MODULE 5: TIMER 555.

Digital Timers

Timers are those circuits, which provide periodic signals to a digital system which change the
state of that system. In other words, those circuits, which work on the base of multivibrator
changes or a device, which can be used as multivibrator is called Timer.

What is 555 Timer IC?

555 Timer is a digital monolithic integrated circuit (IC) which may be used as a clock
generator. In other words, 555 Timer is a circuit which may be connected as a Astable,
Monostable or Bistable multivibrator. In more simple words, 555 Timer is a monolithic
timing circuit, which can produce accurate timing pulses with 50% or 100% duty cycle. It
was developed in the year 1970 by Signetic Corporation and designed by Hans Camenzind in
1971.

Features or Specification of 555 Timer IC:

 There are two types of 555 timer based on its nomenclature – NE 555 Timer and SE
555 Timer. While NE 555 timer can be used in the temperature range from 0 to 70°C,
the SE 555 Timer can be used in the temperature range from -55°C to 125°C and has
a temperature stability of 0.005% per OC.

 it can be operated of different power supplies ranging from 5 Volts to 18 Volts.

 It can be used either as a pulse generator or an oscillator by operating it in different

modes.

 The name 555 comes from the fact that it contains three 5 Kilo-Ohm resistors in
series to form the voltage divider pattern.

 It can drive both Transistor-Transistor Logic (TTL) due to its high output current and
CMOS logic circuits.

 It has high output current and adjustable duty cycle.

 555 timers can be operated in both Astable and Monostable modes.

 The output of 555 timer can source or absorb current up to 200mA sinking or
sourcing current to the load.

 It contains 24 transistors, 2 diodes and 17 resistors.

 555 timer is available as an 8-Pin Dual in Line Package (DIP), 8-Pin Metal
Can or 14-Pin Dual in Line Package (DIP).

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BLOCK DIAGRAM OF IC 555

A simple 555 timer circuit is shown above in fig 3 which shows the internal construction of
555 timer. According to fig the timer contains on two comparators, an RS flip flop, an Output
Inverting buffer and a Discharge Transistor Q1.

In addition, there are three 5kΩ resistors are connected in series with 5kΩ resistor which first
end is connected with VCC (Pin 8 = Supply voltage) and the other end is connected with
ground (GND = Pin 1). Three 5kΩ resistor forms the voltage divider network and provides
reference voltage value 2/3 VCC and 1/3 VCC.

In above fig as given in the block diagram, heart of the IC lies in the two comparator circuits.
While inverting terminal of the upper comparator is connected to a point with DC potential of
2/3 VCC (where VCC can be +5V to +18V), the non-inverting terminal is connected to the
threshold pin.

The inverting terminal of the lower comparator is connected to the external trigger input pin
whereas the non-inverting terminal is connected to the point with DC potential of 1/3 V CC.
The three 5 Kilo-Ohm resistors are connected in series to form voltage divider circuit. Output
from both the comparators is given to the R-S Flip Flop whose state depends on the output
from the two comparators.

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 Output from the R-S Flip-Flop is connected to the base of NPN transistor also known as
discharge transistor which provides discharge path to the external capacitor, when saturated.
When we apply zero voltage to the RESET pin of IC555 then it RESETS the operation of R-
S flip flop. For normal operation RESET pin is connected to VCC.

PIN OUT DIAGRAM OF IC 555.

PIN Number Name Purpose

1 GND Ground reference(0V)

2 TRIG To give external trigger voltage

3 OUT Provides output signal.

4 RESET To reset timing interval

5 CTRL Provides control access to internal voltage divider

6 THR Threshold voltage

7 DIS Allows external transistor to discharge.

8 VCC Positive voltage supply

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 555 Timer IC Pin Diagram

1. Ground (GND)

It’s the common ground point of the circuit. The ground terminal of external circuit as well as
power supply (VCC) ground terminal is connected to the GND terminal of 555 timers.

2. Trigger

When Trigger terminal gets voltage below one –third (1/3) of the supply voltage, then output
of lower comparator goes high which in turn SETS the R-S F/F making Q=0,Qbar= 1 and
final output becomes logic 0.Since Q bar=0 it makes the discharge transistor OFF.
i.e. VCC/3 equal amplitude’s negative trigger pulse, then the circuit output changes form Low
to High.

