Lecture 4

Multivibrators
Presented by : N. MAGHLAOUI.
Associate Professor.
Email : [email protected]
National Higher School of Advanced Technologies
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 Lecture Overview
• Introduction.
• Definition.
• Practical operational amplifier.
• Ideal operational amplifier.

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 Introduction
• In the previous sessions, we learned about circuit design with active “discrete
devices” including: transistors (BJT, FET), along with passive devices including
resistors and capacitors used to set bias, couple and block signals and more.

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 Definition
• A MULTIVIBRATOR is an electronic circuit that generates square, rectangular, pulse
waveforms, also called nonlinear oscillators or function generators.

• Multivibrator is basically a two amplifier circuits arranged with regenerative

feedback.

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 Definition
• There are three types of Multivibrator:

• Astable Multivibrator: Circuit is not stable in either state—it continuously

oscillates from one state to the other. (Application in Oscillators).

• Monostable Multivibrator: One of the state is stable but the other is not.
(Application in Timer).

• Bistable Multivibrator: Circuit is stable in both the state and will remain in either
state indefinitely. The circuit can be flipped from one state to the other by an
external event or trigger. (Application in Flip flop).

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 Astable multivibrator
• The astable circuit has no stable state.
• With no external signal applied, the transistors alternately switch from cutoff to
saturation at a frequency determined by the 𝑅𝐶 time constants of the coupling
circuits.
• Astable multivibrator circuit consist of two cross coupled 𝑅𝐶 amplifiers.

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 Astable multivibrator
• Consists of two amplifying devices cross-coupled by resistors and capacitors.
Typically, 𝑅2 = 𝑅3 , 𝑅1 = 𝑅4 , 𝐶1 = 𝐶2 and 𝑅2 >> 𝑅1 .

• The circuit has two states

• State 1: 𝑉𝐶1 LOW, 𝑉𝐶2 HIGH, 𝑄1 ON (saturation) and 𝑄2 OFF.
• State 2: 𝑉𝐶1 HIGH, 𝑉𝐶2 LOW, 𝑄1 OFF and 𝑄2 ON (saturation).
• It continuously oscillates from one state to the other.

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 Astable multivibrator
• When the circuit is first powered up, neither transistor is ON.
• Both 𝑉𝐵1 and 𝑉𝐵2 rise via base resistor 𝑅3 and 𝑅2 respectively. Any one of the
transistor will conduct faster than other due to some circuit imbalance. We can not
say which transistor will turn on first so for analysis purpose we assume 𝑄1 conducts
first and 𝑄2 off (𝐶1 is fully charged).
• Since 𝑄1 conducts and 𝑄2 off hence 𝑉𝑐1 = 0 𝑉 and 𝑉𝑐2 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶 (state 1).

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Astable multivibrator

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 Astable multivibrator
• Since 𝑄1 conducts and 𝑄2 off hence 𝑉𝑐1 = 0𝑉 and 𝑉𝑐2 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶 . Due to higher
voltage at 𝑉𝑐2 , capacitor 𝐶2 will be charged via 𝑅4 (low resistance path because 𝑅4 <
𝑅2 ). 𝐶1 (which was charged earlier, and can not hold the charge for indefinite period)
starts discharging via 𝑅2 (high resistance path because 𝑅2 > 𝑅1 ). Time taken to
discharge 𝐶1 (𝑇1 = 𝑅2 𝐶1 ) > time taken to charge 𝐶2 (𝑇2 = 𝑅4 𝐶2 ) When 𝐶2 is fully
charged then left plate of 𝐶2 will be at – 𝑉𝑐𝑐 which switch off the 𝑄1 . When 𝐶1 is fully
discharged then left plate of 𝐶1 will be at +𝑉𝑐𝑐 which switch on the 𝑄2 . – State 2.

• When 𝑉𝐵2 reaches 𝑉𝑜𝑛 , the circuit enters in state 1, and the process repeats.

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 Astable multivibrator
Charging 𝐶2 (𝑇2 = 𝑅4 𝐶2 ) Discharging 𝐶1 (𝑇1 = 𝑅2 𝐶1 )

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 Astable multivibrator
• Time period of wave depends only upon the discharge of capacitors 𝐶1 and 𝐶2 .
• Consider 𝑉𝐵2 during discharge of 𝐶2 :

𝑉𝐵2 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 𝑅2 𝑖𝐶1

• Since the capacitor 𝐶1 charged up to 𝑉𝐶𝐶 , the initial discharge current will be

𝑉𝑐𝑐 + 𝑉𝑐𝑐
𝑖𝑐1 =
𝑅2

• Current decays exponentially with a time constant of 𝑅2 𝐶1 .

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 Astable multivibrator
• Transistor will switch when 𝑉𝐵2 = 0𝑉 (actually 0.7 𝑉 for Si which is small compare to
𝑉𝐶𝐶 ).

