Astable Multivibrator
Astable Multivibrators are free running oscillators which oscillate between two states
continually producing two square wave output waveforms
Regenerative switching circuits such as Astable Multivibrators are the most commonly used
type of relaxation oscillator because not only are they simple, reliable and ease of
construction they also produce a constant square wave output waveform.
Unlike the Monostable Multivibrator or the Bistable Multivibrator we looked at in the
previous tutorials that require an “external” trigger pulse for their operation, the Astable
Multivibrator has automatic built in triggering which switches it continuously between its two
unstable states both set and reset.
The Astable Multivibrator is another type of cross-coupled transistor switching circuit that
has NO stable output states as it changes from one state to the other all the time. The astable
circuit consists of two switching transistors, a cross-coupled feedback network, and two time
delay capacitors which allows oscillation between the two states with no external triggering
to produce the change in state.
In electronic circuits, astable multivibrators are also known as Free-running Multivibrator as
they do not require any additional inputs or external assistance to oscillate. Astable oscillators
produce a continuous square wave from its output or outputs, (two outputs no inputs) which
can then be used to flash lights or produce a sound in a loudspeaker.
The basic transistor circuit for an Astable Multivibrator produces a square wave output from
a pair of grounded emitter cross-coupled transistors. Both transistors either NPN or PNP, in
the multivibrator are biased for linear operation and are operated as Common Emitter
Amplifiers with 100% positive feedback.
This configuration satisfies the condition for oscillation when: ( βA = 1∠ 0o ). This results in
one stage conducting “fully-ON” (Saturation) while the other is switched “fully-OFF” (cut-
off) giving a very high level of mutual amplification between the two transistors. Conduction
is transferred from one stage to the other by the discharging action of a capacitor through a
resistor as shown below.
Basic Astable Multivibrator Circuit
Assume that transistor, TR1 has just switched “OFF” (cut-off) and its collector voltage is
rising towards Vcc, meanwhile transistor TR2 has just turned “ON”. Plate “A” of
capacitor C1 is also rising towards the +6 volts supply rail of Vcc as it is connected to the
collector of TR1 which is now cut-off. Since TR1 is in cut-off, it conducts no current so there
is no volt drop across load resistor R1.
The other side of capacitor, C1, plate “B”, is connected to the base terminal of
transistor TR2 and at 0.6v because transistor TR2 is conducting (saturation). Therefore,
capacitor C1has a potential difference of +5.4 volts across its plates, (6.0 – 0.6v) from point
A to point B.
Since TR2 is fully-on, capacitor C2 starts to charge up through resistor R2 towards Vcc. When
the voltage across capacitor C2 rises to more than 0.6v, it biases transistor TR1 into
conduction and into saturation.
The instant that transistor, TR1 switches “ON”, plate “A” of the capacitor which was
originally at Vcc potential, immediately falls to 0.6 volts. This rapid fall of voltage on plate
“A” causes an equal and instantaneous fall in voltage on plate “B” therefore plate “B” of C1is
pulled down to -5.4v (a reverse charge) and this negative voltage swing is applied the base
of TR2 turning it hard “OFF”. One unstable state.
Transistor TR2 is driven into cut-off so capacitor C1 now begins to charge in the opposite
direction via resistor R3 which is also connected to the +6 volts supply rail, Vcc. Thus the
base of transistor TR2 is now moving upwards in a positive direction towards Vcc with a time
constant equal to the C1 x R3 combination.
However, it never reaches the value of Vcc because as soon as it gets to 0.6 volts positive,
transistor TR2 turns fully “ON” into saturation. This action starts the whole process over
again but now with capacitor C2 taking the base of transistor TR1 to -5.4v while charging up
via resistor R2 and entering the second unstable state.
Then we can see that the circuit alternates between one unstable state in which
transistor TR1 is “OFF” and transistor TR2 is “ON”, and a second unstable in which TR1 is
“ON” and TR2 is “OFF” at a rate determined by the RC values. This process will repeat itself
over and over again as long as the supply voltage is present.
The amplitude of the output waveform is approximately the same as the supply
voltage, Vcc with the time period of each switching state determined by the time constant of
the RC networks connected across the base terminals of the transistors. As the transistors are
switching both “ON” and “OFF”, the output at either collector will be a square wave with
slightly rounded corners because of the current which charges the capacitors. This could be
corrected by using more components as we will discuss later.
If the two time constants produced by C2 x R2 and C1 x R3 in the base circuits are the same,
the mark-to-space ratio ( t1/t2 ) will be equal to one-to-one making the output waveform
symmetrical in shape. By varying the capacitors, C1, C2 or the resistors, R2, R3the mark-to-
space ratio and therefore the frequency can be altered.
