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Difference Between Amplifier and Oscillator

The document compares amplifiers and oscillators. It states that amplifiers are used to increase the intensity of weak signals, while oscillators are used as signal sources in electronic circuits and generate waveforms. The key differences are that amplifiers use negative feedback and require an input signal, while oscillators use positive feedback and can operate without an input. Amplifiers can generate periodic or non-periodic signals, while oscillators only generate periodic signals.

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Hemantha Dalugama
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744 views5 pages

Difference Between Amplifier and Oscillator

The document compares amplifiers and oscillators. It states that amplifiers are used to increase the intensity of weak signals, while oscillators are used as signal sources in electronic circuits and generate waveforms. The key differences are that amplifiers use negative feedback and require an input signal, while oscillators use positive feedback and can operate without an input. Amplifiers can generate periodic or non-periodic signals, while oscillators only generate periodic signals.

Uploaded by

Hemantha Dalugama
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Difference between Amplifier and Oscillator

The crucial factor which differentiates amplifier and oscillator is its usage. The


amplifier is used as a multiplier circuit which is used for increasing the intensity of
weak signal while the oscillator is used as a source in an electronic circuit. The
main use of oscillator is for waveform generation.

Another crucial term which makes the two components different is the type of
feedback. The feedback used in the amplifier is negative feedback while the
feedback used in the oscillator is positive feedback.

The difference between amplifier and oscillator does not end here. There exist
some other crucial differences between amplifier and oscillator. We will discuss
all those with the help of comparison chart. But before that let’s have a quick look
at the contents of this article.

Content: Amplifier and Oscillator


1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart
PARAMETERS AMPLIFIER OSCILLATOR

Definition An amplifier is a circuit which An oscillator is a circuit which generates

amplifies the weak signal and raises the AC waveforms of particular

the amplitude of the signal. frequency for providing source to an

electronic circuit.

Function An amplifier is used repetitively in a An Oscillator is used only in the initial

circuit, because the signal loses its stage when the circuit requires signal

intensity after travelling to a long source.


PARAMETERS AMPLIFIER OSCILLATOR

distance.

Feedback It uses negative feedback. It uses positive feedback.

Requirement of The input is required for its It do not require any input to perform

Input operation, it cannot operate without operation.

input.

Type of Signal The Signal can be periodic or non- The signal generated by it will be always

Generated periodic. periodic in nature.

Definition

Amplifier

An amplifier is an electronic circuit which takes the input signal which has the
low intensity or low amplitude and generates the output signal of high intensity.
But what can be inferred from the above definition? It is completely fine that
amplifier increases the intensity or amplitude of the signal. It clearly means it
supplies energy so does amplifier generate the energy of its own?

The answer will be NO.  An amplifier cannot generate the energy of its own but
for this purpose, it utilizes DC source. The DC power source circuit generates the
additional energy which appears at the output. The electronic architecture of the
amplifier can be realized with the help of a transistor biased circuit.
The capacitor is used at the input to block any DC signal present in the input.
And the capacitor connected at the end is used to bypass the DC component
present in the signal.

The transistor is used as an amplifier. This is because it has the ability to


amplify the weak signal. The signal which has low intensity is fed to it at the
base-emitter terminal and the base region is extremely small thus, very low
current is passed through it. The entire current will pass through the collector and
high voltage drop can be generated by connecting a load resistor across it.

The amplifier can be a single stage amplifier or a multistage amplifier depending


upon the condition that whether a single transistor is connected or multiple
transistors are connected. If only one transistor is used then it is a single stage
amplifier and if multiple transistors are used then it is a multistage amplifier.

Oscillator

An oscillator is an electronic circuit which can generate waveforms either


sinusoidal or non-sinusoidal and acts as AC power source. The oscillator is
available according to the need of frequency for a particular application. For
example, for audio frequency application the oscillator used will be audio
frequency oscillator. This is because the waveforms generated by it will consist of
audio frequencies.
The working mechanism of sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal oscillators differs
widely, the sinusoidal oscillator use resonance for generating sinusoidal
waveform while non-sinusoidal oscillator uses switching principle for generation
of the non-sinusoidal waveform. Usually, multivibrators are used for generation of
the non-sinusoidal waveform.

Similar, to the amplifier, the oscillator also does not have its own energy but
using energy conversion it can generate the waveforms of desired amplitude and
frequency. The DC source connected to oscillator provides DC power to it; the
oscillator converts this DC power into AC power and generates waveforms of
definite frequency.

The condition for the oscillator to generate waveforms is fixed. To understand


that, let’s consider a frequency selective network connected to the feedback path
of the amplifier circuit. The oscillations will start when the phase shift across the
complete loop will become zero. And the frequency at which this happens will be
the oscillating frequency. Another crucial condition for generation of oscillations
will be that the gain of this closed loop circuit should be greater than or equal to
unity.

Key Difference Between Amplifier and Oscillator

1. The factor which creates the key difference between amplifier and
oscillator is that amplifier is used as a circuit to amplify the signal.
Therefore, it is always used to intensify the strength of signals. And is
used in the mid of the circuit while the oscillators are always used as
the source of power in the circuit.
2. The amplifier and oscillator are also different according to their
working point of view, the amplifier amplifies the signal that is it raises
the amplitude of the weak signal. While oscillator generates the AC
signal of the particular frequency.
3. The amplifier always requires an input source for its operation while
the oscillator does not require any input for performing its task.
4. The amplifier and oscillator both are the electronic circuits which uses
different types of feedback. Amplifier uses negative feedback while
oscillator uses positive feedback.

Conclusion

The amplifier and oscillator both are the crucial circuits which hold special
significance not only in electronics circuit but also in communication circuitry. The
major difference between their working mechanisms differentiates these two
circuits. The amplifier is significant for increasing the intensity of the weak signal.
While the oscillator is significant for providing AC signal source to an electronic
circuit.

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