3. Output

This terminal is used for getting output and connected with load. At any instant, its value is
low or high. i.e. This is the output pin of the Timer. Output of the Timer depends on the
duration of timing cycle of the input pulse. The output can either sink or source current, at
maximum 200mA.For LOW output, it sinks current, voltage being slightly greater than zero
and for HIGH output, it sources current, voltage being less than V CC.

4. Reset

Without considering the previous state of output, by providing a trigger pulse to this terminal
resets the device. I.e. Its output becomes low. For normal operation this pin is connected to
the VCC. A logic LOW signal at this pin resets the Timer regardless of its input. The required
reset voltage is 0.7 Volts, at current of 0.1mA

5. Control Voltage

At this pin we get 2/3 VCC potential. Generally, a capacitor is connected between ground and
voltage control terminals. By applying external DC potential to this pin we can vary the
reference voltage of both upper and lower comparator. This pin is used when we use IC555 as
VCO or for Pulse width modulation.

6. Threshold Voltage

This pin is internally connected to the non-inverting terminal of upper comparator.

If the available voltage at threshold terminal (Pin 6) is greater than the two-third of VCC, then
internal F/F is SET, Q=1, Q bar=0 and final output becomes high. Since Q=1 hence discharge
transistor turns ON and it allows external capacitor to discharge through internal NPN
discharge transistor.

7. Discharge

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When output is low, then Discharge terminal provides a low resistance discharge path to the
externally connected capacitor. However, it acts an open circuit when output is high.

This pin provides a discharge path for the timing capacitor through the NPN transistor. A
discharge current less than 50 mA is required to avoid damage. It can also be used as open
collector output.

8. +VCC (Supply Voltage Terminal)

Supply voltage is provided at this terminal for timer operation. This pin is connected to
positive rail of the Power supply and is also known as VCC. The supply voltage can vary
from +5 Volts to +18 Volts.

Multivibrator using IC 555.

Introduction

A multivibrator is a one type of electronic circuit, that is used to implement a two-state

system like flip-flops, timers, and oscillators. Basically, Multivibrator is having two states
Quasi and Stable state. Quasi state is also known as unstable state during which multivibrator
changes its output from on to another state. During stable state Multivibrator do not changes
its output. Depending upon number of Quasi and Stable state Multivibrators are classified
into three types of namely Astable multivibrators, Bistable multivibrators, and Monostable
multivibrators.

Astable Multivibrator:

It is a circuit which don’t have any stable state and it repeatedly switches from one state to
the other. It is also known as square wave generator. It does not require external trigger pulse.

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Monostable Multivibrator:

In monostable multivibrator, one state is stable and one unstable or Quasi. Initially the circuit
is in Stable state when we apply external trigger pulse then circuit goes from stable to quasi
state, remains in the Quasi state for a given time period also known as delay time ,then it
comes back to the Stable state on its own without the help of external trigger pulse.

Bistable Multivibrator:

A bistable multivibrator circuit is stable that can be changed from one stable to other stable
by an external trigger pulse. This multivibrator circuit is also called as flip-flop which can be
used to store one bit of data.

Monostable Multivibrator using IC 555.

Monostable multivibrators have only one stable state that is used to generate a single o/p
pulse of a specified width either high or low when an external trigger pulse is applied. This
trigger pulse starts a timing cycle, which causes the o/p to change its state at the time of start
of timing cycle and continues in the second state which is decided by the time constant of the
capacitor C and resistor R until it returns to its original state. It will continue in this state until
another i/p signal is received. Monostable multivibrators can produce a much longer
rectangular waveform. When a trigger pulse is applied externally then the leading edge of the
waveform rises with the externally applied trigger. Here, trailing edge depends upon the RC
time constant of the feedback components used. This RC time constant may be varied with
time to produce a series of pulses which have a fixed time delay to the original triggered
pulse.

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Circuit Connections of Monostable Multivibrator with 555 Timer

Monostable Multivibrator using 555 IC Timer

In the above circuit, the pin1 is connected to the ground and the trigger input is given to the
pin2.In inactive condition the potential of trigger pin is pulled to at +VCC using pull up
resistor(Not shown in ckt diagram) To get transition of the output from a stable state to
unstable state, a negative going pulse of narrow width and amplitude going below +1/3 VCC
is applied to pin2. The o/p is taken from pin3 and pin4 is connected to +VCC to avoid
accidental reset. Pin5 is connected to the ground via a 0.01uF capacitor to avoid noise. Pin6
and pin7 are shorted and a resistor RA is connected as shown in circuit diagram. A discharge
capacitor is connected to pin7, while pin8 is connected to VCC.

