page_title: Wien bridge oscillator
hierarchical_section_title: Wien bridge oscillator
caption_attribution_description: English: A simplified schematic of a Wien bridge oscillator with labels on each component.
context_page_description: A Wien bridge oscillator is a type of electronic oscillator that generates sine waves. It can generate a large range of frequencies. The oscillator is based on a bridge circuit originally developed by Max Wien in 1891 for the measurement of impedances.
  The bridge comprises four resistors and two capacitors. The oscillator can also be viewed as a positive gain amplifier combined with a bandpass filter that provides positive feedback. Automatic gain control, intentional non-linearity and incidental non-linearity limit the output amplitude in various implementations of the oscillator.
  The circuit shown to the right depicts a once-common implementation of the oscillator, with automatic gain control using an incandescent lamp. Under the condition that R₁=R₂=R and C₁=C₂=C, the frequency of oscillation is given by:
  and the condition of stable oscillation is given by
context_section_description: A Wien bridge oscillator is a type of electronic oscillator that generates sine waves. It can generate a large range of frequencies. The oscillator is based on a bridge circuit originally developed by Max Wien in 1891 for the measurement of impedances.
  The bridge comprises four resistors and two capacitors. The oscillator can also be viewed as a positive gain amplifier  combined with a bandpass filter that provides positive feedback.  Automatic gain control, intentional non-linearity and incidental non-linearity limit the output amplitude in various implementations of the oscillator.
  The circuit shown to the right depicts a once-common implementation of the oscillator, with automatic gain control using an incandescent lamp.  Under the condition that R₁=R₂=R and C₁=C₂=C, the frequency of oscillation is given by:
  and the condition of stable oscillation is given by
caption: In this version of the oscillator, Rb is a small incandescent lamp. Usually R1 = R2 = R and C1 = C2 = C. In normal operation, Rb self heats to the point where its resistance is Rf/2.
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