Multivibrators

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.

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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Reference material: Chapter 18 – Transistor Oscillators and Multivibrators, Electronic Devices and Circuits by Allen Mottershed

Astable Multivibrators
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.

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 Multivibrators
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 = 0V and Vc2 = VCC. - state1

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Astable Multivibrators
Charging C2(T2 = R4C2) Discharging C1(T1 = R2C1)

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 = R2C1) > time taken to charge
C2 (T2 =R4C2)

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
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When VB2 reaches Von, the circuit enters in state 1 again, and the process repeats.
Switching time & Frequency for Astable Multivibrators
Time period of wave depends only upon the discharge of capacitors C1 and C2.

Consider VB2 during discharge of C2: VB2 =VCC −iC1R2

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

V +V

iC1 = CC CC Current decays exponentially with a time constant of R2C1

R2

will switch when VB2 = 0V (actually VB2

t/R2C1
− Transistor
= −
VCC 2VCC (e ) 0.7V for Si which is small compare to VCC)

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 0=VCC −2VCC 2e−t/R C t =T 2= R2C1
2

ln(2)
where T2 is the off time for transistor Q2

Switching time & Frequency for Astable Multivibrators

Similarly off time for transistor Q1 can be obtained.

t =T1 = R3C2ln(2)
Total time period T:

T=T1+T2=[R3C2 +R2C1]ln(2) = 0.694(R3C2 +R2C1)

If R2 = R3 = R, C1 = C2 = C then T
Frequency of oscillation is given by
=1.4RC
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 1 0.7
f==
T RC
Monostable Multivibrators
One of the state is stable but the other is
not. For that capacitive path between VC2
and VB1 removed.

In stable state any one transistor

conducts and other is off.

Application of external trigger change the

state.

When the external signal goes high

VB2 charges up to VCC through R2 After a
certain time T, VB2=VON, Q2 turns on VC2
pulled to 0V, Q1 turns off.

Enters state 1 and remains there

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 When VB2 is momentarily pulled to
ground by an external signal
VC2 rises to VCC Q1 turns on
VC1 pulled to 0V

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Bistable Multivibrators
Both capacitors removed
Stable for either state 1 or 2
Can be forced to either state by Set or
Reset signals

If Set is low,
Q1 turns off
VC1 (Vout) and VB2 rises towards VCC
Q2 turns on
VC2 pulled to 0V
VB1 is latched to 0V
Circuit remains in state 2 until Reset is
low

If Reset is low
Similar operation
Circuit remains in state 1 until Set is low
 Behave as an RS flip-flop (memory element)
Some Important terms
Duty Cycle duty cycle is defined as the ratio of pulse duration to pulse period.

The pulse duration is τ; this is how long the pulse remains high (amplitude=1
in the figure).The pulse period is T ; this is the duration of one complete
cycle, and is just the inverse of the frequency in Hz (f = 1/T).
D= τ / T