Variable-frequency oscillator

An electronic oscillator whose output frequency can be adjusted over a range. It provides a tunable signal for uses such as radio transmission and reception.

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LC oscillator: An oscillator that uses an inductor and capacitor to set its resonant frequency. Changing the inductance or capacitance shifts the resonant frequency.
Radio transmitter: A device that generates and radiates radio-frequency signals carrying information. Its carrier frequency can be set by a variable-frequency oscillator.
Electronic oscillator: An electronic circuit that produces a periodic signal without requiring a periodic input. A variable-frequency oscillator is a tunable member of this broader class.
Crystal oscillator: An oscillator whose frequency is controlled by the mechanical resonance of a piezoelectric crystal. It is generally more stable but less freely tunable than a variable-frequency oscillator.
Voltage-controlled oscillator: An oscillator whose output frequency varies with an applied control voltage. A tuning voltage provides a direct way to adjust output frequency.
Superheterodyne receiver: A radio receiver that converts incoming signals to a fixed intermediate frequency for processing. Its local oscillator tunes reception by mixing with the selected station.
Resonance: A strong response of a system when driven near one of its natural frequencies. Resonance sets the preferred frequency in many tunable oscillator circuits.
Direct digital synthesis: A method that generates waveforms digitally from a phase accumulator and stored waveform values. It offers precise digital frequency selection instead of tuning an analog resonator.
Varactor: A semiconductor diode whose junction capacitance changes with reverse-bias voltage. Its voltage-dependent capacitance can tune a resonant circuit.
Local oscillator: An oscillator that generates a signal for mixing or frequency conversion in a receiver or transmitter. A tunable local oscillator selects or translates radio channels.