16.

6 MULTIVIBRATORs

ivibrators are
ultivibrators are two-stage
switching circuits in which the output of the first
d to the input
the of
of th
the second stage and vice-versa. stage
is fed to The outputs of two
complementary. Multivibrators are of three stages are
types, namely, (i) Astable multivibrator,
Bistable multivibrator, and (1ii) Monostable multivibrator.
16.6.1 Collector Coupled Astable Multivibrator
fhe astable or free running multivibrator
generates square wave without any exter-
nal triggering pulse. It has no stable
back and
states) i.e. it has two quasi stable states.(It
Cwitches forth from one state to the
other, remaining in each state for a
time depending upon the discharging of a capacitive circuit.)
a basic symmetrical transistor astable multivibrator in Figure 16.31(a) shows
which components in one half
of a cycle of the circuit are identical to their
counter part in the other half.
square wave output can be taken from collector The
at base and collector of transistors point Q, or Q,. The waveforms
of
, and Q2 are shown in
When the supply voltage +Vcc is applied, one transistor Fig. 16.31(b).
the other due to some circuit will conduct more than
imbalance. Initially, let us assume that
ing and 2, is cut-off. Then Vc. the output of is Q, is conduct-
mately volt and
Q equal to VcEtsat, i.e. approxi-
zero
+Vcc VcAt this instant,
=

R,C towards the supply voltage throughcharges

time constant C, exponentially with a
also increases R| and correspondingly Vg2
exponentially towards Vcc
When Vg2 Crosses the cut-in
voltage, Q2 starts conducting and Vc falls to
AIso, VB falls due to
capacitive coupling between collector of Q2 and base VCEsat).
of Q.
nereby driving Q1, into OFF
stateNow, the rise in voltage.Vci is
to base of Q, causing a small overshoot in voltage Vg2. Thuscoupled
the through
1S ON. At this instant, the voltage levels are: Q is OFF and
VB is negative, Vc1 =Vcc» Vg2=
BEGa) Vc2 VcE(sat)"
and =

When Q, is OFF and Q, is ON, the

time voltage Val increases exponentially with a
Sant RC, towards Vcc. Therefore, 2, is driven into saturation and
Q, is
OTLJ Now, the voltage levels are: VRI VREsat Vc=
VCElsat) VB2 negative
Vc=Vcc
=
is amd
It clear is
that when Q, is ON, the
falling voltage Va permits the discharging of
the
4pacitor C, which drives Q, into cut-off. The rising voltage of Vci feeds back
to the
base
Or of Q
2 tending to turn it ON. This process is said to be regenerative.
The ON time for 2 is T= RC In 2 = 0.693 R, C
Similarly,
The
the ON times for
Q is T = RC2 In 2 0.693 R, C2
C
total period of the wave is T T+T2 0.693 (R,C, + R2 C;)
 +VcC

Rct R Ra Rc2
C
Vc2
Ne Vp2

(a)
ON Q, OFF ON

VBE(sat
OFF
QON OFF

VS1
time (t)

-Vcc R,C2
T T

Vc
VG Sat)
0
ta time (t)

|VBSat
Vg2 0 time ()

Vcc t, R,C,i
Vcc
Va
Vcelsat)
time ()
(b) a n d collector

Astable multivibrator (a) Circuitdiagram (b) and

Fig. 16.31 Waveforms at base
of Q and Q2
 Wave
Shaping and Multivibrator Circuits
R R:and Ci 565
fR
IfRi =R2
=
C2
we have C,
wO Collectors having the same symmetrical multivibrator, with
a
o u t p u t s .

wavesforms but out of

other.
phase with each
Therefore, T 1.386 RC and f

onSure oscillations, tne vaue ot

L386 Rc
1.386 RC
resIstors should
satisfy the following condi-
tions.
R S
hFEmin) Rci and Ra S
hegimin) is the minimum value of d.c.
Rcz hpE(min)
where current gain of
transistors Q, and Q2
Applications
The astable multivibrator 1s used as
square wave
generator, voltage fre-
auency convertor and in
pulse to
nals, and so on.
synchronisation, as clock for binary logic sig-
Since it produces square waves, it is a source
production of of
frequencies of higher order. harmonic
3, It is used in the construction of
digital voltmeter and SMPS.
4, It can be operated as an oscillator over
a wide of audio range and radio
frequencies.

