Question
What are three common oscillator circuits?
Answer Options
- A) Taft, Pierce, and negative feedback
- B) Pierce, Fenner, and Beane
- C) Taft, Hartley, and Pierce
- D) Colpitts, Hartley, and Pierce
Correct Answer: D
Explanation
An oscillator is an electronic circuit that generates a repetitive electronic signal (usually a sine wave or square wave) without the need for an external input signal. The circuit relies on an amplifier combined with a positive feedback loop and a frequency-determining (resonant) element to sustain the oscillation.
Three common oscillator circuits named after their inventors and widely used in radio are the Colpitts, Hartley, and Pierce circuits. The Colpitts and Hartley oscillators use an \text{LC} tank circuit (L and C) in the feedback loop for frequency determination, while the Pierce oscillator uses a quartz crystal as the high-Q resonant element for maximum frequency stability.
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