Experiment C2: Active Filter & Oscillator

1. Objectives
To design and construct an active lowpass filter using Sallen-Key circuit
To design and construct a Wien-bridge oscillator with limiter circuit

2. Equipment
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Dual Output Regulated DC Power Supply

Dual-channel Oscilloscope
Function generator
Breadboard, patching wires
Op-Amp A741C x 2
Capacitors: 0.1 x 2, 0.056 x 2
Resistors: 1k x 3, 10k x 1, 5.6k x 1, 270 x 1, 1.8k x 1, 20k x 1, 4.7k x 1,
Zener Diodes: 1N4735A 6.2 V x 2

3. Introduction
A filter is a frequency-selective circuit that passes a specified band of
frequencies and blocks or attenuates signals of frequencies outside this
band. The cutoff frequency is the frequency at which signal is attenuated by
3 dB. Op-amps can be used to implement active filters. The Sallen-Key
circuit, as shown in Figure 1, can be used to realize a 2nd order lowpass filter.
The transfer function of the circuit is given by

The Butterworth filter is a maximally flat magnitude filter, meaning it has

minimum ripple in the
passband. The transfer function of a 2nd order Butterworth lowpass filter
with gain K and cutoff
frequency wo is given by:

Comparing (1) and (2), we find that: 3 K = 2\K = 1.586 .

Thus, the Butterworth filter will have a DC gain of 1.586.

3.2 Oscillator

A linear sine-wave oscillator is used to generate a sinusoidal waveform. The

Wien-bridge
oscillator circuit shown in Figure 2 is one of the simplest audio frequency
oscillator circuits.
The transfer function of the feedback network is given by:

The closed-loop voltage gain of the non-inverting amplifier is

The condition for oscillation, as given by the Barkhausen criterion, is A(s)b(s)

= 1.

Substituting s = jw, then equating real parts and imaginary parts on the lefthand to right-hand
side, we obtain

To ensure oscillations will start, Rf/R1 is chosen to be slightly over 2.

The Barkhausen criterion guarantees sustained oscillations in a

mathematical sense. However, a mechanism is required to ensure the loop
gain remains at unity at the desired value of output amplitude in order to
stabilize the amplitude. This can be accomplished using a nonlinear circuit
that dynamically adjusts the loop gain of the oscillator. One basic approach is
to use a limiter circuit. In Figure 2, the limiter circuit, shown in the shaded
portion, uses a pair of zener diodes.

4. Procedures
4.1 Frequency response of filter
I.

An active 2nd order Butterworth lowpass filter using Sallen-Key circuit

was constructed with cut off frequency wo = 10,000 rad/s.

II.

The circuit shown below was built using breadboard. The components
used were C=0.1uF, R=1K, R1=10K, Rf=5.86K (5.6K + 270
were used)

III.

IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.

Power supply of 12 V was set up to connect to the circuit

Sinusoidal signal from function generator was applied to the Vin and at
fixed amplitude of 1 Vp
Oscilloscope was used to measure and record the output voltages V0
for the various frequencies
Frequency response (gain vs. frequency) on a semilog graph was
plotted
5000 Hz cutoff frequency circuit was designed.
Frequency response of the design was verified using multisim

4.2 Oscillator
I.

II.

III.

A sinusoidal oscillator for oscillation frequency 1 kHz was built. The DC

Power Supply was set up to supply 15 V using series connection and it
was switched off until the circuit was ready to run.
The circuit was connected as figure 2 using the following component
values: Op-amp IC = A-741 C = 0.156 F (0.1F and 0.056F in
parallel), R = 1 k, R1 = 10 k, Rf = 21.8 k (20 k and 1.8 k in series).
The output waveform of the oscillator sketched, noting the amplitude
and frequency.

IV.

V.
VI.

Added the amplitude stabilization circuit using zener diodes to the

basic Wien bridge circuit using the following values: D1 = D2 = zener
diode 1N4735A and RB = 4.7 k.
Sketched the output waveform of the oscillator, noting the amplitude
and frequency.
Software simulation using Multisim of the oscillator and obtained the
waveforms, with and without amplitude stabilization.

RESULT
Frequency response of filter

Frequency
(Hz)
100
200
300
500
700
1000
1500
2000
3000
4000
7000
10000

Vo peak (V)

Vin (V)

1.60
1.60
1.60
1.60
1.60
1.50
1.25
0.90
0.50
0.25
0.10
0.07

1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00

20 log Vo /Vin
(dB)
4.08
4.08
4.08
4.08
4.08
3.52
1.94
-0.92
-6.02
-12.04
-20.00
-23.10

Graph of gain (in dB) vs frequency

100

200

300

500

700 1000 1500 2000 3000 4000 7000 10000

Multisim of the filter

B. Oscillator

Without amplitude stabilization circuit

Diagram 1 Multisim of the oscillator (without amplitude stabilization circuit)

With amplitude stabilization circuit

Diagram 2 Multisim of the oscillator ( with amplitude stabilization circuit)

DISCUSSION

Part A

This experiment is carried out to study 2nd order low pass filter. Second
Order Filters are important because higher-order filters can be designed
using them. First order filters can be converted into a second order filters
simply by using an additional RC network in the input path.
Second order op-amp circuit designs are generally named after their inventor
with the most common being Butterworth, Chebyshev, Bessel and SallenKey. All these types of filter designs are available in a low-pass, high-pass,
band-pass and band-stop (notch) filter configurations . . Besides, it also has
greater attenuation at high range. This means significantly greater
attenuation outside the pass band and a sharper cutoff. This can be very
useful if the noise frequency is close to the desired signal frequency.
Formula, the theoritical cut off frequency: f =

1
2 x xR RCC

is used to

calculate frequency. There are minor errors of the theoretical value while
conducting this experiment.

Part B
This experiment is conduct to study the Wien-bridge oscillator. A Wien bridge
oscillator is a type of electronic oscillator that generates sine waves. The
oscillator can also be viewed as a positive gain amplifier combined with a
bandpass filter that provides positive feedback. The frequency of the
oscillator is determined by the frequency selective network. Wien bridge
oscillators are noted for high stability and low distortion. The results obtained
in the experiment are almost similar to the multisim result.

CONCLUSION

Second order low pass filter has greater attenuation at high range. This
means significantly greater attenuation outside the pass band and a sharper
cutoff. Eventhough the theoretical formula is used to find the frequency, it is
not accurate and will have minor errors. Wien-bridge oscillator are noted for
high stability and low distortion. There is No Input Signal yet Produces Output
Oscillations . It Can Output a Large Range of Frequencies. Finally With Proper
Configuration, Oscillations can go on indefinitely