Lab2: Application of the 555 Timer

Graham Mulvaney
Performed on 1/18/2012 Wednesday Lab TA: John Hardin

Introduction/Purpose: The goals of this lab were to use the 555 timer to build a One-Shot circuit, RC and Sawtooth Oscillators, and a personal clock pulse generator. Section A: The 555 timer IC as One-Shot (OS)
VCC One-Shot 555 Timer 12V

R1 10k

R3 10k

8 VCC 4 7 6 2 5 RST DIS THR TRI CON GND 1 OUT

U1
3

R2

Vout

150k

C2 680nF

C1 10nF

LED1 LM555CM

GND

Procedure: In this section of the lab, the above circuit was constructed according to the diagram in the lab manual, using an NE555 IC. The pulse duration was measured by quickly initiating the pulse, then measuring the amount of time between the point where the pulse reached its high output voltage, to the point where it began to decrease back to its low output. The error due to the time it took to withdraw the wire was minimized by increasing the resistor and capacitor values in order to increase the pulse duration. Several different sizes of LEDs were used throughout this section in efforts to get one to shine brightly. 1. The initial state of the LED is off 2. When grounded, the LED turns on 3. Duration of the pulse: = 1.1 ; = 9.1, = 100 !"#! = 1.001; !"#$ = 1.080 The measured data agrees with the calculated value within 10% 4. There was no measurable delay between trigger and output. The maximum sizes of the components used were = 91 = 470. 5. When RST is grounded, the circuit output goes low as expected.

6. The phototransistor circuit output is high when the phototransistor is covered, blocking light. It goes low when light is allowed to hit the phototransistor. The addition of the phototransistor caused an increase in the duration of the pulse. Section B: The 555 Timer as an Oscillator
555 Timer Oscillator Ra 10k
4 7 RST DIS THR TRI CON GND 1

VCC 12V
8 VCC OUT 3

U1 R3 150k Vout

Rb 10k

6 2 5

LED1 LM555CM

C1 100nF

C2 10nF

GND

555 Super-Switch Oscillator Sw1: On/Off Sw2: f(on)|f/2(off) Sw3: Pulse Width Modulator(on) R1 1k
4 RST DIS THR TRI CON

VCC 12V
8 VCC OUT 3

U1 R3 150k Vout

S1 XFG1 R2 1k

7 6 2 5

GND 1

LED1 LM555CM

C3 100nF

C1 100nF

GND

1.

! !

= 0.7 ! + 2! ; = 100 ! = ! = 10

!"#! = 476; !"#$ = 466 The measured frequency agrees with the calculated within 10%. The basic waveform of the wave resembled an extended RC curve with a flat top, and significant RC wave shape on the negative edge of the wave. The output across the capacitor had maximum and minimum peak values of ~2V, which indicates that there is ~+/-2V threshold for this circuit. 2. The circuit had a frequency range of 4.35 468 Hz, but at high frequencies the duty cycle !"#.!!" !.!!" decreased greatly from 77%( !".!!" ) to 8.6% (!".!!"). 3. This op-amp has a very low frequency range of operation and exhibits pulse distortion at its upper limits. There was also overheating of the circuit at the higher frequencies, even while the wave form seemed acceptable on the oscilloscope. 4. The super switch and its functions are shown above, and in the pre-lab. A difference between these two circuits is that in the physical lab the RST button was grounded, and not connected to the supply line like in the pre-lab. Section C: Saw-tooth Oscillator
555 Saw-tooth Oscillator R2 10k 50% Key=A Q1 VCC 5V
8 VCC 4 7 6 2 5 RST DIS THR TRI CON GND 1 OUT 3

U1 R4 150k Vout

R1 499

2N3906 R3 499 C1 100nF

Vout

LED1 LM555CM

GND

1. The circuit should be a saw-tooth because the transistor ensures that a constant current will flow into the capacitor, always charging it so that . Using a 1x probe on the circuit caused the voltage to increase from 0.5V to 2.5V. 2. The frequency range from this circuit was 208-68.5kHz. 3. The rise times of the saw-tooth at its highest and lowest frequencies were 4.760, and 7.200 respectively.

4. In order to increase the maximum frequency by a factor of 50, a smaller RC value is needed than what is currently being used and a larger voltage source will most likely be necessary. 5. This wave form can be used to create sounds with music synthesizers. Section D: Your Own Clock (YOCLK) The YOCLK was attempted and a final product was created, but when this circuit was connected to a power source, the led melted. The most likely error was soldering technique, and a poorly designed (yet affordable) circuit board. Summary/Conclusions This lab taught the use of 555 timers in creating astable and monostable circuits, the implementation of those basic circuits in generating more interesting functions. The lab results all agreed with the expectations shown by the applicable equations to the circuitry shown in the doctronics document that was read for the pre-lab. There were significant problems with soldering the YOCLK together, mainly due to the difficulty presented by the circuit board.