ELE3124 Electronic Devices
and Applications
CREDITS:3
ANASWARA VISWANATH
555 Timer
•Astable Operation
•Monostable Operation
TOPICS •Operation as a Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO)
COVERED
555 TIMER
The 555 timer is a versatile integrated circuit with many applications.
The 555 timer consists basically of two comparators, a flip-flop, a
discharge transistor, and a resistive voltage divider.
The entire circuit is usually housed in an eight-pin package
The flip-flop (bistable multivibrator) is a two-state device whose
output can be at either a high voltage level (set, S) or a low voltage
level (reset, R). The state of the output can be changed with proper
input signals
The resistive voltage divider is used to set the voltage comparator
levels. All three resistors are of equal value; therefore, the upper
comparator has a reference of ⅔VCC, and the lower comparator has a
reference of ⅓VCC.
555 TIMER
555 TIMER
The comparators’ outputs control the state of the flip-flop.
When the trigger voltage goes below ⅓VCC, the flip-flop sets and the
output jumps to its high level.
The threshold input is normally connected to an external RC timing
circuit.
When the external capacitor voltage exceeds ⅔VCC, the upper
comparator resets the flip-flop, which in turn switches the output
back to its low level.
When the device output is low, the discharge transistor (Qd) is turned
on and provides a path for rapid discharge of the external timing
capacitor.
This basic operation allows the timer to be configured with external
components as an oscillator, a one-shot, or a time-delay element
Astable
Operation
555 timer connected to operate in the
astable mode as a free-running relaxation
oscillator (astable multivibrator) is shown.
Notice that the threshold input (THRESH) is
now connected to the trigger input (TRIG).
The external components R1, R2, and Cext
form the timing circuit that sets the
frequency of oscillation.
The 0.01 mF capacitor connected to the
control (CONT) input is strictly for
decoupling and has no effect on the
operation.
Initially, when the power is turned on, the
capacitor Cext is uncharged and thus the
trigger voltage (pin 2) is at 0 V.
This causes the output of the lower
comparator to be high and the output of the
upper comparator to be low, forcing the
output of the flip-flop, and thus the base of
Qd, low and keeping the transistor off.
Astable Now, Cext begins charging through R1 and R2
When the capacitor voltage reaches ⅓VCC, the
Operation lower comparator switches to its low output
state, and when the capacitor voltage reaches
⅔VCC, the upper comparator switches to its
high output state.
This resets the flip-flop, causes the base of Qd
to go high, and turns on the transistor.
This sequence creates a discharge path for the
capacitor through R2 and the transistor, as
indicated.
Astable
Operation
The capacitor now begins to discharge,
causing the upper comparator to go low.
At the point where the capacitor discharges
down to ⅓VCC, the lower comparator
switches high, setting the flip-flop, which
makes the base of Qd low and turns off the
transistor.
Another charging cycle begins, and the
Astable entire process repeats.
Operation The result is a rectangular wave output
whose duty cycle depends on the values of
R1 and R2.
Figure shows the capacitor and output
waveforms resulting from the astable circuit.
Calculation of the time intervals during
which the output is high and low can be
made using the relations
Astable Operation
The total period is Tperiod = Thigh + Tlow
The frequency of the astable circuit is then calculated using
Q?
•Determine the frequency and draw the output waveform for the circuit
Monostable Operation
•The 555 timer can also be used as a one-shot or monostable
multivibrator circuit.
• When the trigger input signal goes negative, it triggers the one-shot,
with output at pin 3 then going high for a time period given by Thigh =
1.1RAC
Monostable Operation
•we see that the negative edge of the trigger input causes
comparator 2 to trigger the flip-flop, with the output at pin
3 going high.
•Capacitor C charges toward VCC through resistor RA . During
the charge interval, the output remains high.
•When the voltage across the capacitor reaches the
threshold level of 2VCC/3, comparator 1 triggers the flip-
flop, with output going low.
•The discharge transistor also goes low, causing the
capacitor to remain at near 0 V until triggered again.
•Time periods for this circuit can range from microseconds
to many seconds, making this IC useful for a range of
applications
Operation as a Voltage-Controlled
Oscillator (VCO)
•A 555 timer can be set up to operate as a VCO by using the same external
connections as for astable operation, with the exception that a variable
control voltage is applied to the CONT input (pin 5),
Operation as a Voltage-Controlled
Oscillator (VCO)
•As shown in figure, the control voltage (VCONT) changes the
threshold values of ⅓VCC and ⅔VCC for the internal
comparators.
•With the control voltage, the upper value is VCONT and the
lower value is ½VCONT, as you can see by examining the
internal diagram of the 555 timer.
• When the control voltage is varied, the output frequency
also varies. An increase in VCONT increases the charging and
discharging time of the external capacitor and causes the
frequency to decrease.
•A decrease in VCONT decreases the charging and discharging
time of the capacitor and causes the frequency to increase.
THANK YOU