Project

Colpitt Oscillator using BJT’s

Analog Electronics

Description:
Electronic Oscillators:
“Oscillators are circuits that produce an output waveform without
an external signal source”. Any of various electronic devices that produce
alternating electronic signal, commonly employing tuned circuits (consist
of a capacitor and inductance) and amplifying components is known as
oscillators. Every oscillator has at least one active device. This active
device acts as an amplifier. There are many types of oscillator devices,
but they all operate according to the same basic principle: an oscillator
always employs a sensitive amplifier whose output is fed back to the input
in phase. Thus, the signal regenerates and sustains itself. This is known as
positive feedback.

Importance of Oscillators:
Oscillating circuits play a central and increasingly important role in
digital and analog electronic systems. Digital devices require precise
system timing, a function provided by oscillators and similar timing
sources. Oscillators, clocks and timers are essential to the performance of
most modem electronic devices. Examples of devices that use oscillators,
clocks and timers include digital timepieces, computers, televisions,
cordless telephones, cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs),
and etc. A high frequency oscillator is used for a digital information
communication network and so forth.

Colpitts Oscillator:
A Colpitts oscillator is a discrete LC oscillator that uses a pair of tapped
capacitors and an
inductor to produce regenerative feedback. Combination of inductor and
capacitors determine frequency of oscillator. It is type of feedback LC
oscillator where feedback is supplied capacitively. It is named after its
inventor
 Edwin.H.Collpit. Better frequency stability can be obtained through it. One
of the key
features of this type of oscillator is its simplicity (needs only a single
inductor) and
robustness. A Colpitts oscillator is the electrical dual of a Hartley
oscillator.

Construction of Colpitts Oscillator:

Essential components of this feedback LC oscillator / Colpitts Oscillator
are:

• A resonator which consists of LC circuit, which is also known as

frequency-determining network (FDN) or tank circuit. Frequency of
the Colpitts oscillator can be changed either by varying the
inductance of the coil or by varying the capacitance of the two
capacitors in the tank circuit
• An amplifier/transistor whose function is to amplify the oscillations
produced by the resonator. We are going to BJT transistor as
amplifier applying voltage divider bias.
• A positive feedback network (PFN) whose function is to transfer part
of output energy to the LC circuit in proper phase. The amount of
energy fed back is sufficient to meet I²R losses in LC circuit.
The feedback needed for oscillation is taken from a voltage
divider made by the two capacitors.

Frequency And Output:

Sinusoidal wave output of frequency of large range can be achieved
through Colpitt oscillator. The ideal frequency of oscillation is:

Where the series combination of C1 and C2 is the effective capacitance

of the LC tank
and L is inductance of tank circuit.

Basic Circuit Diagram:

Circuit Components:
Following are the components required in the project:
• BJT Transistor
• Capacitors (variable and constant)
• Inductors (variable or constant)
• Resistors (constant)
• Supply (.5-5 V single supply)

Advantages of Colpitt Oscillator:

Colpitt oscillator has following advantages:
• Good wave purity
• Fine performer at high frequency
• Good frequency stability
• Wide operation range 1 to 60 MHz