Module 2 Textbook
Module 2 Textbook
Positive feedback Now consider what will happen when the loop
gain, βAv, approaches unity (i.e. when the loop
In Chapter 7 we showed how negative feedback gain is just less than 1). The denominator (1 − βAv)
can be applied to an amplifier to form the basis of will become close to zero. This will have the
a stage which has a precisely controlled gain. An effect of increasing the overall gain, i.e. the overall
alternative form of feedback, where the output is gain with positive feedback applied will be greater
fed back in such a way as to reinforce the input than the gain without feedback.
(rather than to subtract from it), is known as
It is worth illustrating this difficult concept using
positive feedback.
some practical figures. Assume that you have an
Fig. 9.1 shows the block diagram of an amplifier amplifier with a gain of 9 and one-tenth of the
stage with positive feedback applied. Note that output is fed back to the input (i.e. β = 0.1). In this
the amplifier provides a phase shift of 180° and case the loop gain (β × Av) is 0.9.
the feedback network provides a further 180°.
With negative feedback applied (see Chapter 7)
Thus the overall phase shift is 0°. The overall
the overall voltage gain will be:
voltage gain, G, is given by:
Av 9 9 9
Vout G= = = = = 4.7
Overall gain, G = 1+ βAv 1+ ( 0.1× 9 ) 1+ 0.9 1.9
Vin
By applying Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law With positive feedback applied the overall voltage
Vin ' = Vin + βVout gain will be:
Av 10 10 10
thus G= = = = = 90
1− βAv 1− ( 0.1× 9 ) 1− 0.9 0.1
Vin = Vin '− βVout
Now assume that you have an amplifier with
and a gain of 10 and, once again, one-tenth of the
Vout = Av × Vin output is fed back to the input (i.e. β = 0.1). In this
example the loop gain (β × Av) is exactly 1.
where Av is the internal gain of the amplifier.
Hence: With negative feedback applied (see Chapter 7)
A × Vin ' Av × Vin ' the overall voltage gain will be:
Overall gain, G = v = Av 10 10 10
Vin ' − βVout Vin '− β ( Av × Vin ') G= = = = =5
1+ βAv 1+ (0.1 × 10) 1 + 1 2
Av
Thus, G =
1− βAv
176
(b) When R1 = R1 = 6 kΩ
1
f =
2πCR
where R = R1 = R1 and C = C1 = C2.
Thus
1
f=
6.28 × 100 × 10−9 × 6 × 103
10 4
f= = 265 Hz
37.68
Multivibrators
There are many occasions when we require a
square wave output from an oscillator rather than
a sine wave output. Multivibrators are a family of
Figure 9.5 This high-speed bistable multivibrator
oscillator circuits that produce output waveforms
uses two general-purpose silicon transistors and
consisting of one or more rectangular pulses. The
works at frequencies of up to 1 MHz triggered
term ‘multivibrator’ simply originates from the fact
from an external signal
that this type of waveform is rich in harmonics
(i.e. ‘multiple vibrations’).
Multivibrators use regenerative (i.e. positive)
feedback; the active devices present within the
oscillator circuit being operated as switches, being
alternately cut-off and driven into saturation.
The principal types of multivibrator are:
(a) astable multivibrators that provide a
continuous train of pulses (these are
Figure 9.6 Astable multivibrator using BJTs
sometimes also referred to as free-running
multivibrators);
(b) monostable multivibrators that produce a the sufficient base current will be available to
single output pulse (they have one stable state completely saturate the respective transistor. The
and are thus sometimes also referred to as values of the collector load resistors, R1 and R2,
‘one-shot’); are very much smaller than R3 and R4. When
(c) bistable multivibrators that have two stable power is first applied to the circuit, assume that
states and require a trigger pulse or control TR2 saturates before TR1 when the power is first
signal to change from one state to another. applied (in practice one transistor would always
saturate before the other due to variations in
component tolerances and transistor parameters).
The astable multivibrator
As TR2 saturates, its collector voltage will fall
Fig. 9.6 shows a classic form of astable rapidly from +VCC to 0 V. This drop in voltage will
multivibrator based on two transistors. Fig. 9.7 be transferred to the base of TR1 via C1. This
shows how this circuit can be redrawn in an negative-going voltage will ensure that TR1 is
arrangement that more closely resembles a two- initially placed in the non-conducting state. As
stage common-emitter amplifier with its output long as TR1 remains cut-off, TR2 will continue to
connected back to its input. In Fig. 9.6, the values be saturated. During this time, C1 will charge via
of the base resistors, R3 and R4, are such that R4 and TR1’s base voltage will rise exponentially
178
9 Oscillators
180
Oscillators 9
The lower threshold voltage (i.e. the maximum 100 kHz to around 20 MHz and for overtone
negative value for the voltage at the inverting operation from 20 MHz to well over 100 MHz.
input) will be given by: Fig. 9.12 shows a simple crystal oscillator circuit
⎛ R2 ⎞ in which the crystal provides feedback from the
VLT = −VCC × ⎜ ⎟ drain to the source of a junction gate FET.
⎝ R1+ R 2 ⎠