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Laboratory Assignment 4
The circuit shown in Figure 1 is a modified version of the circuit used in Assignment 3. Note that the diode parallel
to the resistor, R2, makes the charging current to bypass R2, thus effectively, separating the charging and
discharging paths of the capacitor C1. The design equations for the modified circuit of Figure 1 can be obtained by
following the procedure outline in the assignment 3. Specifically, the time period, T, of the output waveform is
given by

𝑇 = 𝑡𝑐 + 𝑡𝑑 = 0.693𝑅1 𝐶1 + 0.693𝑅2 𝐶1 = 0.693(𝑅1 + 𝑅2 )𝐶1

(1)

and the frequency, f, of the output waveform is given by

1 1
𝑓= = .
𝑇 𝑡𝑐 + 𝑡𝑑 (2)

Figure 1: Modified oscillator based on 555 Timer IC.

Syed A. Rizvi Spring 2021 ENS 371

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Experiment 1: Use the design equation (1) (or 2) to compute the component values for the experiment.

Build the circuit in Fig. 1 to meet the following requirements:

A. Design a pulse generator for frequencies = 15 KHz, 10 KHz and 5 KHz with a 70% duty cycle. Use C1 = 9.4 nF
and C = 1uF.

B. For frequency = 200 Hz, generate the waveform for the following duty cycles: 90%, 70%, 50%, 30%, and
10%.

Display the output signal. Explain if the output is what you expected. Document all your work and include
printouts of the circuit diagram as well as the output signals in you report.

Questions:

1. Drive the design equation (1) following the procedure outlined in assignment 3.

2. Were you able to design, build, and test all the circuits to meet the requirement of part (A)? Please
explain any discrepancies in your expected and actual results.

3. Were you able to design, build, and test all the circuits to meet the requirement of part (B)? Please
explain the issues, if any, you encountered while designing the oscillators for the duty cycles mentioned in
the part (B) of the experiment.

4. State any lesson learned.

Figure 2 shows the circuit of an op-amp based oscillator that can generate waveforms with different duty cycles.
The circuit operation is very similar to that of the op-amp based oscillator in assignment 2, except that the
charging and discharging paths of the capacitor are different in the circuit of Fig. 2. During the charging period of
the capacitor, the current flows from the output to the capacitor. During this period, the diode D1 is forward
biased and the diode D2 is revered biased. Therefore, the charging current only flows through the resistor Rc.
Similarly, during the discharge period, the diode D2 is forward biased and the diode D1 is revered biased.
Therefore, the discharging current only flows through the resistor Rd. Accordingly, the following design equations
are obtained through the analysis similar to that was done in assignment 2.

𝑅2
𝛼= . (3)
𝑅1 + 𝑅2
In order to find the frequency of oscillation we need to compute charging and discharging times (tc and td), which
are given by

1+𝛼
𝑡𝑐 = 𝑅𝑐 𝐶 ln [ ]. (4)
1−𝛼

Syed A. Rizvi Spring 2021 ENS 371

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1+𝛼
𝑡𝑑 = 𝑅𝑑 𝐶 ln [ ]. (5)
1−𝛼

1+𝛼
𝑇 = (𝑡𝑐 + 𝑡𝑑 ) = (𝑅𝑐 + 𝑅𝑑 ) 𝐶 ln [ ]. (6)
1−𝛼

Figure 2: Another possible implementation of op-amp based oscillator. This circuit allows us to generate a
rectangular waveform of any duty cycle.

Syed A. Rizvi Spring 2021 ENS 371

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Experiment 2: Design, build, and test a waveform generator with variable duty cycles by utilizing the knowledge
acquired from the transient analysis of an RC circuit.

1. Design a waveform generator for 1 KHz and duty cycles: 70%, 60%, 40%, and 10%.
2. You are given a 741 operational amplifier, a 0.068 µF capacitor, and resistors with standard values (see
the Table at the end of this assignment).
3. Use α = 0.5.
4. Use the design equations (3) through (6) to compute any remaining parameters or component values to
complete your design.
5. Measure the output of the Op amp and the voltage across the capacitor using an oscilloscope (save the
screen shots for your laboratory report).
6. Explain your results.

Questions:

1. Were you able to design, build, and test all the circuits to meet all the requirement of experiment 2?
Please explain any discrepancies in your expected and actual results.

