CHAPTER 3

Signal Generators
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this chapter, students
should be able to:
1. Describe various types of signal
generators.
2. Explain the operating principles of
function generator.

SIGNAL GENERATOR
Introduction
A signal generator is a very important
equipment in the test setups and in electronic
development and troubleshooting.
It provides an excitation to the electronic
measurement systems and processing circuits,
which convert various transducer outputs into
useful data.
The excitation provided by signal generator may
be a constant DC voltage or current or even
stable AC signal.
In some cases, it is required to vary the
frequency as well as amplitude of the excitation.

SIGNAL GENERATOR
Introduction
Signal generator is an instrument which
provides
several
different
output
waveforms including sine wave, square
wave, triangular wave, pulse train and
an amplitude modulated waveform.
In various instrumentation systems, the
signal at audio frequency as well as at
radio frequency are required. In most of
the cases, the signal at particular
frequency is generated using an

SIGNAL GENERATOR

Introduction
There are a few type of signal generator.
Although they all generate electronic signals
and waveforms, the different signal generator
types are used for different applications and to
develop different types of electronic signal.
The different types of signal generator also
have very different designs because of the
circuits required to realise their requirements.
As a result the different types of signal
generator have very different levels of
capability and functionality.
Example, the AF and RF signal generators are
the equipment's providing signals for general
test purposes. These two are specially
designed to cover a wide frequency band from

SIGNAL GENERATOR
Table 1 shows the frequency band limits .
Band

Approximate range

Audio frequency (AF)

20 Hz 20 kHz

Radio frequency (RF)

Above 30 kHz

Very low frequency

(VLF)

15 100 kHz

Low frequency (LF)

100 500 kHz

Broadcast

0.5 1.5 MHz

Video

0 5 MHz

High frequency (HF)

1.5 30 MHz

Very High Frequency

(VHF)

30 300 MHz

Ultra High Frequency

300 3000 MHz
(UHF)
Table 1
Microwave
Beyond 3 GHz

SIGNAL GENERATOR
Requirements
generator

of

laboratory

type

signal

There are different types of signal generator. But the

requirements are common to all the types.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

The output frequency of signal generator should be very

stable.
The amplitude of output signal of signal generator should
be controllable from low values to relatively large values.
The amplitude of output signal must be stable.
The harmonic contents in the output should be as low as
possible. The output signal should be distortion free.
The signal generator should provide very low spurious
output; that means effect of hum, noise, jitter and
modulation should be negligible.

SIGNAL GENERATOR
Types of signal generator
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

Sine wave generator

Audio Frequency (AF) Signal Generators
Radio Frequency (RF) Signal Generators
Conventional Standard Signal Generator
Modern Laboratory Type Signal Generator
Audio Frequency Sine and Square Wave Generator
Square Wave and Pulse Generator
Laboratory Type Square Wave and Pulse Generator

9) Function Generator
10)Sweep-Frequency Generator
11)Wideband Sweep Generator

Sine wave generator

Most measurement and instrumentation
systems, the input signal required is sinewave
or we call as sinusoidal signal
Sinusoidal signal is generated by using an
oscillator.
Oscillator: is a circuit which generates a
sinusoidal signal with constant amplitude and
constant desired frequency using positive
feedback.
Signal generator consists of two main blocks:
i. Oscillator
ii. attenuator
Oscillator uses an active device such as
operational amplifier.

Block diagram of a signal

generator

Audio Frequency (AF) Signal

Generators
Signal generator which provide sinusoidal
waveforms in the frequency range of 20Hz
to 20kHz.
To generate audio frequency signal, in
practice RC feedback oscillator are used.
The most commonly used RC feedback
oscillator are Wien Bridge oscillator and
RC phase shift oscillator.

Audio Frequency (AF) Signal

Generators
Advantages of wien Bridge
Oscillator
i. The output is perfect sinewave
ii. It has low distortion and excellent
frequency stability
iii. It has wide frequency range (few Hz to
200kHz)
iv. Different frequency range can obtained
easily

Audio Frequency (AF) Signal

Generators
Advantages of RC phase shift
oscillator
i. The circuit is simple to design
ii. Can produce output over audio
frequency range
iii. Produce sinusoidal output waveform
iv. It is a fixed frequency oscillator

Radio Frequency (RF) Signal

Generators
Signal generator which provide sinusoidal
waveforms above 20kHz.
The main different between audio and radio
frequency generators is that the elements used
in the feedback network.
In audio frequency generators, oscillator uses RC
feedback network, while radio frequency
generators oscillator uses LC feedback network.
The most commonly used LC feedback oscillator
are Hartley oscillator and Colpitts oscillator.

