Function Generator IC 8038: Block Diagram

It consists of two current sources, two comparators, two buffers, one FF and a sine wave
converter.

Pin description:

· Pin 1 & Pin 12: Sine wave adjusts:

The distortion in the sine wave output can be reduced by adjusting the 100KΩ pots connected
between pin12 & pin11 and between pin 1 & 6.

· Pin 2 Sine Wave Output:

Sine wave output is available at this pin. The amplitude of this sine wave is 0.22 Vcc. Where
± 5V ≤ Vcc ≤ ± 15 V.

· Pin 3 Triangular Wave output:

Triangular wave is available at this pin. The amplitude of the triangular wave is 0.33Vcc.

Where ± 5V ≤ Vcc ≤ ± 15 V.

· Pin 4 & Pin 5 Duty cycle / Frequency adjust:

The symmetry of all the output wave forms & 50% duty cycle for the square wave output is
adjusted by the external resistors connected from Vcc to pin 4. These external resistors &
capacitors at pin 10 will decide the frequency of the output wave forms.

· Pin 6 + Vcc:

Positive supply voltage the value of which is between 10 & 30V is applied to this pin.

· Pin 7 : FM Bias:

This pin along with pin no8 is used to TEST the IC 8038.

· Pin9 : Square Wave Output:

A square wave output is available at this pin. It is an open collector output so that this pin

can be connected through the load to different power supply voltages. This arrangement is
very useful in making the square wave output.

· Pin 10 : Timing Capacitors:

The external capacitor C connected to this pin will decide the output frequency along with the
resistors connected to pin 4 & 5.

· Pin 11 : -VEE or Ground:

If a single polarity supply is to be used then this pin is connected to supply ground & if (±)
supply voltages are to be used then (-) supply is connected to this pin.

· Pin 13 & Pin 14: NC (No Connection)

Important features of IC 8038:

1. All the outputs are simultaneously available.

2. Frequency range : 0.001Hz to 500kHz

3. Low distortion in the output wave forms.

4. Low frequency drifts due to change in temperature.

5. Easy to use.

Parameters:

(i) Frequency of the output wave form:

The output frequency dependent on the values of resistors R1 & R2 along with the external
capacitor C connected at pin 10.

If RA= RB = R & if RC is adjusted for 50% duty cycle then f0= 0.3/RC; RA = R1, RB =

R3, RC= R2.

(ii) Duty cycle / Frequency Adjust : (Pin 4 & 5):

Duty cycle as well as the frequency of the output wave form can be adjusted by external
resistors at pin 4 & 5.

The values of resistors RA & RB connected between Vcc pin 4 & 5 respectively along

with the capacitor connected at pin 10 decide the frequency of the wave form. The values of
RA & RB should be in the range of 1kΩ to 1MΩ.

(iii)FM Bias:

• The FM Bias input (pin7) corresponds to the junction of resistors R1 & R2.

• The voltage Vin is the voltage between Vcc & pin8 and it decides the output frequency.
• The output frequency is proportional to Vin as given by the following expression.

For RA = RB (50% duty cycle).

f0= 5 Vin/CRAVcc ; where C is the timing capacitor.

· With pin 7 & 8 connected to each other the output frequency is given by f0= 0.3/RC
where R = RA = RB for 50% duty cycle.

· This is because M Sweep input (pin 8):

• Vin=R1Vcc/R1+R2

• This input should be connected to pin 7, if we want a constant output frequency.

• But if the output frequency is supposed to vary, then a variable dc voltage should be
applied to this pin.

• The voltage between Vcc & pin 8 is called Vin and it decides the output frequency as,

f0=1.5 Vin/CRAVCC

A potentiometer can be connected to this pin to obtain the required variable voltage required
to change the output frequency.

ICL8038 Function Generator circuits

This is the Mini function generator circuit using ICL8038. (Precision Waveform Generator/
Voltage Controlled Oscillator). It will generate output 3 waveform, Sine wave
signal, triangle, and square wave signals.
Look at ICL8038 or ICL8038CCPD DIP-14 Precise Waveform Generator Voltage Control
Oscillator. It looks like LM324 op-amp but its function difference.
Why use it?
It is useful IC.

Imagine we need a function generator circuit. We have many ways to do. Using the ICL8038
waveform generator is a great option.
I want you to see the picture more clearly.

Suppose that you just made a power amplifier. It is so nice sound. But some said that It
sounds distorted.

