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| What's the minimum (physics first) to get an oscillator? |
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| jwet:
Okay - here are the definitiive answers* to all these questions- The radioactive decay example isn't an oscillator. It is a sensor measuring a random natural process which isn't oscillatory- doesn't repeat and has no period. Taking a component of rotary motion is an oscillator whether with a crankshaft, cam or balance wheel cogging effect. A rotating disk alone is not an oscillator. NCO's are not oscillators- they are summers, they require an oscillator to operate *- I'm being facetious of course- there are thousands of these kind of stipulated functions that we use every day. I think its best not to think about them too heavily lest you get sucked into your naval. |
| SiliconWizard:
To answer "what's the must have for an oscillator?", I think the most basic answer would be: any system that can have at least 2 states, and some energy. One may reply to this that any physical system that can have more than 1 state implies the presence of energy, so that would simplify to just: some energy. |
| thermistor-guy:
--- Quote from: Brumby on May 24, 2023, 03:46:10 am ---My first thought was: Build an amplifier. ;D --- End quote --- Or a switch-mode power supply. |
| T3sl4co1l:
--- Quote from: SiliconWizard on May 25, 2023, 03:52:01 am ---To answer "what's the must have for an oscillator?", I think the most basic answer would be: any system that can have at least 2 states, and some energy. One may reply to this that any physical system that can have more than 1 state implies the presence of energy, so that would simplify to just: some energy. --- End quote --- NMR "rings a bell" ;) --- Quote from: thermistor-guy on May 25, 2023, 04:58:41 am --- --- Quote from: Brumby on May 24, 2023, 03:46:10 am ---My first thought was: Build an amplifier. ;D --- End quote --- Or a switch-mode power supply. --- End quote --- Class D is still an amplifier for a reason. :D Tim |
| RoGeorge:
The question originated from an analog oscillator for RF. Maybe the oscillator's definition should be narrowed down a little: - physical device - has an external power source as its only input (any constant DC-like power input, but not necessarily electric power) - can output a sustained oscillation (of constant amplitude) - by oscillation, it means a periodic waveform, with a predictable shape and frequency (not chaotic-attractors based oscillator, or alike) - doesn't need other internal clocks/oscillators A spring+weight can oscillate, but it's not an oscillator because it's not constant amplitude. A digital counter, also not an oscillator because would need an external clock, and so on. |
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