Pulse and Digital Circuits

Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.

Chapter 12
Voltage Sweep Generators
1. For the UJT relaxation oscillator shown in Fig.12p.1, R BB = 4 k, R 1 = 0.1 k, = 0.6,
V V = 3 V, I V = 10 mA, I P = 0.01 mA. (i) Calculate R B1 and R B2 under quiescent condition
(i.e., I E = 0). (ii) Calculate the peak voltage, V P. (iii) Calculate the permissible value of R.
(iv) Calculate the frequency assuming that the retrace time is negligible. Also calculate f
using the value of . (v) Calculate the frequency, also considering the retrace time.
Assume R B1 = 0.1 k during retrace time. (vi) Calculate the voltage levels of V B1 . (vii)
Plot the waveforms of the output voltage and V B1 .

Fig.12p.1 The given UJT sweep circuit

Solution:
Given R BB = 4 k, = 0.6.
RB1
R
(i)
= B1
RB1 RB 2 R BB
RB1
4 k
R B1 = 0.6 4 k = 2.4 k

0.6 =

We have R BB = R B1 + R B2
RB 2 RBB RB1 4 k 2.4 k 1.6 k
(ii) The circuit that enables the calculation of V P is shown in Fig. 1.1.

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Pulse and Digital Circuits

From Fig. 1.1,

Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.

Fig. 1.1Circuit to calculate V P

V P = 0.7V + V BB

( R B1 R1 )
(2.4 0.1)
= 0.7 + 20
12.89 V.
(4 0.1)
R BB R1

(V BB VV ) (20 3)
=
1.7 k
IV
10 103
(V VP ) (20 12.89)

711 k
R max = BB
IP
0.01 103
R min < R< R max
Choose R = 100 k.
(V VV )
(20 3)
100 103 100 109 ln
8.7 ms.
(iv) T s = RC ln BB
(VBB VP )
(20 12.89)
1
f=
114.9 Hz.
8.7 103
T s using the value of is given as:
1
1
T s = RC ln
100 103 100 109 ln
9.1 ms.
(1 )
1 0.6
1
f =
109.8 Hz.
9.1 103
V
12.89
(v) T r = (R B1 +R 1 )C ln P (0.1 0.1)103 100 109 ln
29.1 s.
VV
3
T = T s + T r = 9.1 + 0.0291 = 9.129 ms.
1
f=
109.54 Hz.
9.129 103
(vi) V B1 during charging of C is given as:
R1
20 0.1
V B1 = V BB

0.487 V.
( R1 R BB ) 0.1 4
V B1 during discharge of C is given by:
0.1
(12.89 0.7)
V B1 = (V P V F )

6.09 V.
0.1 0.1
2
V F is the diode voltage when ON, Fig. 1.1.
(vii) Waveforms of the output and V B1 are shown in Fig. 1.2.

(iii) R min =

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Pulse and Digital Circuits

Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.

Fig. 1.2 Waveforms of the output and V B1

2. For the UJT relaxation oscillator is shown in Fig.12p.2. Find (i) the sweep amplitude;
(ii) the slope and displacement errors; and (iii) the duration of the sweep. Given that V V =
3 V, = 0.6.

Fig.12p.2 The given UJT relaxation oscillator

Solution:
The waveform of the sweep generator is shown in Fig. 2.1.
VBB 20 V, VYY 50 V, R 100 k, C 0.1 F

Fig. 2.1 Waveform of the sweep generator

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Pulse and Digital Circuits

Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.

We know that V P VBB VF = 0.6 20 0.7 12.7 V

We have VV 3 V
(i) Amplitude of the sweep = Vs VP VV 12.7 3 9.7 V .
Vs
Vs
9.7

0.206 20.6%
V VYY VV 50 3
1
1
Displacement error, ed es 20.6% 2.57%
8
8

(iii) Sweep time, T s RC log e V YY V V

V V
YY
P

(ii) Sweep speed error, e s

50 3
T s = 100 10 3 0.1 10 6 log e

50 12.7
T s = 2.31 ms
3. (a) Design a UJT sweep circuit shown in Fig.12p.3(b) to generate a sweep of 15 V
amplitude and 3 ms duration, given that 0.6 . If the sweep error is 10 per cent and T r
= 1 per cent of T s , calculate V BB , VYY , R, R1 , R2 and C . If the sweep duration is 300 s ,
calculate the new value of C. The VI characteristic of UJT is as shown in Fig. 12p.3(a)

