Wien-Bridge Oscillator Circuits

By Darren De Ronde May 15, 2002

Why Look At the WienBridge?

It generates an oscillatory output signal without having any input source

Basics About the WienBridge

Uses two RC networks connected to the positive terminal to form a frequency selective feedback network Causes Oscillations to Occur

Basics About the WienBridge

Amplifies the signal with the two negative feedback resistors

Modification to Circuit

Analysis

V o( s )

The loop gain can be found by doing a voltage division Z 2( s )

V 1( s ) Z 1( s ) + Z 2( s )

Analysis

The two RC Networks must have equal resistors and capacitors 1

Z1( s ) R+ sC 1 sC 1 sC R Z2( s ) R+

Analysis
Need to find the Gain over the whole Circuit: Operational amplifier gain Vo/Vs
G V1( s ) Vs ( s ) 1+ R2 R1

V o( s )

V 1( s )

Z 2( s ) Z 1( s ) + Z 2( s )

Solve G equation for V1 and substitute in for above equ

V o( s )

G V s( s )

sRC s R C + 3 s R C + 1
2 2 2

Analysis
We now have an equation for the overall circuit gain
T( s ) V o( s ) V s( s )
2 2

s R C G s R C + 3 s R C + 1
2

Simplifying and substituting jw for s

T( j)

( 1 2 R2 C2) + 3 j R C

j R C G

Analysis
In order to have a phase shift of zero, 1 R C
2 2 2

0 When = RC, T(j ) simplifies to: 1/

This happens at = RC 1/ T( j) G 3

If G = 3, oscillations occur If G < 3, oscillations attenuate If G > 3, oscillation amplify

4.0V

G=3

0V

-4.0V 0s V(R5:2) Time 4.0V 0.2ms 0.4ms 0.6ms 0.8ms 1.0ms

G = 2.9

0V

-4.0V 0s V(R5:2) Time 20V 0.2ms 0.4ms 0.6ms 0.8ms 1.0ms

G= 3.05

0V

-20V 0s 100us V(R5:2) 200us 300us Time 400us 500us 600us

Ideal vs. Non-Ideal OpAmp

4.0V

Red is the ideal op-amp. Green is the 741 op-amp.

0V

-4.0V 0s V(R1:2) 0.2ms V(R5:2) 0.4ms Time 0.6ms 0.8ms 1.0ms

Making the Oscillations Steady

Add a diode network to keep circuit around G = 3 If G = 3, diodes are off

Making the Oscillations Steady

When output voltage is positive, D1 turns on and R9 is switched in parallel causing G to drop

Making the Oscillations Steady

When output voltage is negative, D2 turns on and R9 is switched in parallel causing G to drop

Results of Diode Network

With the use of diodes, the non-ideal op-amp can produce steady oscillations.

4.0V

0V

-4.0V 0s V(D2:2) Time 0.2ms 0.4ms 0.6ms 0.8ms 1.0ms

Frequency Analysis

By changing the resistor and capacitor values in the positive feedback network, the output frequency can 1nF changed. R := 10k C := be
:= f := 1 RC 2 = 1 10
5 rad

sec

f = 15.915kHz

Frequency Analysis
4.0V 2.0V 0V 0Hz V(D2:2) Frequency

Fast Fourier Transform of Simulation

(15.000K,2.0539)

10KHz

20KHz

30KHz

40KHz

Frequency Analysis

Due to limitations of the opamp, frequencies above 1MHz are unachievable.

Conclusions

No Input Signal yet Produces Output Oscillations Can Output a Large Range of Frequencies With Proper Configuration, Oscillations can go on indefinitely