can be expressed by

A
L2 (1-5)

Fig. 1-5 shows a practical Hartley oscillator circuit. Resistors R-i, R2 and R3
provide the bias for transistor. C-i is the couple capacitor and C2 is the bypass
capacitor. C3, U and L2 form a resonant circuit for determining the operating
frequency.

+12 V
o

Ri
22 ko
O Output
C1
1000 pF
Qi
C945 68 pH

r2 >r3 -LC2 C3
10 kQ -2.7kQl~0.lpF 100 pF
P 2.7 pH

Fig.1-5 Hartley oscillator circuit

Excepting the oscillators mentioned above, there are many other types of
oscillators in practical applications: such as RC phase-shift and Wein bridge
oscillators for low frequency requirement, Clapp and Pierce oscillators for high
stability. In general, Pierce oscillator is the most common use in high-frequency
applications due to the use of crystal that has low power consumption and very
high and stable Q.

1-6
 ▪

Unit 1 RF Oscillators

1.3 EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

1 - Module KL-92001
2 - Module KL-93001
3 - Oscilloscope
4 - LCR Meter

1.4 EXPERIMENTS AND RECORDS

Experiment 1-1 Colpitts Oscillator

. Locate Colpitts Oscillator circuit on Module KL-93001.Insert connect plugs

in J1 and J3 to set C3 = 0.001 C4 = 0.01511F and L1 = 27 [tFl.

2. Set the vertical input of oscilloscope to AC position and connect to output

terminals (0/P). Observe and record the waveform and frequency in Table
1-1. If the circuit operates improperly, recheck the dc bias of transistor.

3. Remove the connect plugs from J1 and J3. Using the LCR meter, measure
the values of C3, 04 and L1 and record the results in Table 1-1, and then
calculate the output frequency.

4. Insert connect plugs in J2 and J4 to change C3 to C5(100 pF), C4 to

C6(1000 pF), and L 1 to L2(2.7 pH). Repeat steps 2 and 3.
Unit 1 RF Oscillators

Experiment 1-2 Hartley Oscillator

□1.Locate Hartley Oscillator circuit on Module KL-93001. Insert connect plugs

in J1 and J3 to set L, = 68 pH, L2 = 2.7 pH, and C3 = 100 pF.

□2.Set the vertical input of oscilloscope to AC position and connect to output

terminals (O/P). Observe and record the waveform and frequency in Table
1-2. If the circuit operates improperly, recheck the dc bias of transistor.

□3.Remove the connect plugs from J1 and J3. Using the LCR meter, measure
the values of C3, C4 and LT and record the results in Table 1-2, and then
calculate the output frequency.

□4- Insert connect plugs in J2 and J4 to change C3 to C4(150 pF), U to L3(47

pH), and L2 to U(470 pH). Repeat steps 2 and 3.

1-8

Unit 1 RF Oscillators

Table 1 - 1

03 04 L1 Output Waveform

Nominal 0.001 0.015 27

Value
liF pf p.H1

Measured
Value

Calculated f,=
Measured fo=

Nominal 100 1000 2.7

Value
pF pF ii.H

Measured
Value

Calculated fo=
Measured f,=

1 -9
Unit 1 RF Oscillators

Table 1-2

Li L-2 c3 Output Waveform

Nominal 68 2.7 100

Value
pH pH pF

Measured
Value

Calculated /0=
Measured f0-

Nominal 470 47 150

Value
pH pH PF

Measured
Value

Calculated f0=
Measured f0=

1-10
Unit 1 RF Oscillators

1.5 QUESTIONS

In experiments 1-1 and 1-2, do the calculated and measured values of output
signal agree? Explain.

What is the function of each capacitor or inductor in Colpitts oscillator circuit

shown in Fig. 1-3?

Determine the values of C3, L1 and L2 of Hartley oscillator shown in Fig.1-5 for
the oscillating frequency of 5MHz.

When the operating frequency is in radio-frequency range, why we must pay

attention to the layout of circuit and the length of wire?