Chapter V

RELAXATION OSCILLATORS, TIMERS AND

RING OSCILLATORS

CONTENTS:
1. Constant-current oscillators
2. RC relaxation oscillators
3. The 555 timer
4. Ring oscillators

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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
 5.1. Constant-current oscillators
Alternately charge and discharge
a capacitor between two I1
threshold levels.

Analysis:
VO2=VH→I2 ON C1 I2
VO2=VL →I2 OFF
I1 always ON

VO2
VH I 2 − I1
I1
C1
VB C1

VA
VL

VA VB VO1 VH

VL
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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
 5.1. Constant-current oscillators
A voltage-controlled current source in bipolar technology

I RO

VC 3
IB2

IC 2 VCC − VC
I x ─ Bias current IO IO 
Ro

VBE1  −VBE 2  VC 3  VC
IC 2 I C 3 / 3 I O / 3
IB2 = = 
2 2 2
I O / 3 IO 
VCC − VC
Apply KCL to the closed ellipse I RO = I B 2 + I O  + IO  IO
2 Ro

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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
 5.1. Constant-current oscillators
Problem: Draw the waveforms of VO1 and VO2
and determine the frequency of the relaxation
oscillator. Assuming that 0.1VCC<VC<0.9VCC
what is the frequency range of the oscillator?
Assume VBE1+VBE2=0 and RA=RB

IO

VCC − VC
IO =
Ro
1:2 current mirror

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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
 5.1. Constant-current oscillators
Problem: Draw the waveforms of
VO1 and VO2 and determine the
frequency of the relaxation
oscillator.

S1 ON → D1 ON & D2 OFF
S1 OFF → D1 OFF & D2 ON

1:1
current
mirror

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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
5.1. Constant-current oscillators
Triangular-Wave Generator

T1 VTH − VTL
=
RC L−

T2 VTH − VTL
=
RC L+

A general scheme for generating triangular and square waveforms.

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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
Triangular-to-sine wave conversion
Voltage transfer characteristic of
the sine-wave shaper

Sine-wave
shaper

(a) A three-segment sine-wave shaper. (b) The

input triangular waveform and the output
approximately sinusoidal waveform.

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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
5.2 RC relaxation oscillators
VO2
R-C relaxation
oscillator VH

VL

VA VB VO1

VCC
VB

VA
R2
VCC VB-VA
R1 + R2

VH

VL
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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
5.2 RC relaxation oscillators
The Astable Multivibrator

Problem: Draw the waveforms of

V1 and Vout to show that the
oscillation period is
1+ 
T = 2 RC ln
1− 
Assume the opamp output to
saturate symmetrically to VCC .

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electronic/square.html

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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
5.3 The 555 Timer
Introduced in 1972 by Signetics Corp.
Inventor: Hans Camenzind
Most popular IC : More than 1 billion
parts sold in 2003.
More than 1 billion units produced /year
(2012).

2
VCC
3

1 Switch ON V7-V1 tens of mV

VCC
3

Switch

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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
 5.3 The 555 Timer
One-shot timer

 VCC 
T1 = R1C1 ln   (1)
 VCC − Vref
 
RB
Vref = VCC
RA + RB
 RB 
T1 = R1C1 ln 1 + 
 R A 

Problem: Derive equation (1)

Rest or reset condition: S1 is closed. After external trigger pulse is applied →

FF is set and S1 is open. VC1 rises exponentially toward +VCC. When VC1
reaches Vref the comparator changes states, resets the FF and closes S1.
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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
 5.3 The 555 Timer
.01 uF
RA
VCC
7

RB
2VCC/3

VCC/3

Problem: Show that T(RA+2RB)C ln2 T

2
VCC
3

Note: Duty cycle  50% 1

VCC
3

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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
5.4 Ring oscillators

CMOS inverter and its Definitions of propagation delays and

voltage transfer curve rise and fall times
Propagation delay (tP) defines how quickly a gate
1
responds to a change at its input. tP is dependent on tP = ( tPLH + tPHL )
both VDD and MOSFET´s parameters (technology). 2
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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
5.4 Ring oscillators
N - odd number
of inverter stages

In this figure
t PLH = t PHL = t P

3-inverter ring oscillator and resulting waveforms. Oscillation frequency is 1/(6tp)

In the general case, the oscillation frequency is
1
fOSC = N is the (odd) number of stages
2 Nt P
Ring oscillators provide a simple means to measure the propagation delay.
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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
 Problem Triangular-Wave Generator

Problem: Demonstrate that the waveform on

the bottom corresponds to the circuit shown on
the top right. To demonstrate this, calculate
the maximum and minimum values of the
triangular wave as well as the falling and rising
times of the triangular wave.

http://www.maximintegrated.com/en/app-notes/index.mvp/id/4362
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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
Problem
Draw the waveforms of VO1 and VO2 and determine the frequency of the relaxation
oscillator given below. What should be Vbias in order to have VO3 exhibit a phase
shift of one-quarter (90o) cycle with respect to VO2?

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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
Problem: Show that T11.1R1C1
One-shot timer

R1= 9.1 k
C1= 0.01 F

Reset state: Q1 fully ON VC10

On the leading edge of negative-going trigger, comp2 changes state and sets the flip-flop, turns
off Q1 and brings the output to high state. VC1 rises exponentially toward VCC.
When VC1= VB, comp1 changes state and ends the timing cycle by resetting the flip-flop, which
causes the output to go to a low state and Q1 to turn on. 17
EEL 7300 - Chapter V
Problem: Compare the two circuits shown below as regards the input
impedance. Draw the complete transfer function Vo vs VIN, including saturation
of the op amp. Assume A→

+
-

https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/app-notes/index.mvp/id/1868
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EEL 7300 - Chapter V
A. B. Grebene, Bipolar and MOS Analog Integrated Circuit Design, Wiley, 2003.
A. S. Sedra and K. C. Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, any edition.
R. C. Jaeger and T. Blalock, Microelectronic Circuit Design, McGraw-Hill, New
York, any edition.
R. Mancini (editor-in-chief), Op Amps for Everyone, Texas Instruments.
L. O. Chua, C. A. Desoer, and E. S. Kuh, Linear and Nonlinear Circuits, McGraw
Hill, 1987.
M. P. Kennedy and L. O. Chua, “Hysteresis in electronic circuits: a circuit
theorist’s perspective,” International Journal of Circuit Theory and Applications,
vol.19, no.5, pp. 471-515, Sep./Oct.1991

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EEL 7300 - Chapter V