A new linear delay circuit based on an emitter-coupled multivibrator

A simple free-running emitter-coupled multivibrator, using germanium transistors, is described in which changes in the ambient temperature and supply voltages have only a second-order effect. It is a designable circuit in which the oscillation frequency can be calculated to within ¿%. The basic multivibrator, with additional circuits, can be changed into a monostable trigger circuit, in which the delay time is linearly related to a resistance. The linearity is of the order of ¿% of the maximum delay. The basic multivibrator can also be synchronized to a train of input pulses and used as a fixed frequency divider.