𝑡
−𝑅2𝐶1
𝑉𝐵2 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 2𝑉𝐶𝐶 𝑒
𝑡
−𝑅2𝐶1
0 = 𝑉𝐵2 = 𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 2𝑉𝐶𝐶 𝑒
𝑡 = 𝑇2 = 𝑅2 𝐶1 ln 2

• where 𝑇2 is the off time for transistor 𝑄2 .

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 Astable multivibrator
• Similarly off time for transistor Q1 can be obtained.
𝑇1 = 𝑅3 𝐶2 ln 2
• Total time period :
𝑇 = 𝑇1 + 𝑇2 = 𝑅2 𝐶1 + 𝑅3 𝐶2 ln 2
• Frequency of oscillation is given by :
1 1
𝑓= =
𝑇 𝑅2 𝐶1 + 𝑅3 𝐶2 ln 2

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 OP Amp astable multivibrator
• The circuit diagram for a typical astable multivibrator is given below :

The circuit looks like a Schmitt trigger except that the input voltage is replaced by a
capacitor. As shown in the above figure, the comparator and positive feedback resistors
𝑅1 and 𝑅2 form an inverting Schmitt trigger.
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 OP Amp astable multivibrator
• When 𝑉0 is at 𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡 , the feedback voltage is called the upper threshold voltage 𝑉𝑈𝑇
and is given as :
𝑅1
𝑉𝑈𝑇 = 𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡
𝑅1 + 𝑅2

• When 𝑉0 is at −𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡 , the feedback voltage is called the lower threshold voltage 𝑉𝐿𝑇
and is given as
𝑅1
𝑉𝐿𝑇 = − 𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡
𝑅1 + 𝑅2

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 OP Amp astable multivibrator
𝑉𝑐
• When power is turned ON, 𝑉0
𝑉𝑈𝑇
automatically swings either 𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡 or to
− 𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡 since these are the only stable 𝑡
states allowed by Schmitt trigger.
Assume it swings to +𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡 . 𝑉𝐿𝑇
𝑉0
• Now capacitor starts charging towards 𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡
+ 𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡 through the feedback path
provided by the resistor 𝑅𝑓 to the 𝑡
inverting input. As long as the capacitor
voltage 𝑉𝑐 is less than 𝑉𝑈𝑇 , the output
voltage remains at 𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡 . −𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡

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 OP Amp astable multivibrator
𝑉𝑐
• As soon as 𝑉𝑐 charges to a value slightly
𝑉𝑈𝑇
greater than 𝑉𝑈𝑇 , the input goes positive
with respect to the input. This switches the 𝑡
output voltage from +𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡 to −𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡 .
𝑉𝐿𝑇
𝑉0
• As 𝑉0 switches to −𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡 , capacitor starts 𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡

discharging. The current 𝐼 discharges

capacitor to 0 𝑉 and recharges capacitor to 𝑡
𝑉𝐿𝑇 . When 𝑉𝑐 becomes slightly more
negative than the feedback voltage 𝑉𝐿𝑇 ,
output voltage switches back to +𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡 . −𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡

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Monostable vibrator

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 Monostable vibrator
• A Multivibrator which has one stable
state and one temporary quasistable
state and level transition depends on
external triggering pulse is known as
Monostable Multivibrator.

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 Monostable vibrator
• When the circuit is switched ON,
transistor Q1 will be OFF and Q2 will
be ON.
• Capacitor C1 gets charged during this
state.
• When a positive trigger is applied to
the base of transistor Q1 it turns ON,
which turns OFF the transistor Q2.

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 Monostable vibrator
• Capacitor C1 starts discharging during
• this state.
• Transistor Q1 remains in ON state due
the positive voltage from the
collector of transistor Q2 which is in
OFF state.
• Transistor Q2 remains in OFF state
until the capacitor C1 discharges
completely.
• When the capacitor C1 discharged
completely, transistor Q2 turns ON,
which turns transistor Q1 OFF.
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 Exercise
• Question 1 Designing an Astable Multivibrator (1 kHz)
We want to design an astable multivibrator circuit that generates a rectangular signal
with a frequency of 1 𝑘𝐻𝑧. Use a capacitor with C = 10 nF. Assume R1 = 10 kΩ and
find R 2 .
• Question 2: Frequency in an Astable Multivibrator
In an astable multivibrator, the following values are given: R1 = 1 kΩ, R 2 = 2 𝑘Ω, and
𝐶 = 1 𝜇𝐹.
Calculate the frequency of the output signal.
• Question 3: Time Duration in a Monostable Multivibrator
We want to design a monostable multivibrator that remains in the temporary state for
0.5 seconds.
If the capacitor 𝐶 = 1𝜇𝐹, calculate the value of the resistor 𝑅.

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