IC 8038: Function Generator

The ICL8038 waveform generator is a monolithic integrated circuit capable of producing high
accuracy sine, square, triangular, sawtooth and pulse waveforms with a minimum of external
components. The frequency (or repetition rate) can be selected externally from 0.001Hz to more than
300kHz using either resistors or capacitors, and frequency modulation and sweeping can be
accomplished with an external voltage. The ICL8038 is fabricated with advanced monolithic
technology, using Schottky barrier diodes and thin film resistors, and the output is stable over a wide
range of temperature and supply variations.
A simplified functional diagram is as shown in figure.
The 8038 waveform generator is similar to the 555 timer, but provides additional triangular and
sinusoidal output waveforms. The triangular waveform arises because the timing capacitor is charged
and discharged using constant current circuits. The sinusoidal waveform is produced by internal sine
shaping circuitry
 Triangular Wave
6
VCC
I 3 Sine 2
Buffer converter
I1
Sine Wave
10
Comparator 1

Comparator 2
C 2I

Flip-Flop
I2
Square Wave
9
Buffer
Ground
11
The device contains two current sources I1 and I2, with a value set by external resistors RA and RB, respectively. A
secondary control of I1 and I2 is through the voltage applied to IC pin 8 (FM sweep input). If pins 7 and 8 are
connected together the FM sweep input voltage is set at a value 4/5Vcc by an internal potential divider, making
the frequency independent of supply voltage. Current source I1 provides a continuous charging current to timing
capacitor C, connected between IC pin 10 and ground. Current source I2 is usually set to have a current flow
double that of I1. When current source I2 is switched on it discharges capacitor C. The net discharge current is
then I (I2 - I1) and, if I2 equals 2 Χ I1, the charge and discharge currents are equal. the 8038 device includes two
comparators and a flip-flop. The threshold levels of the two comparators are set at 2/3Vcc and 1/3Vcc by three
equal resistors connected across the supply voltage. The flip-flop is set and reset, causing I2 to be switched on
and off, by the two comparators. Thus, the capacitor is charged and discharged between the levels
1/3Vcc and 2/3Vcc giving a triangular wave of magnitude 1/3Vcc.
The time period of output signal is given by
𝑇 = 𝑡1 + 𝑡2
𝐶𝑅𝐴 𝑅𝐵
𝑇= 1+
0.66 2𝑅𝐴 − 𝑅𝐵
1
𝐹=
𝑇
1
𝐹=
𝐶𝑅𝐴 𝑅𝐵
1 +
0.66 2𝑅𝐴 − 𝑅𝐵
If 𝑅𝐴 = 𝑅𝐵 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑛
0.33
𝐹= 𝐻𝑧
𝑅𝐶
 The circuit arrangement is as shown in figure.

VCC
RA RB
RL

4 5 6
7 Square Wave
9
ICL 8038 Sine Wave
2

8 Triangular
3
10 11 12 Wave

C Ground
82KΩ
The variable frequency operation is as shown in figure.
The circuit arrangement is as shown in
figure below.
VCC Signal frequency produced by IC 8038 is
RA RB direct function of DC voltage at pin 8.
RL
then frequency modulation is achieved
4 5 6 with small deviations. Modulating signal
7 Square Wave
9 is applied to pin 8 via a decoupling
R ICL capacitor. Ext resistor R is connected to
2
8038
increase input resistance(Z=R+8KΩ). For
8 3
Modulation 10 11 12 Triangular large FM modulation, modulating signal
input Wave is applied between VCC and pin 8. the
C Ground
82KΩ potential on pin 8 may be swept from
VCC to 2/3 VCC
 LM 566 Voltage Controlled Oscillator
In certain applications, such as frequency modulation, tone generators and FSK, frequency needs to be controlled by
means of input voltage called controlled voltage. This function is achieved in VCO. A typical example is IC LM 566 which
provides simultaneous square wave and triangular waves at the output as a function of input voltage. Figure below shows
pin diagram and block diagram of IC LM 566.

R1
6 8 VCC
5 Current Buffer 3
Schmitt
Source Trigger Amplifier Square Wave
Modulation
input

Buffer 4
Amplifier
VO Triangular
Wave
7 1 Ground
C1
 The frequency of oscillation is determined by R1,
C1 and voltage VC applied to pin 5(modulation
input). The triangular wave is generated by
Ground 1 8 +VCC
alternately charging external capacitor C1 by one
I
NC 2 7 C1 current source and then linearly discharging it by
C
L another. The charging and discharging levels are
Square M
Wave 3 5 6 R1 determined by Schmitt trigger action. The Schmitt
Output 6
trigger also provides the square wave output.
6 Modulation
Triangular 4 5
Input Both output waveforms are buffered so that
wave Output
output impedance of each is 50Ω. The typical
Pin Diagram of
general purpose op-
amplitude of triangular wave is 5.4V. Figure below
amp shows typical connections and waveforms for IC
566. R1 and C1 determines free running frequency.
 3
The voltage at pin 5 is set by R2 and R3. the initial voltage at pin 5 VC must be in the range 4 +𝑉 ≤ 𝑉𝐶 ≤ +𝑉. Where +𝑉
is power supply voltage. The modulating signal is ac coupled with capacitor and must be < 𝑉𝑃−𝑃 . The frequency of output
is,
2[+𝑉 − 𝑉𝐶 ]
𝑓0 = 𝐻𝑧
𝑅1 × 𝐶1 × (+𝑉)
R1 VCC (+V)

V
6 8
R2 3 Square Wave

VC IC LM 566
5 4 t
Modulation
Triangular
input
R3 1 Wave
7

C1 Ground