We saw in the RC Discharging tutorial that the time taken for the voltage across a capacitor
to fall to half the supply voltage, 0.5Vcc is equal to 0.69 time constants of the capacitor and
resistor combination. Then taking one side of the astable multivibrator, the length of time that
transistor TR2 is “OFF” will be equal to 0.69T or 0.69 times the time constant of C1 x R3.
Likewise, the length of time that transistor TR1 is “OFF” will be equal to 0.69T or 0.69 times
the time constant of C2 x R2 and this is defined as.
Astable Multivibrators Periodic Time
Where, R is in Ω’s and C in Farads.
By altering the time constant of just one RC network the mark-to-space ratio and frequency
of the output waveform can be changed but normally by changing both RC time constants
together at the same time, the output frequency will be altered keeping the mark-to-space
ratios the same at one-to-one.
If the value of the capacitor C1 equals the value of the capacitor, C2, C1 = C2 and also the
value of the base resistor R2 equals the value of the base resistor, R3, R2 = R3 then the total
length of time of the Multivibrators cycle is given below for a symmetrical output waveform.
Frequency of Oscillation
Where, R is in Ω’s, C is in Farads, T is in seconds and ƒ is in Hertz.
and this is known as the “Pulse Repetition Frequency”. So Astable Multivibrators can
produce TWO very short square wave output waveforms from each transistor or a much
longer rectangular shaped output either symmetrical or non-symmetrical depending upon the
time constant of the RC network as shown below.
Astable Multivibrator Waveforms
Astable Multivibrator Example No1
An Astable Multivibrators circuit is required to produce a series of pulses at a frequency of
500Hz with a mark-to-space ratio of 1:5. If R2 = R3 = 100kΩ, calculate the values of the
capacitors, C1 and C2 required.
and by rearranging the formula above for the periodic time, the values of the capacitors
required to give a mark-to-space ratio of 1:5 are given as:
The values of 4.83nF and 24.1nF respectively, are calculated values, so we would need to
choose the nearest preferred values for C1 and C2 allowing for the capacitors tolerance. In
fact due to the wide range of tolerances associated with the humble capacitor the actual
output frequency may differ by as much as ±20%, (400 to 600Hz in our simple example)
from the actual frequency needed.
If we require the output astable waveform to be non-symmetrical for use in timing or gating
type circuits, etc, we could manually calculate the values of R and C for the individual
components required as we did in the example above. However, when the two R’s and C
´s are both equal, we can make our life a little bit easier for ourselves by using tables to show
the astable multivibrators calculated frequencies for different combinations or values of
both R and C. For example,
Astable Multivibrator Frequency Table
Capacitor Values
Res.
1nF 2.2nF 4.7nF 10nF 22nF 47nF 100nF 220nF 470nF
714.3kH 324.6kH 151.9kH 71.4kH 32.5kH 15.2kH 7.1kH 3.2kH 1.5kH
1.0kΩ
z z z z z z z z z
324.7kH 147.6kH 32.5kH 14.7kH 3.2kH 1.5kH
2.2kΩ 69.1kHz 6.9kHz 691Hz
z z z z z z
151.9kH 15.2kH 1.5kH
4.7kΩ 69.1kHz 32.3kHz 6.9kHz 3.2kHz 691Hz 323Hz
z z z
10kΩ 71.4kHz 32.5kHz 15.2kHz 7.1kHz 3.2kHz 1.5kHz 714Hz 325Hz 152Hz
69.1H
22kΩ 32.5kHz 14.7kHz 6.9kHz 3.2kHz 1.5kHz 691Hz 325Hz 147Hz
z
69.1H 32.5H
47kΩ 15.2kHz 6.9kHz 3.2kHz 1.5kHz 691Hz 323Hz 152Hz
z z
100k 71.4H 32.5H 15.2H
7.1kHz 3.2kHz 1.5kHz 714Hz 325Hz 152Hz
Ω z z z
220k 32.5H 15.2H
3.2kHz 1.5kHz 691Hz 325Hz 147Hz 69.1Hz 6.9Hz
Ω z z
470k 15.2H
1.5kHz 691Hz 323Hz 152Hz 69.1Hz 32.5Hz 6.6Hz 3.2Hz
Ω z
1MΩ 714Hz 325Hz 152Hz 71.4Hz 32.5Hz 15.2Hz 6.9Hz 3.2Hz 1.5Hz
Pre-calculated frequency tables can be very useful in determining the required values of
both R and C for a particular symmetrical output frequency without the need to keep
recalculating them every time a different frequency is required.
