How does an oscillator work?

Answer 1

An oscillator works in different ways in different electronic equipment. For example, there is a quartz oscillator in a quartz watch that can keep track of the time. A pendulum of a clock is an oscillator that goes back and forth using potential and kinetic energy.

Answer 2

Oscillators generally consist of a capacitor and inductor wired in parallel. Current is passed back and forth between the two.

The capacitor is charged via an amplifier which then discharges into the coil. When the current stops flowing, the field collapses in the coil, recharging the capacitor.

It will do this at a frequency, determined by the sizes of the coil and capacitor. This ringing or 'oscillation' would normally decay to nothing.

In an oscillator circuit, an amplifier is connected with the output of the tuned circuit connected to the input. This will keep giving the tuned circuit a kick, continuing the oscillation for as long as power is applied.

Answer 3

An oscillator generates a continuous output signal of a specific frequency by feedback of a portion of the output signal back to the input. This feedback creates a sustained oscillation or periodic waveform. The most common types of oscillators are based on LC circuits, crystal oscillators, and operational amplifiers.