Self-Powered Sine to Square Wave Converter Diagram

Transforms sine waves into square waves without requiring an external power supply

It serves as a valuable testing instrument specifically for audio applications

Circuit Diagram

Components:

Device Objective:

This circuit is designed to yield effective square waves, converting a sine wave obtained from an existing generator. A key attribute is the absence of the need for an external power source; therefore, it can be readily connected between a sine wave generator and the device being tested. The incoming sine wave is fed into a voltage multiplier constructed from C1, C2, D1 & D2, which then supplies power to IC1. IC1’s amplifier boosts the initial sine wave, while other inverters within IC1 generate a squared signal, producing an output square wave with a balanced mark/space ratio and well-defined rise and fall times across a frequency range of 20Hz to 20KHz.

Notes:

This circuit received £50 and was featured in the “Circuit Ideas” section of ELECTRONICS WORLD, February 2000 issue, page 135.

IC1 - 4069 Hex Inverter IC

The 4069 is a versatile hex inverter integrated circuit commonly utilized in a variety of analog and digital circuits. This particular IC is a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) based inverter, meaning that each input signal is inverted by the corresponding transistor. Its six outputs are configured to invert the corresponding input signal, offering a convenient solution for numerous circuit designs. With a low supply voltage requirement, the 4069 is a cost-effective choice for building complex logic circuits and signal processing applications. It is a popular selection for students and hobbyists due to its ease of use and readily available datasheets. The IC operates with a supply voltage of approximately 15V, allowing it to function reliably in a range of circuit designs. The pinout of the 4069 IC includes six outputs, which are typically labeled as QB, QC, QA, QB1, QB2, QB3, and QB4. Each output is a BJT that performs the inversion function. The IC is suitable for a wide array of projects, from basic logic gates to more complex digital circuits, and offers a robust and dependable performance with minimal component count.