lfo

[rhdwave]

I was wondering if anyone could help me to understand or refer me to somewhere which could explain the functioning of lfo's.  From what i can gather, it is a low frequency oscillator which is used to generate different phase stages in phasers and vibes etc.  This may or may not be correct, but what is really confusing me is: is an lfo a type of component like a specific kind of ic or is it simply a description of a process of effect that takes place when a specific set of components are combined?

thanks for any help!
Rick

[R.G.]

"LFO" is an abstraction, similar to saying "sine wave oscillator". This implies only that there is an oscillator of some kind that generates a sine wave.

Similarly, LFO means only that there is an oscillator of some kind that produces a low frequency output. "Low" is relative, and in this context it means (usually) below audio frequencies, generally below 20 Hz. How low is not implied, could be one in many seconds, could be up to lowest bass notes.

The size (voltage or current) of the waveform, and the waveform itself are not implied by the term.

It does not imply a specific IC, or even a kind of circuit, as there are many ways to generate low frequency waveforms.

[rhdwave]

Thanks for the reply! that clarifies things.  One other question on the same issue: is using photocouplers one way to generate an lfo? if so, is it something that can simply be connected to a circuit or is there some other process that needs to be implemented first? I understand the ldr's are one way to generate oscillation (i think), is a photocoupler a form of ldr?

Much thanks again,
Rick