RC discharging circuits use what is called the RC time constant which is an inherent property exhibited by an resistor-capacitor combination. This time constant determines how fast the capacitor discharges and it does so in an exponential way, meaning the voltage does not just drop steadily; it decreases more and more quickly as time gradually […]
RC Time Constant Circuit Explained with Calculations
When we talk about charging a capacitor it is not something that can happen instantly. This is because capacitors have specific current-voltage i-v characteristics that shift depending on time. If you connect a resistor R and a capacitor C together into a circuit, you will get what is called an RC charging circuit. This setup […]
Analyzing Armstrong Oscillator Circuit with Formulas
In this post I will explain the Armstrong Oscillator which is yet another type of an LC oscillator circuit. What makes this so special is that it uses a parallel resonator circuit to store energy and then switches that energy between its two primary elements, the inductor (L) and the capacitor (C). The back-and-forth exchange of energy […]
Twin-T Oscillator Circuit: From Calculations to Practical Applications
I have personally used the Twin-T RC oscillators a lot and I find it very interesting, mainly because it is designed to generate a sinewave output. It is ideal for fixed-frequency applications much like the Wien-bridge oscillator. The name “Twin-T” oscillator comes from the fact that it employs two “Tee”-shaped RC networks in the feedback […]
Understanding Quartz Crystal Oscillator Circuits, with Calculations
Quartz crystal oscillators allow us to overcome a number of issues that may have a substantial impact on the frequency stability of an oscillator circuit. These influences include, but are not restricted to, temperature variations, fluctuations in the load connected to the oscillator, and even changes in the DC power supply voltage. All of these […]
Wien Bridge Oscillator Circuit Explained with Calculations
In the RC Oscillator tutorial, we saw that by connecting resistors and capacitors together with an inverting amplifier we can create an oscillating circuit. One of the simplest ways to generate a sine wave is through a circuit known as the Wien Bridge Oscillator. This oscillator replaces the traditional LC (inductor-capacitor) tuned tank circuit with […]