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multivibrator

How is a multivibrator different from an oscillator?
Is it that a multivibrator generates square waves only (two-state)
while an oscillator's output can be any periodic waveform (sine,
square, triangle etc) ?
Thanks in advance.

-Benn
 
R

Richard

Jan 1, 1970
0
How is a multivibrator different from an oscillator?
Is it that a multivibrator generates square waves only (two-state)
while an oscillator's output can be any periodic waveform (sine,
square, triangle etc) ?
Thanks in advance.

-Benn

Yes, mutivibrators are switching circuits that produce square-wave outputs.
The square wave output can be modified (integrated, differentiated,
filtered) to produce different waveshapes. For instance, integrating a
square wave results in a triangular wave.

Oscillators generally produce sine waves, however, an astable (no stable
state) multivibrator is a square wave oscillator.

Another difference between oscillators and multivibrators is that, with the
exception of the astable multivibrator, multivibrators require an input
signal; oscillators do not.

I hope this helps.

Richard
 
M

Michael Black

Jan 1, 1970
0
How is a multivibrator different from an oscillator?
Is it that a multivibrator generates square waves only (two-state)
while an oscillator's output can be any periodic waveform (sine,
square, triangle etc) ?
Thanks in advance.

-Benn

If it's an astable multivibrator, then there's no difference. It's
merely a type of oscillator, it generates a signal.

Michael
 
J

John Popelish

Jan 1, 1970
0
How is a multivibrator different from an oscillator?
Is it that a multivibrator generates square waves only (two-state)
while an oscillator's output can be any periodic waveform (sine,
square, triangle etc) ?
Thanks in advance.

-Benn
A multivibrator is certainly a kind of oscillator. I think your
distinction is a good one, but change "square waves" to "a pulse
train", since there is no reason to expect a multivibrator to achieve
a square wave output unless you have taken pains to make it do exactly
that. Essentially any duty cycle is possible.
 
P

Paul Burridge

Jan 1, 1970
0
A multivibrator is certainly a kind of oscillator. I think your
distinction is a good one, but change "square waves" to "a pulse
train", since there is no reason to expect a multivibrator to achieve
a square wave output unless you have taken pains to make it do exactly
that. Essentially any duty cycle is possible.

Hello, John. Nice to see you're still imparting your invaluable wisdom
to students of this most technically-challenging of hobbies.
My 2p worth...
A multivibrator is a form of (RC) oscillator, but one which by its
very nature is guaranteed to self-start and produce a squarish
waveform. Conventional LC oscillators require a noise shock and
adequate positive feedback to get going. Then they'll ordinarily
generate a sine wave.
No doubt someone will find fault with that distinction, though. :-/
 
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