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Activity: The Clapp Oscillator
Objective:
Oscillators come in many forms. In this lab activity we will explore the Clapp configuration which uses
a taped capacitor divider to provide the feedback path and a series LC resonator.
Background:
A Clapp oscillator is in effect a series tuned version of the Colpitts oscillator. The Clapp oscillator is
much like a Colpitts oscillator with the capacitive voltage divider producing the feedback signal. The
addition of a capacitor C3 in series with the inductor L1 results in the difference in the two designs and
distinguishes the Clapp Oscillator from the Colpitts and Hartley configurations. As with all oscillators,
the Barkhausen criteria must be adhered to requiring a total gain of one and a phase shift of zero
degrees from input to output. The frequency of oscillation can be calculated in the same way as any
resonant circuit, using:
Ignoring the transistor capacitive effect between the base and collector, the resonant frequency may
be calculated using the total equivalent capacitance (CTOT) given by:
Figure 1 shows a typical Clapp oscillator. The frequency determining series resonant tuned circuit is
formed by L1 and CTOT and is used as the collector load impedance of the common base amplifier Q1. A
large inductance, L2, provides a DC path for the collector current while presenting a high impedance
at the resonate frequency. This gives the amplifier a high gain only at the resonant frequency. This
configuration of the Hartley oscillator uses a common base amplifier, the base of Q1is biased to an
appropriate DC level by resistor divider R1 and R2 but is connected directly to an AC ground by C4. In
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the common base mode the output voltage waveform at the collector, and the input signal at the
emitter are in phase. This ensures that the fraction of the output signal from the node between C1 and
C2, fed back from the tuned collector load to the emitter provides the required positive feedback.
Figure 1, Basic Clapp Oscillator
The combination of C1and C2 also forms a low frequency time constant with the emitter resistor R3 to
provide an average DC voltage level proportional to the amplitude of the feedback signal at the
emitter of Q1. This provides automatic control of the gain of the amplifier to give the closed loop gain
of 1 required by the oscillator. The emitter resistor R3 is not decoupled because the emitter node is
used as the common base amplifier input. The base is connected to AC ground by C4, which will
provide a very low reactance at the oscillator frequency.
Pre Lab Simulations
Build a simulation schematic of the Clapp oscillator as shown in figure 1. Calculate values for bias
resistors R1 and R2 such that with emitter resistor R3set to 500 , the collector current in NPN
transistor Q1 is approximately 1 mA. Assume the circuit is powered from a +10V power supply. Be
sure to keep the sum of R1 and R2 ( total resistance greater than 10 K) has high as practical to keep
the standing current in the resistor divider as low as practical. Remember that C4 provides an AC
ground at the base of Q1. Set base decoupling capacitor C4 and output AC coupling capacitor C5 to
0.1uF. Calculate a value for L1 such that the resonate frequency, with C1 set equal to 1nF and C2 set to
1 nF, will be close to 750 KHz. Use a high value for L3 of at least 10 mH. Perform a transient simulation.
Save these results to compare with the measurements you take on the actual circuit and to include
with your lab report.
Materials:
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Analog Discovery Lab hardware
Solder-less breadboard, and jumper wire kit
1 - 2N3904 NPN transistor
1 - 1 uH inductor
1 - 10 uH inductor
1 - 100 uH inductor
1 - 10 mH inductor ( L3 )
1 - 1 nF capacitor ( C1 )
1 - 4.7 nF capacitor ( C2 )
2 - 0.1 uF capacitors ( marked 104 )
1 - 470 resistor ( R3)
Other resistor, capacitors and inductors as needed
Directions:
Build the Clapp Oscillator shown in figure 2 using your solder-less breadboard. Pick standard values
from your parts kit for bias resistors R1 and R2 such that with emitter resistor R3set to 470 , the
collector current in NPN transistor Q1 is approximately 1 mA. Start with C1 = 1 nF and C2 = 4.7 nF. The
frequency of the oscillator can be from around 500 KHz to 2 MHz depending on the values chosen for
C1, C2, C3 and L1. Calculate a value for C3 and pick the closest value from your parts kit. This oscillator
circuit can produce a sine wave output in excess of 10 Vpp at an approximate frequency set by the
value chosen for L1.
Figure 2 Clapp Oscillator
Hardware Setup:
The green squares indicate where to connect the Discovery module AWG, scope channels and power
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supplies. Be sure to only turn on the power supplies after you double check your wiring.
Procedure:
Having finished construction the Clapp oscillator check that the circuit is oscillating correctly by
turning on both the + and - 5 V power supplies and connecting one of the oscilloscope channels to the
output terminal. It may be found that the value of R3 is fairly critical, producing either a large distorted
waveform or an intermittent low or no output. To find the best value for R3, it could be replaced by a 1
K potentiometer for experimentation to find the value that gives the best wave shape and reliable
amplitude.
Questions:
Measure the peak to peak output voltage of the output. Measure the DC ( average ) level of the
output waveform at the collector of Q1 and on the other (output) side of AC coupling capacitor C4.
Measure the voltage at the emitter of Q1. Calculate the average emitter current by measuring the
voltage across R3. Compare your measurements with your calculations and simulations. Measure the
period (time T) of the output waveform and its frequency (1/T). Compare this measured frequency to
what you calculated by:
.
Fill in the table below with the measured frequency for other L1 values for two different values of C3.
Use the values in the table as suggested options but try to include as many different values as
possible using series and parallel combinations of the inductors supplied in your parts kit. Any of the L1
optional values shown below should give reliable oscillation.
L1 Options C1 = 1nF L2 = 4.7nF C1 = 10nF C2 = 1nF
Value
Frequency with C3= ? Frequency with C3= ?
10 uH
20 uH
50 uH
100 uH
For Further Reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clapp_oscillator
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkhausen_stability_criterion
Return to Lab Activity Table of Contents.
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