METU-EEE

EE412-Nonlinear Electronics for Communication

2. COLPITTS OSCILLATOR
I. INTRODUCTION

1. Objectives: To learn and observe the fundamentals of the oscillators by implementing a Colpitts oscillator. amplitude. 2. Equipment List: HP 3631A Power Supply HP 34401A Digital Multimeter HP 54645D Scope These fundamentals are positive feedback, criteria for sustain oscillation, and circuit parameters affecting the oscillation frequency and oscillation

3. Prerequisites: Familiarity with single stage transistors, frequency response, feedback in amplifiers.

II.

PRELIMINARY WORK
feedback or negative feedback? Explain briefly.

1. Determine the feedback type of the Colpitts oscillator shown in Fig. 2.1. Is it positive 2. Consider the Colpitts oscillator shown in Fig. 2.1. Assuming the impedance of C2 at the oscillation frequency is much smaller than the resistance seen from the emitter of Q1, it is possible to analyze the open-loop behavior of the oscillator in Fig. 2.1 as in Fig. 2.2. For the open-loop configuration of the Colpitts oscillator shown in Fig. 2.2, find the expression for the open-loop gain between the emitter and collector (A(s)= VC/VE). You can neglect the rO of Q1. At the oscillation frequency, what is the load impedance (ZC: impedance seen from the collector)? Is it finite or infinite? If it is infinite, find the open-loop gain at oscillation frequency by taking the rO of Q1 into account. Does this loop-gain depend on the DC collector current (IC)? In addition, find the expression for the feedback factor (F=VE/VC). 3. In order to have a sustain oscillation, what should be the relation between V E and VC. Express the oscillation criteria by determining the relation between A(s) and F at the oscillation frequency, and explain qualitatively what happen if:
Experiment 2 2-1

METU-EEE

EE412-Nonlinear Electronics for Communication

a. b. c.

Fig. 2.1. Colpitts Oscillator

Fig. 2.2. Open-loop configuration of Colpitts osc.

4. Estimate the oscillation amplitude. Do not make complicated analysis for this question. 5. Simulate the circuit shown in Fig. 2.1 in Spice. You are encouraged to use LTSpice as a simulator. You need to make a transient simulation. Apply a pulse for VB with the SPICE parameters shown below:
PULSE(0 6 0 100u 0 100)
!!! This pulse is necessary to disturb the system to start-up the oscillation within a reasonable simulation duration. In fact, if your loop gain is sufficiently high and your time step for transient simulation is low enough, you can directly apply DC to VB. But in simulations of a generic oscillator circuit, a pulse instead of a pure DC is usually applied for some DC sources. In LTSpice, you can also select the option start external DC voltages at 0V in transient simulation window, as well.

Experiment 2

2-2

METU-EEE

EE412-Nonlinear Electronics for Communication

6. Which one of the conditions shown in Question-2 does the Colpitts oscillator that you simulate satisfy? Repeat the simulation for R=10k and R=1M. What are the peakto-peak values of the oscillation at the collector for R=10k, R=100k, and R=1M? Comment on the swing limitation of the Colpitts oscillator. Do you observe a distortion in the simulations? Explain the effect of R on the distortion.

III.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

1. Implement the Colpitts oscillator shown in Fig.2.1. Record the oscillation frequency, and oscillation amplitude. Repeat these steps for R=10k and R=1M. Are there any discrepancy with the theory and simulations? Comment on the results.

Experiment 2

2-3