2. State lesson learned if any.

Figure 3 shows a variation of 555-timer based oscillator, which generates a square wave at a desired frequency.
The design equations for this oscillator are as follows:

𝑇 = 𝑡𝑐 + 𝑡𝑑 . (7)

𝑡𝑐 = 𝑡𝑑 = 0.693 𝑅𝐶. (8)

Experiment 3: Build, and test the oscillator shown in Fig. 3.

1. Use R = 7.2 K Ω, C = 1.0 nF, and C2 = 0.1 µF.

2. Calculate the frequency of the oscillator using Eqs. (7) and (8).
3. Measure the frequency and duty cycle of the output waveform.
4. Explain any discrepancies in your theoretical and actual results.

Syed A. Rizvi Spring 2021 ENS 371

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Figure 3: A square wave generator based on 555-timer.

Experiment 4: You are asked to build a sinusoidal waveform generator for a frequency of 10,000 Hz. You have not
designed this before. You start brainstorming session with your team by examining a series RLC circuit. One of
your team members points out that the step response of the series RLC circuit with complex roots would have an
exponentially decaying sinusoidal response. The team member argues that if we eliminate exponent from the
time response by making appropriate changes in the circuit or component values, we could get a sinusoidal signal
at any desired frequency. After some discussion you decide to follow this approach.

1. Design a series RLC circuit with a resonant frequency of 10 kHz. Use C = 1.0 nF and compute the other
component values for your design.
2. Implement and test the circuit. Document all your measurements and observations.

Questions:

1. Were you able to design, build, and test the circuit to meet all the requirement of this experiment? Please
explain any discrepancies in your expected and actual results.

2. State lesson learned if any. If unsuccessful, state any issues encountered and suggestions for resolving
those issues (seek guidance from your instructor to complete the design).

Syed A. Rizvi Spring 2021 ENS 371

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Standard Resistor Values (±5%)

1.0 10 100 1.0K 10K 100K 1.0M

1.1 11 110 1.1K 11K 110K 1.1M

1.2 12 120 1.2K 12K 120K 1.2M

1.3 13 130 1.3K 13K 130K 1.3M

1.5 15 150 1.5K 15K 150K 1.5M

1.6 16 160 1.6K 16K 160K 1.6M

1.8 18 180 1.8K 18K 180K 1.8M

2.0 20 200 2.0K 20K 200K 2.0M

2.2 22 220 2.2K 22K 220K 2.2M

2.4 24 240 2.4K 24K 240K 2.4M

2.7 27 270 2.7K 27K 270K 2.7M

3.0 30 300 3.0K 30K 300K 3.0M

3.3 33 330 3.3K 33K 330K 3.3M

3.6 36 360 3.6K 36K 360K 3.6M

3.9 39 390 3.9K 39K 390K 3.9M

4.3 43 430 4.3K 43K 430K 4.3M

4.7 47 470 4.7K 47K 470K 4.7M

5.1 51 510 5.1K 51K 510K 5.1M

5.6 56 560 5.6K 56K 560K 5.6M

6.2 62 620 6.2K 62K 620K 6.2M

6.8 68 680 6.8K 68K 680K 6.8M

7.5 75 750 7.5K 75K 750K 7.5M

8.2 82 820 8.2K 82K 820K 8.2M

9.1 91 910 9.1K 91K 910K 9.1M

Syed A. Rizvi Spring 2021 ENS 371

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Standard Capacitor Values (±10%)

10pF 100pF 1000pF .010µF .10µF 1.0µF 10µF

12pF 120pF 1200pF .012µF .12µF 1.2µF

15pF 150pF 1500pF .015µF .15µF 1.5µF

18pF 180pF 1800pF .018µF .18µF 1.8µF

22pF 220pF 2200pF .022µF .22µF 2.2µF 22µF

27pF 270pF 2700pF .027µF .27µF 2.7µF

33pF 330pF 3300pF .033µF .33µF 3.3µF 33µF

39pF 390pF 3900pF .039µF .39µF 3.9µF

47pF 470pF 4700pF .047µF .47µF 4.7µF 47uF

56pF 560pF 5600pF .056µF .56µF 5.6µF

68pF 680pF 6800pF .068µF .68µF 6.8µF

Syed A. Rizvi Spring 2021 ENS 371