Example 16.10 If an astable multivibrator has

C C2 = 1000 pF and R =

20 k2, calculate the

=
R2 =

frequency of oscillation.
The frequency of a
symmetrical astable multivibrator is

J386RC 1.386 x 20 x 103 x 1000

10-1236.25kHz

Ckdmple 16.11 Determine the period and frequency of oscillation for an astable
UVibrator with component values R, = 2 k2, R, = 10 k2, C, = 0.01 uF and C2 =
0.05 F.
The of oscillation for an asymmetrical astable multivator is
T 0.693 (R,C, + R,C2)
= 0.693 (2 x 10 x 0.01 x 10 +10 x 10' x 0.05 x 10)

360.36 us
Therefore, the frequency of oscillation, f = L 2.775 kHz
360.36 x 10
360.36 x 10-6
 16.6.2 Monostable Multivibrator
Monostable multivibrator has one stable state
and one
quasi-stable state) It is also known as
Fig. 16.33 Emitter-Coupled
one-shot multivibrator of
univibrator(lt remains astable multivibrator
in its stable state until an
input pulse triggers it
into its quasi-stable state for a time duration
determined by the
circuit and the circuit returns to its discharging an pr
original stable state
automatically. It remain
there until the next trigger is
pulse applied. Thus, monostable multivibrator cannos
a
generate square waves of its own like an astable multivibrator. Dt
Only external trigger
pulses will cause it to generate the rectangular waves ger
Figure 16.34(a) shows the circuit of a transistor monostable multivibrator
output waveforms are shown in Fig. 16.34(b)|It consists of two identical and the
2 and Q2 with equal collector resistances of Rci and Ra. The transistors
coupled to the input at the base of Q, through a resistive attenuator inoutput
of 0, is
small speed up capacitor to which C, is a
speed up the transition. The values of R, and
-VRR are
chosen so as to reverse bias 2 and
keep it in the OFF state. The collector supply
+Vcc and Rwill forward bias and keep it in the ON state. Actually, this is
stable state for the circuit. the
When a positive trigger pulse of short duration and sufficient
plied the base of 2, through C2, transistor
to
magnitude is ap-
2 starts conducting and thereby
decreasing the voltage at its collector VcI which is coupled to the base of Q
through capacitor C. This decreases the forward bias on Q2 and its collector current
decreases. The increasing positive potential on the collector of
base of Q, through R. This further increases the base
Q, is applied to the
quickly driven to saturation and Q, to cut off.
potential of 2 and Q, is
The capacitor C is charged to
approximately +Vccs, through the path Vcc, R and
1. As the capacitor C discharges, the base of Q, is forward biased and collector
current starts to flow into
Q. Thus 2, is quickly driven to saturation and Q Is cut-
off. This is the stable state for the circuit and
remains in this condition until another
trigger pulse causes the circuit to switch over the states.)
The duration of the output of the monostable multivibrator is given
pulse Dy
T 0.693 RC.
Applications
1. The monostable multivibrator is used to function as an adjustable pulse wju
generator.
2. It is used to generate uniform width pulses from a variable width input pu
train.
 Wave Shaping and Multivibrator Circuits 569

+Vcc
C
c

w-
R, V

Input Trigger
Pulse
+TB8

(a)
OFF
QON Q OFF
ON Q, OFF
ON
RE (sat)
0

Ve
-Vcc

+Vcc
Ve VoE (sat)

VBE (sat)

Vg t

+Vcc
Vct
VE(sat)
(b)
waveforms
16.34 Monostable multivibrator (a) Circuit diagram, (b) Output
570 Electronic Devices and Circuits

3. It is uscd to generate clean and sharp pulses from the distorted pulses,
4. It is used as a time delay unit since it produces a transition at a fixed tine
e
after the trigger signal.

Example 16.14 Calculate the component values of a monostable multivibrator

developing an output pulse of 140 us duration. Assume hpEmin 20, Iia = 6 mA

VccAt=6 V, VBB-1.5 V.
stable state, 2, is ON and 2 is OFF

VccCE(sat) 6-0.3
9502
R Rc1 = 6x10
c(sat)
C(sat) 6x10-3
= 0.3 mA
B2(sat) hFE (min) 20
B1(sat)O.3 mA
Also,
6-0.7
R
Vcc-VBE(a) 6-0.=17.67 k2
B 2(sat) 0.3 x 10
: VBEsat) = 0.7 V for Sitransistor

At quasi-stable state, 2, is ON and Q, is OFF

T 0.693 RC

140x106
C = T = 0.0114 uFF
Therefore, C0693R 0.693 x17.67 x10
Assume B1sa0)R
RIB(sat) + Ir, =0.3
mA +0.3 mA =0.6 mA
Therefore,
Vcc= VBEat) + IR, (Rc2 + R)
6 0.7+0.6 x 10 (950 + R)

R =- Vcc-VBE (sa - Rc2

Therefore,
R
6-0.7
950 7.883k2
0.6 x 10-3

BE(a)--Vu8)
R -
TR
0.7+1.5 - = 7.33 k2
0.3x 10
I us and hence,
is chosen such that R,C, =

