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Voltage Controlled Oscillator

A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) produces an output signal with a frequency that varies based on the input voltage. Common implementations use variable capacitance diodes or transistors to vary the capacitance in an RC or LC oscillator, changing the frequency. The frequency increases as the input voltage increases in a direct relationship. VCOs can produce sinusoidal or sawtooth waveforms and are used in applications like function generators, phase locked loops, and frequency modulation.

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152 views4 pages

Voltage Controlled Oscillator

A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) produces an output signal with a frequency that varies based on the input voltage. Common implementations use variable capacitance diodes or transistors to vary the capacitance in an RC or LC oscillator, changing the frequency. The frequency increases as the input voltage increases in a direct relationship. VCOs can produce sinusoidal or sawtooth waveforms and are used in applications like function generators, phase locked loops, and frequency modulation.

Uploaded by

Vishal Basugade
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), from the name itself it is clear that the

output instantaneous frequency of the oscillator is controlled by the input


voltage. It is a kind of oscillator which can produce output signal frequency
over a large range (few Hertz-hundreds of Giga Hertz) depending on the
input DC voltage given to it.
Frequency Control in Voltage Controlled Oscillator
Many forms of VCOs are generally used. It can be of RC oscillator or multi
vibrator type or LC or crystal oscillator type. However; if it is of RC
oscillator type, the oscillation frequency of output signal will be in

inversely proportional to capacitance as


In the case of LC oscillator, the oscillation frequency of output signal will

be
So, we can say that as the input voltage or control voltage increases, the
capacitance get reduced. Hence, the control voltage and frequency of
oscillations are directly proportional. That is, when one increases, the other
will increase.

The figure above represents the basic working of voltage controlled oscillator.
Here, we can see that at nominal control voltage represented by V C(nom), the
oscillator works at its free running or normal frequency, fC(nom). As the
control voltage decreases from nominal voltage, the frequency also
decreases and as the nominal control voltage increases, the frequency also
gets higher.
The varactors diodes which are variable capacitance diodes (available in
different capacitance range) are implemented for getting this variable
voltage. For low frequency oscillators, the charging rate of capacitors is
altered using voltage controlled current source to get the variable voltage.
Types of Voltage Controlled Oscillator
The VCOs can be categorized based on the output waveform:

 Harmonic Oscillators
 Relaxation Oscillators
Harmonic Oscillators
The output waveform produced by harmonic oscillators is sinusoidal. This
can often referred as linear voltage controlled oscillator. The examples are LC
and Crystal oscillators. Here, the capacitance of the varactor diode is varied
by the voltage which is across the diode. This in turns alters the capacitance
of the LC circuit. Hence, the output frequency will change. Advantages are
frequency stability with reference to power supply, noise and temperature,
Accuracy in control of frequency. The main drawback is this type of
oscillators cannot be implemented effortlessly on monolithic ICs.
Relaxation Oscillators
The output waveform produced by harmonic oscillators is saw tooth. This
type can give a large range of frequency using reduced quantity of
components. Mainly it can be used in monolithic ICs. The relaxation
oscillators can possess the following topologies:

 Delay-based ring VCOs


 Grounded capacitor VCOs
 Emitter-Coupled VCOs
Here; in delay-based ring VCOs, the gain stages are attached together in a
ring form. As the name implies, the frequency is related to the delay in
every single stage. The second and third type VCOs works almost
similarly. The time period taken in each stage is directly related to the
charging and discharging time of capacitor.
Working Principle of Voltage Controlled Oscillator
(VCO)
VCO circuits can be designed by means of many voltage control electronic
components such as varactor diodes, transistors, Op-amps etc. Here, we are
going to discuss about the working of a VCO using Op-amps. The circuit
diagram is shown below.
The output waveform of this VCO will be square wave. As we know the
output frequency is related to the control voltage. In this circuit the first
Op-amp will function as an integrator. The voltage divider arrangement is
implemented here. Because of this, the half of the control voltage that is
given as input is given to the positive terminal of the Op-amp 1. The same
level of voltage is maintained at the negative terminal. This is to sustain the
voltage drop across the resistor, R1 as half of the control voltage.
When the MOSFET is in on condition, the current flowing from the R1
resistor passes through the MOSFET. The R2 have half the resistance, same
voltage drop and twice the current as that of R1. So, the extra current
charges the connected capacitor. The Op-amp 1 should provide a gradually
increasing output voltage to supply this current.
When the MOSFET is in off condition, the current flowing from the R 1
resistor passes through the capacitor, get discharged. The output voltage
obtained from the Op-amp 1 at this time will be falling. As a result, a
triangular waveform is generated as the output of Op-amp 1.
The Op-amp 2 will operate as Schmitt trigger. The input to this Op-amp is
triangular wave which is the output of the Op-amp 1. If the input voltage is
higher than the threshold level, the output from the Op-amp 2 will be V CC.
If the input voltage is less than the threshold level, the output from the Op-
amp 2 will be zero. Therefore, the output of the Op-amp 2 will be square
wave.
Example of VCO is LM566 IC or IC 566. It is in fact an 8 pin integrated
circuit which can produce double outputs-square wave and triangular
wave. The internal circuit is represented below.

Applications of Voltage Controlled Oscillator


 Function generator
 Phase Locked Loop
 Tone generator
 Frequency-shift keying
 Frequency modulation

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