Analogue Electronics Lab III Experiment No .

Experiment No. 4
RF Oscillators

Objectives :
Understanding the operation and characteristics of radio-frequency (RF) oscillators.
Measuring the oscillating frequency .

Theory :
An oscillator is simply a signal generator converting its dc supply voltage into a
continuously repeating ac output signal without any input signal. Oscillators play very
important roles in communication systems. An oscillator generates the carrier or local
oscillation signal used in any communication system.

Figure (1)

Fig.1 shows the basic block diagram of oscillator. It includes an amplifier and a feedback
network constructed by the resonator. When dc power is first applied to the circuit, noise will
appear in the circuit and is amplified by the amplifier and then fed to the input through the
feedback network that is a resonant circuit with filter function. The feedback network permits
the signal frequency equaling the resonant frequency to pass and rejects other frequencies.
The feedback signal will be amplified and fed back again. If the feedback signal is in phase
with the signal at input and voltage gain is enough, the oscillator will be operation

1
Analogue Electronics Lab III Experiment No . 4

For proper operation, an oscillator must meet Barkhausen criterion. Barkhausen

criterion is the relationship between the amplifier's gain A and the oscillator's feedback factor
β(s) and should be equal to 1. That is
Aβ(s) ≥ 1

where

A : amplifier's gain
β(s) : oscillator's feedback factor

Oscillators

Sinusoidal Oscillators Non-Sinusoidal Oscillators

(Harmonic Oscillators ) (Relaxation Oscillators)

LC Tuned feedback Square-wave

RC Tuned feedback Triangular - wave
Sawtoothed – wave

Colpitts Oscillator:

Figure (2)

An AC equivalent circuit of Colpitts oscillator is shown in Fig 2 since the LC parallel-resonant

circuit is connected between the base and the collector of transistor, partial feedback voltage is
fed to the emitter through the voltage divider constituted by C1 and C2 . In this circuit, the R
represents the sum of the output resistance of transistor, load resistance and equivalent
resistance of inductor and capacitor.

2
Analogue Electronics Lab III Experiment No . 4

If the frequency is not very high, the internal capacitances of transistor can be neglected and
the oscillating frequency of Colpitts oscillator can be calculated by the formula

1
𝑓0 = 𝐻𝑧
𝐶𝐶
2𝜋 √𝐿( 1 2 )
𝐶1 + 𝐶2

Figure (3)

Fig. 3 shows a practical colpitts oscillator circuit. The resistors R1, R2, R3 and R4 determine
the bias of transistor C1 is the coupling capacitor and C2 the bypass capacitor. The frequency
of the oscillation is determined by the values of C3, C4 and L1.
Notes:
The amplifier : common-emitter BJT amplifier circuit ;causes 180° phase-shift
The 𝛽 feedback network : LC parallel – resonant circuit (LC low-pass filter circuit )
Angle (𝛽 ) must be 180°

3
Analogue Electronics Lab III Experiment No . 4

Hartley Oscillator :

Figure (4)

The ac equivalent circuit of Hartley oscillator, shown in Fig. 4, is similar to the Copitts
oscillator. The parallel LC resonant tank is connected between the collector and base, however,
two conductors L1 and L2 are used instead of two capacitors. The R represents the sum of
transistor's output resistance, load resistance and the equivalent resistance of inductors and
capacitor.

If operating frequency is not very high, the spray capacitance of transistor can be neglected and
the oscillating frequency is determined by the component values of parallel-resonant circuit
and can be calculated by the formula

1
𝑓0 = Hz
2𝜋√(𝐿1 +𝐿2 )𝐶

Figure (5)

4
Analogue Electronics Lab III Experiment No . 4

Fig. 5 shows a practical Hartley oscillator circuit. Resistors R1, R2 and R3 provide the bias for
transistor. C1 is the couple capacitor and C2 is the bypass capacitor. C3, L1 and L2 form a
resonant circuit for determining the operating frequency.

Notes:
Automatic Base Bias : to keep the amplitude of the oscillations constant !
The amplifier : common-emitter BJT amplifier circuit ;causes 180° phase-shift
The 𝛽 feedbach network : LC parallel – resonant tank (LC high-pass filter circuit )
Angle (𝛽 ) must be 180°

The advantage of Colpitts Oscillator over Hartley Oscillator :

Colpitts gives purer sinusoidal waveform due to low impedance of capacitors at high frequency , also
provided better stability at very high frequencies .

