PH-315 A.

La Rosa
VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR

1. PURPOSE:
An integrator and a Schmitt Trigger circuitry will be put together to build a device
whose output frequency can be controlled with an input voltage; hence its name
“voltage-controlled oscillator.”

2. VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR
Figure 1 shows the different components of the device (obtained from reference 1), broken
down into three main sections to facilitate its analysis.

Vmonitor 2/3 V+

1/3 V+

Integrator
C = 0.05 F
V+ Schmitt
V+ Trigger
100k 100k V+
- Vout
Vin -
+ 3160
(DC) +
50k
50k

100k
50k
100k
Switch
100k

Figure 1. Device to control the frequency of the output voltage. An unusual feature of the circuit is
its operation using a single positive supply.1

It is highly recommended to check the operation of each of the three sections independently.
For example, i) when checking the integrator section, use a square input signal (instead of a DC
voltage) and verify if it integrates as expected. ii) For the Schmidt trigger, figure out first,
 analytically, that the threshold voltage are indeed 1/3V+ and 2/3 V+ respectively. This process
will give you hints when troubleshooting that section of the circuit. iii) Build an independent
switch (with its own Vcc). Check if the 0.7 V is established on the transistor- base when in ON-
state.
Once ALL this stages are proven to work optimally, then proceed to their integration.

In previous sessions we have also used:

= 0.05 F a 741 op amp for the integrator
a LF 411 op amp for the Schmitt trigger.
V+ 0.01F capacitor (depending on the frequency range you want to work)

-
+
V+
50k

Switch
10k

50k

Switch MOS
FET

Fig.2 Optional switches suggested in Ref 1.

TASKS:
i) Analyze the Schmitt Trigger first. Make a diagram of the expected hysteresis curve
behavior.
 Vout

Vmonitor

ii) Analyze how the Schmitt Trigger control the switch section (the transistor).

iii) For the two cases (switch off and switch on) analyze the behavior of the integrator.
iii-1) Obtain an expression for Vmonitor as a function of time when the switch is OFF. Hint: It
will help to sketch the flow of current (magnitude and direction) across the resistors
and capacitor.
iii-2) Obtain an expression for Vmonitor as a function of time when the switch is ON.
iii-3) Obtain an expression that can allow evaluating how long doest it take for the Schmidt
trigger to change its output back and forth.
iv) Based on the above analysis, estimate the time-period at which the output voltage changes
states.
Highlight the variables that influence the value of the period. According to this analysis, adjust
the proper values of the different component in order to have a clear measurable variation of
the period as the DC input voltage varies.
Hence, measure how much the frequency of the output voltage changes as a function of Vin
(for various values of C.) In addition to C, feel free to change the values of other components.
v) Plot frequency of Vout vs Vin.
Describe the agreement between the expected theoretical values and the experimental
results.
vi) Use the oscilloscope to monitor simultaneously both the output voltage from the
integrator (Vmonitor) and Vout.
1
Horowitz and Hills, “The Art of Electronics,” 2nd Edition, Cambridge University Press.