3.

1555 TIMER:

555 TIMER is a most versatile liner integrated circuit, introduced by SIGNETICS

CORPORATION. The 555 is a monolithic timing circuit that can produce accurate and highly
stable time delays or oscillations. NE555 monolithic timing circuit is a highly stable controller
capable of producing accurate time delays or oscillation. In the time delay mode of operation, the
time is precisely controlled by one external resistor and capacitor. For a stable operation as an
oscillator, the free running frequency and the duty cycle are both accurately controlled with 2
external resistors and one capacitor.

Depending on the manufacturer, the standard 555 package includes over 20 transistors, 2 diodes
and 15 resistors on a silicon chip installed in an 8-pin mini dual-in-line package (DIP-8) Variants
available include the 556 (a 14-pin DIP combining two 555s on one chip), and the 558 (a 16-pin
DIP combining four slightly modified 555s with DIS & THR connected internally, and TR
falling edge sensitive instead of level sensitive).

The 555 has three operating modes:

Monostable mode: in this mode, the 555 functions as a "one-shot". Applications include timers,
missing pulse detection, bouncefree switches, touch switches, frequency divider, capacitance
measurement, pulse-width modulation (PWM) etc

Astable - free running mode: the 555 can operate as an oscillator. Uses include LED and lamp
flashers, pulse generation, logic clocks, tone generation, security alarms, pulse positon
modulation, etc.

Schematic symbol:

Fig 3.1.1 schematic diagram

The connection of the pins is as follows:

Nr Name Purpose
.
1 GND Ground, low level (0 V)
2 TRIG A short pulse high-to-low on the trigger starts the timer
3 OUT During a timing interval, the output stays at +VCC
4 RESET A timing interval can be interrupted by applying a reset pulse to low (0 V)
5 CTRL Control voltage allows access to the internal voltage divider (2/3 VCC)
6 THR The threshold at which the interval ends (it ends if the voltage at THR is at least
2/3 VCC)
7 DIS Connected to a capacitor whose discharge time will influence the timing
interval
8 V+, The positive supply voltage which must be between 3 and 15 V
VCC
Table1. 555 timer pin specifications

The internal diagram for a 555 timer is shown in the figure.

Pin1: Ground. All voltages are measured with respect to this terminal.

Pin2: Trigger. The output of the timer depends on the amplitude of the external trigger pulse
applied to this pin. The output is low if the voltage at this pin is greater than 2/3 VCC. When a
negative going pulse of amplitude greater than 1/3 VCC is applied to this pin, comparator 2
output goes low, which in turn switches the output of the timer high. The output remains high as
long as the trigger terminal is held at a low voltage.

Pin3: Output. There are two ways by which a load can be connected to the output terminal: either
between pin 3 and ground or between pin3 and supply voltage +VCC. When the output is low
the load current flows through the load connected between pin3 and +VCC into the output
terminal and is called sink current. The current through the grounded load is zero when the
output is low. For this reason the load connected between pin 3 and +VCC is called the normally
on load and that connected between pin 3 and ground is called normally off-load. On the other
hand, when the output is high the current through the load connected between pin 3 and +VCC is
zero. The output terminal supplies current to the normally off load. This current is called source
current. The maximum value of sink or source current is 200mA.

Pin4: Reset. The 555 timer can be reset (disabled) by applying a negative pulse to this pin. When
the reset function is not in use, the reset terminal should be connected to +VCC to avoid any
possibility of false triggering.

Pin5: Control Voltage. An external voltage applied to this terminal changes the threshold as well
as trigger voltage. Thus by imposing a voltage on this pin or by connecting a pot between this
pin and ground, the pulse width of the output waveform can be varied. When not used, the
control pin should be bypassed to ground with a 0.01µF Capacitor to prevent any noise
problems.

Pin6: Threshold. This is the non-inverting input of comparator 1, which monitors the voltage
across the external capacitor. When the voltage at this pin is greater than or equal to the threshold
voltage 2/3 VCC, the output of comparator 1 goes high, which inturn switches the output of the
timer low.

Pin7: Discharge. This pin is connected internally to the collector of transistor Q1. When the
output is high Q1 is OFF and acts as an open circuit to external capacitor C connected across it.
On the other hand, when the output is low, Q1 is saturated and acts as a short circuit, shorting out
the external capacitor C to ground.

Pin8: +VCC. The supply voltage of +5V to + 18V is applied to this pin with respect to ground.
 Fig 3.1.2 555 internal diagram

3.2 The 555 Oscillator

An astable multivibrator, often called a free running multivibrator,this circuit generates highly
accurate free running waveforms whose output frequency can be adjusted by means of an
externally connected RC tank circuit consisting of just two resistors and a capacitor.
The 555 Oscillator is another type of relaxation oscillator for generating stabilized square wave
output waveforms of either a fixed frequency of up to 500kHz or of varying duty cycles from 50
to 100%. In order to get the 555 Oscillator to operate as an Astable Multivibrator, it is necessary
to continuously re-trigger the 555 IC after each and every timing cycle. This is basically
achieved by connecting the Trigger input (pin 2) and the Threshold input (pin 6) together,
thereby allowing the device to act as an astable oscillator. Then the 555
Oscillator has no stable states as it continuously switches
from one state to the other.