The speed up capacitor Cj

10 =126.9pF
C7.8337.833 x 10
16.6.3 Bistable Multivibrator
flip-flop. Eccles-Jordan circuit.
he bistable multivibrator is also referred to as

pulse applied to the

stable states. A trigger
rigger circuit or binary. It has two
from state to the other. Another trigger pulse is
Circuit will cause it to switch one

nen required to switch the circuit back to

its original state.
 Vcc

Rc
C
Ce SR
Input a
R

16.36 Use of transistor Qg Connected to collector of Q,

Fig.
Figure 16.37(a) shows the circuit of a bistable multivibrator using two NPNI
transistors. In this circuit the output (collector point) of a transistor Q2 is coupled to
the base of transistor Q, through a resistor R2. Similarly the output ofQ, is coupled
to the base of Q, through resistor R,. When abruptly changing pulse is applied to
the circuit, the transition from one state to other should occur instantaneously. The
tansition time i.e. the time interval during which conduction transfers from one
transistor to other should be as small as possible. The main purpose of capacitors C
and C is to improve the switching characteristics of the cireuit by passing the high
frequency components of these square wave pulses. This allows fast rise and fall
times, so that these square waves will not be distorted. C and C2 are thus called
Commutating capacitors, speep-up capacitors or tranpose capacitors.
When the circuit is first switched on, one of the transistors will start conducting
more than the other. This transistor is thus driven into saturation (i.e. ON). Then,
because of the regenerative feed back action, the other transistor is taken into cut-
off (i.e. OFF) state. Let us assume that transistor Q, is ON and Q is OFF. It is a
stable state of the circuit and will remain in this state till a trigger pulse is applied
from outside. A positive triggering pulse applied to the reset input (base of O)
increases its forward bias, thereby turning transistor 0, ON and an increase in
collector current and a decrease in collector voltage. The fall in collector voltage 1s15
coupled to the base of Q, where it reverse biases the base-emitter circuit and
thus turned OFF. The circuit is then in its second stable state and remains so till a

positive trigger pulse is applied to set input (base of Q)

A similar action can be achieved by applying a negative pulse at the set input tor
transition from the first stable state to the second stable state and by applyng a

negative pulse at the reset input, reverse transition can be obtained.

shows the waveforms at the collector and
Figure l6.37(6)
the bistable multivibrator in response to the
of transistor Q
trigger pulses applied to the set anu
the
reset input. It is evident from these
waveforms that the output waveforms a
complement of each other.

Applications sters,
vl. The bistable multivibrator is used as memory elements in shift reg
counters, and so on.
 Wave
Shapin and
Multivibrator Circuits 573
+Vcc

C
Rcn
-W-
Rca
R R2

Set ,
Reset
(a)
ON OFF ON
2OFF ON OFF
Vcc
V
CE(sat)
t

Voc
V
oE(sat

Reset Pulse
Input
t

Set Pulse
nput

0
(b) waveforms

(b) Output
16.37 Bistablo multaihr
h r i t o r
lal Circuit diagram,
and
574 Electronic Devices and Circuits

. It is used to generate square waves of symmetrical shape by sending reguias

triggering pulse to the input. By adjusting the frequency of the input trieo
rigger
pulse, the width of the square wave can be altered.
3 : I t can also be used as a frequency divider (as a divide by two counter).

Example 16.15 Calculate the stable state currents and voltages for the bistable
multivibrator having Vcc = 12 V, VBB = -12 V, Rci = Rc = 2.2 k2, R, = R,
= 15 kQ, R R4 100 k2. Assume that a transistor having minimum
= = a
he of 20 is
used.
Refering to Fig. 16.37,

R2 -12 x 15x 10
VBI-VpBB
B5 R+R3 115x10 =-1.56 V

Since VB1 is less than VBElcut-off, i.e. 0.7 V for silicon transistor, 2, is OFF.

Therefore, IB = 0 and Ic = 0

Ic=l2-l
[Vcc-Vc,(a Vc, (sat)-(-VsB)
Rc
Re R2 +R3
12-0.3 0.3+12 (Since Q, is ON Vc.sat)= 0.3V)
2.2x10 115x10
5.35 mA

C 5.35x 10-3
TBhe (min 20
0.27 mA = 0.5 mA

l + Ic,
1 as Ic, = 0
a , +l
--VBB)
R4
BVBE,(on) =0.7 V
0.7+12
Therefore, l6 = = 0.127 mA
100x 10
I p, +I =0.5 + 0.397 =
0.627 mA
Vc = Vcc-h x Re1
=
12 (0.627 x 10 x 2.2 x 10) =
10.62 V.