You know the best amplifier circuit increases a sound up only. It must not change frequency
and waveform of that sound.

We have an oscilloscope to see the waveform.

But we should use an input sound that can change any waveform and frequency.

The function generator is a great helper.

Because…

Product high accuracy sine, square,

triangular, sawtooth and pulse waveforms with a minimum of
external components.

Give the frequency (or repetition rate) from 0.001Hz to more than 300kHz using either
resistors or capacitors.

Have frequency modulation and sweeping with an

external voltage.

and more…

Features
• Low Frequency Drift with Temperature . . . . . 250ppm/oC
• Low Distortion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1% (Sine Wave Output)
• High Linearity . . . . . . . . . . .0.1% (Triangle Wave Output)
• Wide Frequency Range . . . . . . . . . . . .0.001Hz to 300kHz
• Variable Duty Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2% to 98%
• High Level Outputs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TTL to 28V
• Simultaneous Sine, Square, and Triangle Wave
Outputs
• Easy to Use – Just a Handful of External Components
Required

ICL8038 Pinout
Want to use it? We need to know pin connection. Or we called pinout.
Look:

Basic circuit
The output of this circuit is quite realistic in the waveform. And we will suggest a 2 model
include
(1.) the basic model

(2.) the improved performance model, we can customize even more.

Basic diagram ICL8038 circuit Function generator

Figure. 1: The basic circuit of function generator using ICL8038

The Basic characteristics of the circuit with a few components, it consists of the VR1-
potentiometer, the R1-resistors and the C1-capacitors to determined frequencyoutput. We
can use the below formula to calculate the frequency output as follows.
The Frequency output (f)
= 0.15/(VR1+R1)C1…….(1)

First, If the waveform is not symmetrical. The output of IC1 can be modified as follows.
Secondly, we connect the 500 ohms-resistors across pin 4 and VR1. Then, connect pin 5 with
VR1 just done.
The first circuit will be cheaper. It has low performance.
We recommend creating a second circuit for real use. It adds slightly parts.
The components list Resistors size 1/4W 5%
R1: 2.2K
R2: 10K
VR1: 10K Single potentiometer
Capacitors
C1: See in text
Semiconductor
IC1: ICL8038, Precision Waveform Generator/ Voltage Controlled Oscillator
Socket IC, The Universal PCB Board, and other etc.
How to builds
You can build this circuit on universal PCB board on Figure 2. the wiring, and various
components can see carefully. For the devices has various polarity should be careful in the
assembly circuit.
They include the electrolytic capacitors, potentiometer, resistors and Pin of the IC is not an
error.

Figure 2 the components layout of the basic circuit.

Developed ICL8038 function generator Model

But if the model is developed as in Figure 3. May have to invest a lot. Which device has the
additional duty is different. But the important point is to make circuit more stable and
Adjustment to the desired waveform.

Figure 3 the circuit diagram of the model is developed.

After that, We come to understand the equipment to do it. Started at D1, R1 and R2 are the
control output of signal has a symmetric or duty cycle at 50%. The VR1 and VR2 to adjust
the waveform at the output is a distortion of the original signal. The VR3 is used to select the
desired frequency at the output and Finally is VR4 is used to obtain the highest frequency
there. For the C1 of both circuit Be used to determine the frequency of each district varies as
Table 2.

Table 2 the value of capacitor-C1 that use in each frequency range of the function generators

Frequency range _____ C1 value

1Hz – 100Hz: 1uF
100Hz-1KHz: 0.1uF
1KHz-10KHz: 0.01uF
10KHz-100KHz: 0.001uF
The all capacitors using to withstand voltage at 25 volts, And If you want this machine
provides output from lowest to highest by Without changing C1, It’s not hard, just to pin 10
of IC1 with various values of C1 into selector switches. You are now a Mini function
generator that has the output of 3 model. Them to informally

How to builds this projects

We can build this circuit as Figure 4 as the components layout on the universal PCB board.
Which looks like building the project by mins ago project.

Figure 4 the components layouts of these projects.

The components list.
Resistors size 1/4W 5%
R1, R2: 4.7K
R3: 10K
VR1, VR2: 100K(B) Dual potentiometer
VR3: 10K(B) Single potentiometer
Capacitors
C1: See text
C2: 0.1uF(104) 50V Ceramic
Semiconductor
D1: 1N914 or 1N4148, 75V 150mA Diodes
IC1: ICL8038, Precision Waveform Generator/ Voltage Controlled Oscillator.