Astable 555 Oscillator:

Fig 3.2.1 Astable mode 555 timer

circuit diagram

Fig 3.2.2 waveforms of 555 timer in astable mode

In the 555 Oscillator above, pin 2 and pin 6 are connected together allowing the circuit to re-
trigger itself on each and every cycle allowing it to operate as a free running oscillator. During
each cycle capacitor, C charges up through both timing resistors, R1 and R2 but discharges itself
only through resistor, R2 as the other side of R2 is connected to the Discharge terminal, pin 7.
Then the capacitor charges up to 2/3Vcc (the upper comparator limit) which is determined by the
0.693(R1+R2)C combination and discharges itself down to 1/3Vcc (the lower comparator limit)
determined by the 0.693(R2.C) combination. This results in an output waveform whose voltage
level is approximately equal to Vcc - 1.5V and whose output "ON" and "OFF" time periods are
determined by the capacitor and resistors combinations. The individual times required to
complete one charge and discharge cycle of the output is therefore given as:

Astable 555 Oscillator Charge and Discharge Times:

Where, R is in Ω's and C in Farads.

When connected as an Astable Multivibrator, the output from the 555 Oscillator will continue
indefinitely charging and discharging between 2/3Vcc and 1/3Vcc until the power supply is
removed. As with the Monostable Multivibrator these charge and discharge times and therefore
the frequency are independent of the supply voltage. The duration of one full cycle is therefore
equal to the sum of the two individual times that the capacitor charges and discharges added
together and is given as:

555 Oscillator Total Time Period:

The output frequency of oscillations can be found by inverting the equation above for the total
cycle time giving a final equation for the output frequency of an Astable 555 Oscillator as:

555 Oscillator Frequency Equation:

 
By altering the time constant of just one of the RC combinations, the Duty Cycle better known as
the "Mark-to-Space" ratio of the output waveform can be accurately set and is given as the ratio
of resistor R2 to resistor R1. The Duty Cycle for the 555 Oscillator, which is the ratio of the
"ON" time divided by the "OFF" time is given by:

555 Oscillator Duty Cycle:

The duty cycle has no units as it is a ratio but can be expressed as a percentage (%). If both
timing resistors, R1 and R2 are equal the output duty cycle will be given as 2:1 or 33%.

As the timing capacitor, C charges through resistors R1 and R2 but only discharges through
resistor R2 the output duty cycle can be varied between 50 and 100% by changing the value of
resistor R2. By decreasing the value of R2 the duty cycle increases towards 100% and by
increasing R2 the duty cycle reduces towards 50%. If resistor, R2 is very large relative to resistor
R1 the output frequency of the 555 Oscillator circuit will determined by R2.C only. The problem
with this basic Astable 555 Oscillator circuit is that the duty cycle, the "Mark-to-Space" ratio
will never go below 50% as the presence of resistor R2 prevents this. In other words we cannot
make the "ON" time shorter than the "OFF" time as (R1 + R2)C will always be greater than
R1.C. One way to overcome this problem is to connect a signal diode in parallel with resistor R2
as shown below.

3.4 555 TIMER AS MONOSTABLE MV:

Monostable multivibrator often called as one shot multivibrator is a pulse generating circuit in
which the duration of this pulse is determined by the RC network connected externally to the 555
timer. In a stable or standby state, the output of the circuit is approximately zero or a logic-low
level. When external trigger pulse is
applied output is forced to go high ( VCC).
The time for which output remains high is
determined by the external RC network
connected to the timer. At the end of the
timing interval, the output automatically
reverts back to its logic-low stable state.
The output stays low until trigger pulse is
again applied. Then the cycle repeats. The
monostable circuit has only one stable state
(output low) hence the name monostable. Fig 3.4.1 555 timer in monostable mode

Operation:

Initially when the circuit is in the stable state i.e , when the output is low, transistor Q1 is ON
and the capacitor C is shorted out to ground. Upon the application of a negative trigger pulse to
pin 2, transistor Q1 is turned OFF, which releases the short circuit across the external capacitor C
and drives the output high. The capacitor C now starts charging up towards VCC through R.
When the voltage across the capacitor equals 2/3 VCC, comparator 1’s output switches from low
to high, which inturn drives the output to its low state via the output of the flip-flop. At the same
time the output of the flip-flop turns transistor Q1 ON and hence the capacitor C rapidly
discharges through the transistor. The output of the monostable remains low until a trigger pulse
is again applied. Then the cycle repeats.
The pulse width of the trigger input must be smaller than the expected pulse width of the output
waveform. Also the trigger pulse must be a negative going input signal with amplitude larger
than 1/3 VCC.

The time during which the output remains high is given by

T=1.1RC seconds

where R is in Ohms and C is in Farads.

Once triggered, the circuit’s output will remain in the high state until the set time, t elapses. The
output will not change its state even if an input trigger is applied again during this time interval t.
The circuit can be reset during the timing cycle by applying negative pulse to the reset terminal.
The output will remain in the low state until a trigger is again applied.
Fig 3.4.2 waveforms of monostable multivibrator