Independent control of the frequency and condition of oscillation: A caution

Abstract

Over the years researchers have developed and reported a huge number of sinusoidal oscillator circuits and classified them, according to the tunability of their frequencies of oscillation, as enjoying independent control of the frequency and condition of oscillation. This classification is based on obtaining the frequency and the condition of oscillation using the Barkhausen criterion. This article serves as a caution as it appears that this classification is incorrect. Experimental and SPICE simulation results that support this caution are included. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.