By changing the two fixed resistors, R2 and R3 for a dual-ganged potentiometer and keeping
the values of the capacitors the same, the frequency from the Astable Multivibrators output
can be more easily “tuned” to give a particular frequency value or to compensate for the
tolerances of the components used.
For example, selecting a capacitor value of 10nF from the table above. By using
a 100kΩ’spotentiometer for our resistance, we would get an output frequency that can be
fully adjusted from slightly above 71.4kHz down to 714Hz, some 3 decades of frequency
range. Likewise a capacitor value of 47nF would give a frequency range from 152Hz to well
over 15kHz.
Astable Multivibrator Example No2
An Astable Multivibrator circuit is constructed using two timing capacitors of equal value of
3.3uF and two base resistors of value 10kΩ. Calculate the minimum and maximum
frequencies of oscillation if a 100kΩ dual-gang potentiometer is connected in series with the
two resistors.
With the potentiometer at 0%, the value of the base resistance is equal to 10kΩ.
with the potentiometer at 100%, the value of the base resistance is equal to
10kΩ + 100kΩ = 110kΩ.
Then the output frequency of oscillation for the astable multivibrator can be varied from
between 2.0 and 22 Hertz.
When selecting both the resistance and capacitance values for reliable operation, the base
resistors should have a value that allows the transistor to turn fully “ON” when the other
transistor turns “OFF”. For example, consider the circuit above. When transistor TR2is fully
“ON”, (saturation) nearly the same voltage is dropped across resistor R3 and resistor R4.
If the transistor being used has a current gain, β of 100 and the collector load resistor, R4is
equal to say 1kΩ the maximum base resistor value would therefore be 100kΩ. Any higher
and the transistor may not turn fully “ON” resulting in the multivibrator giving erratic results
or not oscillate at all. Likewise, if the value of the base resistor is too low the transistor may
not switch “OFF” and the multivibrator would again not oscillate.
An output signal can be obtained from the collector terminal of either transistor in the Astable
Multivibrators circuit with each output waveform being a mirror image of itself. We saw
above that the leading edge of the output waveform is slightly rounded and not square due to
the charging characteristics of the capacitor in the cross-coupled circuit.
But we can introduce another transistor into the circuit that will produce an almost perfectly
square output pulse and which can also be used to switch higher current loads or low
impedance loads such as LED’s or loudspeakers, etc without affecting the operation of the
actual astable multivibrator. However, the down side to this is that the output waveform is not
perfectly symmetrical as the additional transistor produces a very small delay. Consider the
two circuits below.
Astable Multivibrators Driving Circuit
An output with a square leading edge is now produced from the third
transistor, TR3connected to the emitter of transistor, TR2. This third transistor switches “ON”
and “OFF” in unison with transistor TR2. We can use this additional transistor to switch Light
Emitting Diodes, Relays or to produce a sound from a Sound Transducer such as a speaker or
piezo sounder as shown above.
The load resistor, Rx needs to be suitably chosen to take into account the forward volt drops
and to limit the maximum current to about 20mA for the LED circuit or to give a total load
impedance of about 100Ω for the speaker circuit. The speaker can have any impedance less
than 100Ω.
By connecting an additional transistor, TR4 to the emitter circuit of the other transistor, TR1 in
a similar fashion we can produce an astable multivibrator circuit that will flash two sets of
lights or LED’s from one to the other at a rate determined by the time constant of
the RC timing network.
In the next tutorial about Waveforms and Signals, we will look at the different types
of Astable Multivibrators that are used to produce a continuous output waveform. These
circuits known as relaxation oscillators produce either a square or rectangular wave at their
outputs for use in sequential circuits as either a clock pulse or timing signal. These types of
circuits are called Waveform Generators.
Designing of the Astable Multivibrator
12
Let us condiser we have V CC =12V , I C =10 mA ,∧V CE =0.2 V Now V CC =I C ∗RC =RC
10
IC 10 12−0.7
RC =1.2 KΩ say , β=200 I B= I B= I B=0.05 mA R B=(V ¿¿ CC−0.7)/ I B ¿ R B=
β 200 0.05
1 1
R B=228 KΩ Say , f =2 KHz PW = PW = PW =0.25 msalso we know that
2f 2∗2∗10−3
PW 0.25 ms
PW =0.69 C 1 R BC 1= C 1= C =0.00158 uFC 1=0.0016 µF
0.69∗R B 0.69∗228 KΩ 1