Fig. 12p.3(b) The given UJT circuit

Fig. 12p.3 (a)The given UJT V I characteristic
Solution:
From the characteristics, we have VV 3 V, IV 1 103 A, I P 0.3 103 A
Given V s = 15 V and e s = 0.1
VP Vs VV 15 3 18 V.
Peak-to-peak excursion of the output swing = Y VY V V .
V
Vs
es s
V VYY VV

0.1

15
VYY 3

VYY 153 V.
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Pulse and Digital Circuits

Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.

Given = 0.6. We have Vp = V BB + V F .

V VF 18 0.6
VBB P

29 V.
0.6

To calculate R and C
V VV
T s RC log e YY

V YY V P
153 3
RC log e
153 18
Ts 0.105 RC
Ts
3 10 3

28.57 10 3
0.105
0.105
V BB V P
29 18
R max =

36.66 k
IP
0.3 10 3
V V
29 3
Rmin BB V
26 k
IV
1 103
R should lie between 26 k and 36 k . Choose R = 33 k
RC = 28.57 10 3
28.57 103
0.865 F
C=
33 103
Given T r = 1 per cent of T s
T r = 0.01 3 10 3
Tr R1C
Tr 0.01 3 103
R1

34.68 35
C
0.865 106
R2 is higher than R1 and must be of the order of several hundred ohms. Let
1
R2 10 R1 350 . If T s is to be 300 s C should be
of the earlier value. By
10
reducing the value of C, the charging current will be reduced, but by reducing the value
of R the charging current is increased, which is undesirable. So the reduction of C is
advisable.
0.865 F
Cnew
86.5 nF
10

RC

4. For the Millers sweep shown in Fig.12p.5, V CC = 24 V, R C2 = 2 k , R C1 = 10 k and

C = 1 F. The amplitude of the sweep is 18 V. (a) Calculate the sweep duration T s ; (b)
the retrace time T r ; (c) frequency of the sweep generator and (d) the slope error. The
1
and
transistor has the following parameters: h fe = 100, h ie = 1 k , h oe =
20 k
h re =2.5 10 4 .

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Pulse and Digital Circuits

Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.

Fig.12p.5 Transistor Miller sweep

Solution:
(a)

Vs=

VCC
Ts
RC1C
V
18
T s = s RC1C = 10 10 3 1 10 6 =7.5 ms.
24
VCC

Vs
18
RC 2 C = 2 10 3 1 10 6 =1.5 ms.
24
VCC
(c) T = T s + T r = 7.5 + 1.5 = 9 ms.
1000
f=
111.11 Hz.
9
h fe
100
(d) A I =

90.90
2
1 hoe RC 2
1
20
R i = h ie +h re A I R C2 = 1+(2.5 10 4 )(90.90)(2 )=(1 0.045)=0.955 k

(b) Retrace time T r =

A=A I

RC 2
2
190.36
90.90
Ri
0.955
V
R
1
18
1
10

(1
) = 0.045
e s(Miller )= s (1 C1 )
VCC A
Ri
24 190.66
0.955

e s = 4.5 per cent.

6. The transistor used in the bootstrap circuit shown in Fig.12p.6 has the following hparameter values. h re = 2.5 104, h ie = 1.1 k, h fe = 60, 1 / hoe = 40 k. Assume V BE(sat)
= V CE(sat) = 0. If the applied input gating voltage is a symmetrical square wave of the
frequency 9.5 kHz, determine the time-base amplitude, retrace time and recovery time.

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Pulse and Digital Circuits

Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.

