SIGNAL

GENERATOR
REFERENCE:
INSTRUMENTATION DEVICES AND SYSTEMS
C. S. RANGAN
G. R. SARMA
V. S. V. MANI

RHEYUNIARTO SAHLENDAR ASTHAN

INTRODUCTION
• The function of signal generator is to produce a waveform
of prescribed characteristics such as frequency,
amplitude, shape, and duty cycle.
• Sometimes these characteristics are designed to be
externally programmable via suitable control signals, the
voltage-controlled oscillator being the most typical
example.
• Signal generators employ some form of feedback together
with devices possesing time-independent characteristics,
such as capacitors.
• The waveforms produced by signal generator are sine-
wave, triangular-wave, square-wave, sawtooth-wave, etc.
SINEWAVE GENERATOR:
WIEN-BRIDGE OSCILLATOR
• The main requirement for sine-
wave generators in
instrumentation and measurement
systems are amplitude and
frequency stability.
• The op-amp circuits that have
gained the most prominence in
sine-wave generation are the Wien-
bridge oscillator and the
quadrature oscillator.
• The Wien-bridge oscillator is the
mos popular types of generators
due to its simplicity, low distortion,
good amplitude stability, and the
relative easy with which the
frequency can be varied.
• Transfer function:
𝑬𝒐 𝓛 𝒆𝒐 𝒔𝑹𝑪
= = 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝑬𝒊 𝓛 𝒆𝒊 𝒔 𝑹 𝑪 + 𝟑𝒔𝑹𝑪 + 𝟏
SINEWAVE GENERATOR:
WIEN-BRIDGE OSCILLATOR
• The system oscillates at a frequency of
𝟏
𝒇𝒐 =
𝟐𝝅𝑹𝑪
• The network exhibits zero phase at a frequency 𝑓𝑜.
• The gain at 𝑓𝑜 is 1/3 and less than this value at higher and lower
frequencies.
• With 𝑹𝒇/𝑹𝒊 = 𝟐, the non-inverting amplifier in the feedback path
provides the required gain of 3.
• Due to the sharp reduction of the closed-loop gain of the op-
amp near saturation, the oscillator output will almost always be
clipped, and the amplitude of oscillations will be limited to the
saturation level.
• It is rather difficult to reduce the output distortion by trimming
the gain to a value just sufficient to start the oscillations.
SINEWAVE GENERATOR:
WIEN-BRIDGE OSCILLATOR
• A modification of the
gain characteristics
using diode zener so
that a sharp change in
the loop gain can be
achieved.
• When the output
exceeds the zener
voltage, the gain
reduces to a value that
prevents a further
increase of output
amplitude.
• As the gain is reduced,
then output distortion
will follow.
SINEWAVE GENERATOR:
WIEN-BRIDGE OSCILLATOR
AMPLITUDE STABILIZATION
• The basic approach employed to ensure magnitude stability
is to sense the amplitude of the output and control the gain
by feedback so that the amplitude remains constant.

FET is used to
achieve the desired
control of gain
LINEAR FREQUENCY CONTROL
• To have linear dependence of frequency on the setting of
variable resistance, an oscillator based on three-amplifier
state-variable filter is used.

The diodes ensure

soft limiting of the
oscillation amplitude
QUADRATURE OSCILLATOR
• The following stage is an all-pass network providing unity
gain and aditional 90o lag.
• The output of e1 and e2 are in phase quadrature.
• The oscillations start initially due to the overall phase shift
of 360o around the loop and a gain of 1.05.

The frequency is varied

by changing the variable
resistors of Rv1 and Rv2
 VARIABLE PHASE OUTPUT

• Equal amplitude
quadrature inputs
operating as inverters
provide constant
amplitude outputs.
• Variable phase
output can be
obtained by varying
Rv1
• The output amplitude
changes by as much
as 30% as the phase
is varied.
TRIANGLE AND SQUARE-
WAVE GENERATORS (1)
• A single op-amp
performs the task of
level comparison
and the control of
charging and
discharging current.
• R and C in the
feedback circuit
forms an integrator.
• The positive
feedback through R1
and R2 sets the
comparator level
with the op-amp
acting as a
comparator.
TRIANGLE AND SQUARE-
WAVE GENERATORS (2)
• The two op-amp gives a
square-wave and triangular-
wave simultaneously.
• The triangular output
posseses good linearity,
being obtained as the output
near ideal integrator A1.
• The frequency oscillation,
𝑹𝟐 𝟏
𝒇=
𝑹𝟏 𝟒𝑹𝑪
• For frequency exceeding
10kHz, the op-amps used
should possess high unity-
gain crossover frequency and
high slew rate.
SAWTOOTH
GENERATORS (1)
• Triangular generator charging
and discharging of the capacitor
is done at equal rates.
• Sawtooth waveform is generated
if either the charging rate or
discharging rate is enhanced
considerably.
• The output of the integrator e01
will be a positive sawtooth
waveform.
• The sharpness of the pulse and
the sharp fall of the sawtooth
are both greatly influenced by
the slew rate of the comparator.
SAWTOOTH
GENERATORS (2)
• The circuit works on the
principle of a voltage-
sensitive reset switch,
discharging the capacitor
charged at a constant
rate.
• The transistor Q1 and Q2
form a regenerative
switch which switches
on when the voltage
across C reaches a value
VP of
𝑽𝑷 = 𝑽𝑩𝑬 − 𝑽 𝑩𝑹 𝑬𝑩 + 𝑽𝑪𝑩
SAWTOOTH
GENERATORS (3)
• The frequency of the sawtooth is
𝑽𝑪 𝟏
𝒇=
𝑽𝑷 − 𝑽𝑩𝑬 𝑹𝒗𝑪
• The circuit operates as a voltage-controlled sweep, if the
input resistor Rv is fed from control voltage Vc, the control
volage has to be necessarily negative to provide a positive
sawtooth.
• A negative sawtooth waveform can be obtained by
interchanging Q1 and Q2 and feeding a positive input
control voltage.
THANK YOU.