Pulse Circuits - Multivibrator Overview: What Is A Multivibrator?
Pulse Circuits - Multivibrator Overview: What Is A Multivibrator?
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What is a Multivibrator?
According to the definition, A Multivibrator is a two-stage resistance coupled amplifier with
positive feedback from the output of one amplifier to the input of the other.
Two transistors are connected in feedback so that one controls the state of the other. Hence the
ON and OFF states of the whole circuit, and the time periods for which the transistors are driven
into saturation or cut off are controlled by the conditions of the circuit.
Types of Multivibrators
There are two possible states of a Multivibrator. In first stage, the transistor Q1 turns ON while
the transistor Q2 turns OFF. In second stage, the transistor Q1 turns OFF while the transistor Q2
turns ON. These two states are interchanged for certain time periods depending upon the circuit
conditions.
Depending upon the manner in which these two states are interchanged, the Multivibrators are
classified into three types. They are
Astable Multivibrator
An Astable Multivibrator is such a circuit that it automatically switches between the two states
continuously without the application of any external pulse for its operation. As this produces a
continuous square wave output, it is called as a Free-running Multivibrator. The dc power
source is a common requirement.
The time period of these states depends upon the time constants of the components used. As the
Multivibrator keeps on switching, these states are known as quasi-stable or halfstable states.
Hence there are two quasi-stable states for an Astable Multivibrator.
Monostable Multivibrator
A Monostable Multivibrator has a stable state and a quasi-stable state. This has a trigger input
to one transistor. So, one transistor changes its state automatically, while the other one needs a
trigger input to change its state.
As this Multivibrator produces a single output for each trigger pulse, this is known as One-shot
Multivibrator. This Multivibrator cannot stay in quasi-stable state for a longer period while it
stays in stable state until the trigger pulse is received.
Bistable Multivibrator
A Bistable Multivibrator has both the two states stable. It requires two trigger pulses to be
applied to change the states. Until the trigger input is given, this Multivibrator cannot change its
state. It’s also known as flip-flop multivibrator.
As the trigger pulse sets or resets the output, and as some data, i.e., either high or low is stored
until it is disturbed, this Multivibrator can be called as a Flip-flop. To know more about flip-
flops, refer our DIGITAL CIRCUITS tutorial at:
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/digital_circuits/index.htm
To get a clear idea on the above discussion, let us have a look at the following figure.
All these three Multivibrators are clearly discussed in the next chapters.