Excepting the oscillators mentioned above, there are many other types of oscillators in practical
applications: such as RC phase-shift and Wein bridge oscillators for low frequency
requirement, Clapp and Pierce oscillators for high stability. In general, Pierce oscillator is the
most common use in high-frequency applications due to the use of crystal that has low power
consumption and very high and stable Q.

Primary work :
(1). Calculate the oscillating frequency of Colpitts oscillator in fig3, given that :
a). 𝐶3 = 0.001𝜇𝐹 𝐶4 = 0.015𝜇𝐹 𝐿1 = 27𝜇𝐻.
b). 𝐶3 = 100𝑝𝐹 𝐶4 = 1000𝑝𝐹 𝐿1 = 2.7𝜇𝐻.
(Note : 𝐶1 = 𝐶3 , 𝐶2 = 𝐶4 .)

(2). Calculate the oscillating frequency of Hartley oscillator in fig5 , given that :
a). 𝐿1 = 68𝜇𝐻 𝐿2 = 2.7𝜇𝐻 𝐶3 = 100𝑝𝐹.
b). 𝐿1 = 47𝜇𝐻 𝐿2 = 470𝜇𝐻 𝐶3 = 150𝑝𝐹.

Equipments:
1 – Module KL-92001
2- Module KL-93001
3- Oscilloscope

5
Analogue Electronics Lab III Experiment No . 4

Procedures:
Part (1). Colpitts Oscillator:

1. Connect the circuit in Fig 3 to design a Colpitts Oscillator circuit set 𝐶3 = 0.001𝜇𝐹
𝐶4 = 0.015𝜇𝐹 𝐿1 = 27𝜇𝐻.

2. Set the vertical input of oscilloscope to AC position and connect to output terminals
(0/P). Observe and record the waveform and frequency in Table 1. If the circuit
operates improperly, recheck the dc bias of transistor.

3. Calculate the output frequency.

4. Change the value of the two capacitors. and the conductors 𝐶3 = 100𝑝𝐹 𝐶4 = 1000𝑝𝐹
𝐿1 = 2.7𝜇𝐻.

Part (2). Hartley Oscillator :

1. Connect the circuit in Fig 5 to design a Hartley Oscillator circuit set 𝐿1 = 68𝜇𝐻 𝐿2 =
2.7𝜇𝐻 𝐶3 = 100𝑝𝐹.

2. Set the vertical input of oscilloscope to AC position and connect to output terminals
(0/P). Observe and record the waveform and frequency in Table 2. If the circuit
operates improperly, recheck the dc bias of transistor.

3. Calculate the output frequency.

4. Change the value of the two conductors and the capacitor 𝐿1 = 47𝜇𝐻 𝐿2 = 470𝜇𝐻
𝐶3 = 150𝑝𝐹.

6
Analogue Electronics Lab III Experiment No . 4

Report Discussion :
Draw the produced waveform by the oscillators on the oscilloscope screen and measure the
frequency . calculate the error percentage and notice the purity of the waveform

Primary Wok :
(1). Coplitts oscillator
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………..…
…………………………………………………………………………………………

(2). Hartley oscillator

…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………..

7
Analogue Electronics Lab III Experiment No . 4

C3 C4 L1 Output Waveform

Nominal 0.001 0.015 27

Value μF μF μH

Measured
Value

Calculated f0=
Measured f0=

Nominal 100 1000 2.7

Value pF pF μH

Measured
Value

Calculated f0=
Measured f0=

Notes :
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………….........................................................................................

8
Analogue Electronics Lab III Experiment No . 4

L1 L2 C3 Output Waveform

Nominal 68 2.7 100

Value μH μH pF

Measured
Value

Calculated f0=
Measured f0=

Nominal 470 47 150

Value pH pH pF

Measured
Value

Calculated f0=
Measured f0=

Notes :
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………….......................................

9
Analogue Electronics Lab III Experiment No . 4

Discussion :
Q1) What is the function of each capacitor or inductor in Colpitts oscillator circuit shown in
Fig. 3?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q2) Determine the values of C3, L1 and L2 of Hartley oscillator shown in Fig. 5 for the
oscillating frequency of 5 MHz.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10
Analogue Electronics Lab III Experiment No . 4

Conclusion :-
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11
Analogue Electronics Lab III Experiment No . 4

References :
Experiment manual

Contributors :
Abdullah Buood
Safa Buzgeia

12