Fig.12p.6 The given bootstrap sweep circuit

Solution:
V s = V CC = 12 V
At the end of the input pulse, Q 1 once again goes into saturation.
VCC
12

0.4 mA
i B1 =
RB
30 103
i C1 = h fe i B1 = 60 0.4 = 24 mA
The retrace time T r is
Vs
12
C1
0.06 106
VCC
12

31.4 s
Tr =
60
1
h fe
1

30 103 12 103
RB
R1
1
1

0.105 ms
f 9.5 103
V
R
12 4
Recovery time T1 CC E T 0.105 10 3 35.08 s.
VEE R1
12 12

T=

7. Find (a) the sweep amplitude and (b) the slope error for the bootstrap sweep generator
shown in Fig.12p.7, when a 2-kHz symmetrical square wave is applied as an input to it.
Plot to scale the input and output waveforms. The typical h-parameter values of transistor
are, h fe 90, 1 / hoe 35 k, hie 1 k and hrc 1 . Assume all forward-biased junction

voltages are zero.

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Pulse and Digital Circuits

Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.

Fig.12p.7. A bootstrap sweep circuit

Solution:

Time period of input wave form T=

1
1
=
= 0.5 ms.
f 2 10 3

T
0.25 ms
2
Maximum value of ramp voltage or sweep amplitude is equal to
VCC Tg
12 0.25 10 3
Vs

= 10 V
R1C1 10 10 3 0.3 10 6
For an emitter follower, the current gain is
h fe 1
90 1
79.68
AI

1 hoe R E
5 10 3
1
35 10 3
Input impedance = Ri hie AI RE
The input is a symmetrical square wave, so the gate width Tg

R i = 1 103 79.68 5 103 399.4 k

h
1
0.0025
We have (1 A) ie =
Ri 399.4
Vs R1
(1 A
VCC Ri
Sweep error = 0.29 per cent.

Sweep error e s

10 10

)
0.0025 = 0.0029

12 399.4

7. The transistor bootstrap has the following parameters: V CC = 20 V, V EE = 20 V, R B =

15 k, R 1 = 5 k, R E = 2.5 k, C 1 = 0.001 F, C 3 = 0.25 F. The input gate has
amplitude of 1 V and a width of 50 s. The transistor parameters are h fe = 60, h ie = 2 k,
1/h oe = 10 k, h re = 104 and the forward-biased junction voltages are negligible. The
diode is ideal. (i) Evaluate (a) the sweep speed and the maximum amplitude of the sweep;
(b) the retrace time; (c) the peak voltage change across C 3 and the recovery time and (d)
the slope error. (ii) Plot the gate voltage, collector current i C1 , and the output voltage v o .

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Pulse and Digital Circuits

Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.

Fig.12p.8 A practical bootstrap sweep generator

Solution:
(i) Referring to circuit in Fig.12p.8
V
I1
20
CC
4 106 V/s
3
6
C1 R1C1 5 10 0.001 10
V s(max) = V CC = 20 V = sweep speed T s
i.e. 20 = (4 106)T s
20

Sweep time, T s =
= 5 s.
4 10 6
(b) At the end of the input pulse, Q 1 once again goes into saturation.
VCC
20
i B1 =

1.33 mA
RB
15 103
i C1 = h fe i B1 = 60 1.33 mA = 79.8 mA
The retrace time T r is
Vs
20
C1
1 109
VCC
20
= 0.26 s
Tr =

60
1
h fe
1

3
5 103
RB
R1 15 10
T = T g +T r = (50+0.26) = 50.26 s.
V
R
15 5
Recovery time T1 CC E T 63.18 106 47.385 s
VEE R1
10 10
(c) To find the slope error:
The current gain of the emitter follower is given by:

(a) Sweep speed =

AI

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1 h fe
1 hoe RE

1 60
61

48.8
1
1
1 2.5 .25
10

Pulse and Digital Circuits

Venkata Rao K., Rama Sudha K. and Manmadha Rao G.

Input impedance of the emitter follower is given by

R i = h ie + A I R E
h
1 A = ie
Ri
A is the voltage gain of the emitter follower.
R i = h ie + A I R E = 2 k + 48.8 2.5 k = 124 k
h
2
1 A ie
0.016
Ri 124

R V
(d) The slope error, e s = 1 A 1 s
Ri VCC

5 20

e s = 0.016
0.056
124 20

e s = 5.6 per cent.

(ii) Using the above calculations, the waveforms can be sketched as shown in Fig. 8.1.

Fig. 8.1 Waveforms

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10