A multivibrator is an electronic circuit that generates continuous square wave or rectangular wave oscillations. It is a type of waveform generator. It is commonly used in electronic circuits for various purposes. (Signal generation, timing, and pulse generation).
There are two main types of multivibrators: astable and monostable.
Astable Multivibrator:
- An astable multivibrator is a free-running oscillator circuit that continuously switches between two states without any external input.
- It has two distinct voltage levels, typically high and low.
- The circuit consists of two cross-coupled amplifying devices (such as transistors or op-amps) and a feedback network.
- The output waveform is a square wave. It’s an equal amount of time spent with each state.
Monostable Multivibrator:
- A monostable multivibrator, also known as a one-shot multivibrator.
- It has only one stable state.
- Once triggered, it remains in the unstable state for a predetermined period before returning to the stable state.
- Common applications include pulse generators, time delay circuits, and pulse-width modulation.