Function generators: Basics:

A function generator is described with frequency settable digitally using two

thumbwheel switches. The advantage is that at low frequencies, one does not have to
measure the frequency as it is assured to be the set value within specified limits.
[How do you measure and display a low frequency such as 0.73Hz??]

(This function generator is in vsv’s designs folder in circuit maker)

V1
12
CMD1 +V
C1 0V
R3 28.4n .IC
S1 12.5k
U2
R4 LM318 R12
S2 25k R1 + 1k
+ U1

R2 9k
R5 2k 50%
S3 50k LF353
R11
11.4k
D1
R6 1N751
S4 100k
D2
V2 1N751
+V-12
R10
S5 125k

R9
S6 250k

R8
S7 500k

R7
S8 1meg

Question1. How is the triangle wave generated?

Answer: Triangle wave is generated by integrating square wave by U1 (LF353). Interestingly

square-wave is generated by Schmitt trigger circuit formed using U2 (LM318) whose input is triangle
wave. Complete circuit of U1 and U2 is connected such a way to form positive feedback which each
other which continuously oscillate after power on transient.
 Xa: 2.800m Xb: 1.552m a-b: 1.248m freq: 801.1
Yc: 5.733 Yd:-5.778 c-d: 11.51
Offsets X: 0.000 Y: 0.000
b a
A 6
c
B

-2

-4

-6 d
960u 1.33m 1.71m 2.08m 2.46m 2.83m 3.21m
Ref=Ground X=375u/Div Y=voltage 178%

Frequency of triangle and square wave are decided by R10 and C1. Let’s assume that thumbwheel
switch position is 80.

Input peak voltage applied to U1 though R10 is 5.75V.

(Output of U2 is clamped to +/- 5.75V by diode D1 and D2)

Rate of rise of U1 output voltage (V/sec) = 5.8V/(12.5K*28.4nF).

Assuming that U1 output oscillate between +/-5V, Time required to change U1 output voltage for half
of triangle period = 10V/5.75V*12.5K*28.4nF=617.35usec

Frequency of triangle wave = 1/(2*617.345usec)= 809Hz. (fine tuning can be done by POT-R2).

Square wave is generated of same frequency by making sure that whenever input triangle waveform
reaches to peak voltages, input at U2 + input reaches almost near zero. Hysteresis near zero is formed
by R1,R2 and R11.

Question2. What is the rise time of square wave?

Answer: Rise time of square wave is limited by slew rate of U2,LM318V. Data sheet gives minimum
slew rate as 50V/usec. Output of U2 will be changing within +/-10V saturation levels, so rise time of
square wave is 0.4usec or 400nsec.

Question3. How is “sine” obtained? What is its distortion?

Answer: Sine is obtained by a non linear stage that reduces the “gain” at high amplitudes and finally
clipping the triangle wave during its peak values. The non-linear gain network is formed by zener
diodes 1N4728,3.3V (D3,D4) and 1N4733,5.1V (D5,D6). Note that triangle wave is buffered by gain of 2
U3, before applying to clipping network.

The triangle to sine converter part is as shown below:

R14
10k
V3
5.9
D7 +V
12
R13
10k
U3
R15 D8
+ 200
V5
-5/5V D3 D5 V4
1N4728 1N4733 +V
LM318 -5.9
D4 D6
1N4728 1N4733
100 Hz V2
+V-12 R16 R17
1k 100

Xa: 2.685m Xb: 11.84m a-b:-9.157m freq: 109.2

Yc: 2.686 Yd:-2.914 c-d: 5.600
Offsets X: 0.000 Y: 0.000
a b
A 12
B
8

4
c
0

d
-4

-8

-12
2.69m 4.21m 5.74m 7.26m 8.79m 10.3m 11.8m
Ref=Ground X=1.53m/Div Y=voltage 166%

First clipping will happen when U3 output reaches at around 3.3V +0.7V= 4V, the attenuation gain
here is = 1K/1.2K.

Second clipping will happen when U3 output reaches at around 5.1V+0.7V= 5.8V, the attenuation gain
here is = 90.9/(200+90.9)
Distortion can be determined by doing Fourier analysis of measured waveform, I do not know how to
do this using circuit maker. I should learn this technique.

Question4. Relative phase shift of sine and square?

Answer: 90 degree, with sine wave leading, due to inverting gain for triangular wave generation.

Question 5. How to modify to be able to “offset” the output, selectable as square, sine and
triangle? (Preferably equal amplitude..

Answer: This can be done by using three additional opamp used as summing amplifier using inverting
configuration, summed with required offset value which can be derived connecting POT between +/-
12V power supply.

Question 6. How one can change the square to have variable duty ratio. What happens to sine and
triangle??

Answer: Definitely variable duty cycle square-wave cannot be used to generate triangle-wave using
integrator circuit of U1, because of high DC gain of integrator circuit, output will saturate to either
plus or minus power supply depending upon the average value of square wave is negative or positive
respectably.

I can think what generally done in dc-dc PWM controller Ics, in which triangular wave is compared to
variable DC value to generate variable duty cycle square wave.

Question 7. What limits frequency to 10kHZ??

Answer: Slew rate of LF353.

So perhaps using LM318, one can get higher frequencies, upto say 100kHz, Beyond that one has to
take extra care regarding delays in switching etc to ensure that the triangular waveform has constant
amplitude. If its amplitude increases, the triangle to sine converter puts out a sine wave with higher
distortion.

Question 8. How does one get Rout as 50 ohms for sine and triangle?

This can be obtained by placing a 50ohms in series with an amplifier whose output resistance is
known to be <<50 ohms.

Question 9. How does one provide an auxiliary TTL output.

This can be done using a separate comparator such as LM 339. Can you add one??
One last question: I have a generator that has an output resistance of 50ohms (or 600 ohms) and
provides 20Vpp output. I need to get 2V pp output with 50 ohms (0r 600 ohms) as source resistance.
What is the solution??

The function generator:

V1
12
+V
C1
R3 28.4n
S1 12.5k
U2
R4 LM318 R12
S2 25k R1 + 1k
+ U1

R2 9k
R5 2k 50%
S3 50k LF353
R11
11.4k
D1
R6 1N751
S4 100k V3
D2
V2 1N751 5.9
R14 +V-12 D7 +V
10k
R10
S5 125k
U3
R13 R15 D8
R9 10k + 200
S6 250k
D3 D5 V4
1N4728 1N4733 +V
LM318 -5.9
R8 D4 D6
S7 500k 1N4728 1N4733
R16 R17
1k 100
R7
S8 1meg

A settable function generator for 0.1Hz to 10kHz