 The Colpitts oscillator and Hartley

oscillator is capable of giving an excellent
sine wave shape, and also has the
advantage of better stability at very high
frequencies. It can be recognised by
always having a "tapped capacitor
with less self and mutual inductance
within the tank circuit, frequency stability
of the oscillator is improved along with a
more simple design.

Conventional Standard Signal

Generator
Intensively used in the testing of radio
receivers and transmitters.
The standard signal generator produces the
controllable voltages.
The output of the generator is amplitude
modulated and frequency modulated.
The frequency modulation using a carrier
signal from RF oscillator.
Amplitude modulation using internal sine
wave oscillator.

Block diagram of conventional

generator

Advantages of Conventional Standard

Signal Generator
The output is stable
The output voltage can be controlled
according to theof
requirement.
Disadvantages
Conventional Standard
Signal Generator
Due to LC tank circuit, the frequency
stability is limited.
It takes sometime to stabilize at new
frequency when the range is changed.
In high frequency oscillators, isolation of
master oscillator
from output
circuit is
Applications
of Conventional
Standard
Signal
Generator
necessary.
It can be use as power source for the
measurement of gain, signal to noise ratio,

Modern Laboratory Type signal

Generator
The frequency stability is increase by
using single master oscillator.
The master oscillator can provide highest
frequency range with good stability as
compared
to
conventional
signal
generator.
The master oscillator is made insensitive
to temperature range.

Block diagram of modern signal

generator

Advantages of Modern signal generator

With the master oscillator , frequency range is
varying, the stability is improved even at the highest
frequency range
The use of buffer amplifiers provides good isolation
between the master oscillator and main power
amplifier eliminating loading effect completely.
The change in the output due to temperature
variations is compensated by compensation devices
for all frequency ranges.
The power consumption of the instrument is very
low, makes the output with very low ripple.

Disadvantages of Modern signal generator

The circuit is complex, so cost is increased as
compared to conventional signal generator.

FUNCTION GENERATOR
Introduction to the function
generator

FUNCTION GENERATOR
What is a function generator?
A function generator is a device that can
produce various patterns of voltage at a
variety of frequencies and amplitudes.
It is used to test the response of circuits
to common input signals. The electrical
leads from the device are attached to
the ground and signal input terminals
ofthe device under test.

FUNCTION GENERATOR
Block diagram of function
generator

FUNCTION GENERATOR
Features and Controls
Most function generators allow the user
to choose the shape of the output from a
small number of options.
Square wave : The signal goes directly
from high to low voltage.
Sine wave : The signal curves like a
sinusoid from high to low voltage.
Triangular wave : The signal goes from
high to low voltage at a fixed rate

FUNCTION GENERATOR
Features and Controls
The amplitude control on a function
generator varies the voltage difference
between the high and low voltage of the
output signal.
The direct current (DC) offset control on
a function generator varies the average
voltage of a signal relative to the
ground.

FUNCTION GENERATOR
Features and Controls
The frequency control of a function generator
controls the rate at which output signal
oscillates. On some function generators, the
frequency control is a combination of different
controls.
One set of controls chooses the broad
frequency range (order of magnitude)and the
other selects the precise frequency. This allows
the function generator to handle the enormous
variation in frequency scale needed for signals.

FUNCTION GENERATOR
Features and Controls
The various features of a function generator are:
The frequency range is 0.01Hz to 100kHz.
Can produce various waveforms such as sine wave,
saw tooth wave, triangular wave, square wave, etc.
The accuracy is within 1%, in low frequency range.
The distortion is less than 1% for the sine wave.
Can be phase locked to another external signal
source.
Can be phase locked to standard frequency, so all the
output waveforms of generator will have some
accuracy and stability as that of standard source.
A continuous adjustable d.c. offset is available
between -5V to +5V.

FUNCTION GENERATOR
Specifications of Function Generator
The typical important specifications of a
function generator are as follows:
Frequency range: 0.001Hz to 20MHz
Frequency stability: 0.05%
Distortion: -55dB below 50kHz, -40dB above
50kHz
Output
amplitude
(open
circuit)
and
impedance: 10Vpp, 50.
Output waveforms: sine, square, triangular,
ramp, pulse, AM and FM modulated, arbitrary.

FUNCTION GENERATOR
How to use a function generator?
After powering on the function generator, the output
signal needs to be configured to the desired shape.
Typically, this means connecting the signal and ground
leads to an oscilloscope to check the controls.
Adjust the function generator until the output signal is
correct, then attach the signal and ground leads from
the function generator to the input and ground of the
device under test.
For some applications, the negative lead of the
function generator should attach to a negative input of
the device, but usually attaching to ground is
sufficient.

FUNCTION GENERATOR
Conclusion
A function generator is a device that can
produce various patterns of voltage at a
variety of frequencies and amplitudes.
We can control output of the function
generator in terms of frequencies,
amplitude as well as the type ofsignal.