MULTIVIBRATORS

MULTIVIBRATORS

• A multivibrator is an electronic circuit used to implement a variety of

simple two-state devices such as oscillators, timers, and flip-flops.

• 3 types:

➢Astable – No stable states, two quasi stable states

➢Monostable – one stable state and one quasi stable state

➢Bistable – two stable states

▪ Can be designed using – opamp, transistor, 555 timers

 ASTABLE MULTIVIBRATOR
Also called ‘Free Running Oscillator’ or ‘Square Wave Generator’

𝑅2 (+𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 ). 𝑅2
𝛽= 𝑉𝑈𝑇 =
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 𝑅1 + 𝑅2

(−𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 ). 𝑅2
𝑉𝐿𝑇 =
𝑅1 + 𝑅2

Circuit does not have any STABLE

STATES – ‘ASTABLE’/QUASI STABLE

✓ Input Voltage is replaced by a ‘C’

✓ Time dependent elements like ‘R’ and ‘C’ set the frequency of oscillation

✓ Output is also fed back to inverting terminal (& C) through R

✓ When power is turned ON, Vo automatically swings to +𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 or −𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇

 WORKING
▪ Assume initially that V0 is at +VSAT
▪ Voltage at positive terminal (VP) is VUT ; Capacitor starts charging towards +VSAT
▪ As long as VC < VUT, output remains at +VSAT
▪ When VC > VUT, output goes to −VSAT
▪ Voltage at positive terminal (VP) is is now VLT ; Capacitor starts charging towards
−VSAT (discharging)
▪ As long as VC > VLT, output remains at −VSAT
▪ When VC becomes more negative than VLT, output goes to +VSAT
 FREQUENCY OF OSCILLATION
Frequency of Oscillation is determined by the time it takes for the capacitor to
charge from 𝑉𝐿𝑇 to 𝑉𝑈𝑇 and vice versa

Voltage across ‘C’ is a function of time and is given by,

𝑉𝐶 𝑡 = 𝑉𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 + 𝑉𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 − 𝑉𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑒−𝑡/𝑇

Consider charging of ‘C’ from 𝑽𝑳𝑻 to 𝑽𝑼𝑻

▪ VLT - Initial Voltage 𝑉𝐶 𝑡 = 𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 + −𝛽𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 − 𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 𝑒−𝑡/𝑇
▪ +VSAT - Maximum Voltage
• VUT - Voltage at some instant ‘t1’ 𝑉𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 = initial value = −𝛽𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇
𝑉𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 = Maximum available voltage for capacitor to charge= Vsat
At some instant ‘t1’, voltage across ‘C’ reaches 𝛽𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 and switching takes place

𝛽𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 = 𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 + −𝛽𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 − 𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 𝑒−𝑡/𝑇 *SIMPLIFY*

1+𝛽
𝑡1 = 𝑅𝐶 ln
1−𝛽

1+𝛽 1
Total Time Period T = 2𝑡1 = 2𝑅𝐶 ln Frequency F=
1−𝛽 𝑇
If R1 = R2 , then 𝛽 = 0.5 and T = 2RC ln 3

If R1 = 1.16R2 , then 𝛽 = 0.463 and T = 2RC

fo = 1/2RC

The output swings from +Vsat to –Vsat

S0 Vo peak to peak is 2Vsat
 Problem

Design a square wave generator, so that fo =1 kHz. The op amp is

741 IC with dc supply voltages of ± 15V

Assumptions:
R1 = 1.16R2
R2 = 10 kΩ
C= 0.05 µF.

R1 = 1.16 R2 = 11.6 kΩ

fo = 1/2RC

R=1/2fo C = 10 kΩ
 MONOSTABLE MULTIVIBRATOR
Also called ‘Pulse Generator’ or ‘Monoshot’

(+𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 ). 𝑅2
𝑉𝑈𝑇 =
𝑅1 + 𝑅2

(−𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 ). 𝑅2
𝑉𝐿𝑇 =
𝑅1 + 𝑅2

1 Permanent State & 1 Quasi State

✓ Circuit remains in its stable state till an external triggering pulse causes a
transition to the quasi-stable state; returns to stable state after time ‘T’

✓ Generates a ‘SINGLE OUTPUT PULSE’ in response to an input pulse

✓ Pulse generated is of adjustable time duration

✓ When power is turned ON, Vo automatically swings to +𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 or −𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇

 WORKING
▪ Assume initially that V0 is at +VSAT (Permanent State)
▪ A portion of this is fed back to inverting input – Diode D1 is forward
biased and ‘C’ charges to diode voltage (VC is clamped to 0.7V)
▪ Voltage at positive terminal (VP) is βV𝑆𝐴𝑇
▪ Assume a negative trigger of magnitude V1 is applied at +ve terminal
▪ Now, if effective signal at this terminal [βV𝑆𝐴𝑇+(−V1)] is less than 0.7V,
output switches to −VSAT
▪ Voltage at positive is now terminal (VP) is −βV𝑆𝐴𝑇
▪ Diode D1 is now reverse biased; C starts charging exponentially to −VSAT
(discharges)
▪ When VC becomes more negative than −βV𝑆𝐴𝑇, output goes to +VSAT
▪ C’ charges to diode voltage (VC is clamped to 0.7V)
The circuit remains in its stable state till a next external triggering pulse is
applied
 PULSE WIDTH CALCULATION
Voltage across ‘C’ is a function of time and is given by,

𝑉𝐶 𝑡 = 𝑉𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 + 𝑉𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 − 𝑉𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑒−𝑡/𝑅𝐶

𝑉𝐶 𝑡 = −𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 + 𝑉𝐷 + 𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 𝑒−𝑡/𝑅𝐶

▪ VFinal = −VSAT
▪ VInitial - Diode forward voltage VD
At some instant ‘T’, voltage across ‘C’ reaches −𝛽𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 and switching takes place

−𝛽𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 = −𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 + 𝑉𝐷 + 𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 𝑒−𝑇/𝑅𝐶

*SIMPLIFY*
𝑉𝐷
1+ /𝑉
𝑆𝐴
𝑇 = 𝑅𝐶 ln
1−𝛽

If 𝑉𝐷 ≪ 𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 and if 𝑅1 = 𝑅2 T = 0.69𝑅𝐶

✓ Circuit is called as a time delay circuit as it generates a ‘transition’ at a

predetermined time ‘T’ after input has been applied
✓ Also called Gating Circuit as it generates a rectangular waveform at a definite
time and can be used to GATE parts of a system
TRIANGULAR WAVE GENERATOR
 TRIANGULAR WAVE GENERATOR
A triangular wave is obtained by simply integrating a square wave

✓ A Schmitt Trigger (A1) followed by an Integrator (A2)

✓ Output of A1 (Sq. wave of amplitude ±𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 ) is fed to inverting terminal of A2

✓ Output of A2 is fed back to the N.I. terminal of A1 through a R2-R3 network

✓ Frequency of square wave and triangular wave is the same however amplitude
is different
✓ Amplitude depends upon RC value of Integrator and voltage level of A1
 WORKING

Initially output of 𝐴1: +𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇; Output of 𝐴2: A negative going ramp

▪ One end of R2-R3 (voltage divider) is at +VSAT and other end at A negative going ramp
▪ At t = 𝑡1, when negative going ramp becomes −V𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑝 effective voltage at ‘P’ becomes
less that 0 (V𝑃 < 0)

Now, output of 𝐴1 switches to −𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇; ;Output of 𝐴2: A Positive going ramp

▪ One end of R2-R3 (voltage divider) is at −VSAT and other end at A Positive going ramp
▪ At t = 𝑡2, when positive going ramp becomes +V𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑝 effective voltage at ‘P’ becomes
just more than 0 (V𝑃 > 0)
▪ Now, output of A1 switches to +VSAT and the cycle repeats
 TIME PERIOD & FREQUENCY OF OSCILLATION

At t = 𝑡1 voltage at P becomes zero

𝑅2
−𝑉𝑟 𝑎 𝑚 = − (+𝑉𝑆𝐴 )
𝑅3

Similarly when Schmitt Trigger is at −𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇

𝑅2
𝑉𝑟 𝑎 𝑚 = − (−𝑉𝑆𝐴 )
𝑅3

Peak to peak amplitude of triangular wave can be given as

𝑅2
𝑣𝑜 𝑝𝑝 = +𝑉𝑟 𝑎 𝑚 − −𝑉𝑟 𝑎 𝑚 =2 𝑉
𝑅3 𝑆𝐴
 TIME PERIOD & FREQUENCY OF OSCILLATION
Peak to Peak amplitude of triangular wave is given by,
𝑅2
𝑣𝑜 𝑝𝑝 = +𝑉𝑟 𝑎 𝑚 − −𝑉𝑟 𝑎 𝑚 = 2 𝑉𝑆𝐴
𝑅3

Output switches from +𝑉𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑝 to

−𝑉𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑝in half the time period 𝑇/2

1
𝑣0 = − ∫ 𝑣 𝑑𝑡
𝑅𝐶

Basic Integrator Equation

𝑇/
1 2 𝑉𝑆𝐴 𝑇
𝑣0 (𝑝𝑝) = − ∫ (−𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇 ) 𝑑𝑡 𝑣0 (𝑝𝑝) = ( /2)
𝑅1𝐶 0 𝑅1𝐶

𝑣0(𝑝𝑝)
T = 2𝑅1 𝐶
𝑉𝑆𝐴𝑇

4𝑅1𝐶𝑅2 𝑅3
T= f=
𝑅3 4𝑅1 𝐶𝑅 2