Working of Monostable Multivibrator with 555 Timer Circuit:

Initially the circuit is in stable state. In this state the Q bar output of F/F is logic 1, final
output is logic low and discharge transistor is ON. To bring the circuit from stable to quasi
state we apply negative going pulse at pin 2 i.e. pulse whose amplitude is decreasing from
VCC towards zero volt. In this case lower comparator output goes high and it Sets the F/F
making Q=1, Q bar=0 hence final output goes high and discharge transistor turns OFF. Now
the capacitor C starts charging through resistor R towards VCC, when the voltage across
capacitor C reaches the value 2/3 VCC then potential of threshold pin (pin no 6) also reaches
2/3 VCC causing upper comparator output to go high which will Reset the F/F making Q
bar=0, final output logic 1(high) and turns ON discharge transistor. Since discharge transistor
is ON it will provide the discharge path to capacitor C and now the circuit will switch from
quasi to stable state.

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Waveform:

TON = 1.1RC

Where, R is in Ω and C in Farads.

Expression for TON.

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Finally, we can conclude that, in the monostable multivibrator using 555 timer, the o/p stays
in a low state until it gets a trigger i/p. This type of operation is used in push to operate
systems. When the input is triggered, then the o/p will go to high state & comes back to its
original state.

Advantages of Monostable Multivibrator

1. It needs only one single pulse to start its operation there is no need of extra pulse for
its operation.

2. Its construction is very simple and can be constructed easily.

3. Due to simple construction its price is also less.

Disadvantages of Monostable Multivibrator

The major drawback of using a monostable multivibrator is that the time between the
applications of trigger pulse T has to be greater than the RC time constant of the circuit.

Applications of Monostable Multivibrator

1. Due to time delay capability, it is mostly used in different timer circuits.

2. It also used in different storage circuits.

3. It also used to provide input to other pluse generator circuits.

4. It also has ability to reproduce damage pulses again.

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Astable Multivibrator

An astable multivibrator is also known as a free-running multivibrator. It is called free

running because it alternates between two different output voltage levels during the time it is
on. The output remains at each voltage level for a definite period.

Working of Astable Multivibrator with 555 Timer Circuit

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When initially power is turned ON, Trigger Pin voltage is below Vcc/3, that makes the lower
comparator output HIGH and SETS the flip flop and output of the 555 chip is HIGH. This
makes the transistor Q1 OFF, because Q bar, Q’=0 is directly applied to base of transistor. As
the transistor is OFF, capacitor C1 starts charging. Now when capacitor charging gets to
voltage above than 2/3Vcc, then the voltage of non-inverting end (Threshold PIN 6) becomes
higher than the inverting end of the comparator. This makes Upper comparator output HIGH
and RESETs the Flip flop, output of 555 chip becomes LOW. As soon as the output of 555
get LOW means Q bar=1, then transistor Q1 becomes ON and short the capacitor C1 to the
Ground. So, the capacitor C1 starts discharging to the ground through the Discharge PIN 7
and resistor R2. While discharging, when capacitor voltage gets down below Vcc/3, this
makes the Lower comparator output HIGH (upper comparator remain LOW) and sets the flip
flop again and 555 output becomes HIGH. Transistor Q1 becomes OFF and again capacitor
C1 starts charging. This charging and discharging of capacitor continue and a rectangular
oscillating output wave for is generated. While capacitor is getting charge the output of 555 is
HIGH, and while capacitor is getting discharge output will be LOW. So, this is called Astable
mode because none of the state is stable and 555 automatically interchange its state from
HIGH to LOW and LOW to HIGH, so it is called Free running Multivibrator.

Now, the OUTPUT HIGH and OUTPUT LOW duration, is determined by the Resistors R1 &
R2 and capacitor C1. This can be calculated using below formulas.

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 Waveform of Astable Mutivibrator.

While charging, the capacitor charges through the resistors R1 and R2. Therefore, the charging
time constant is (R1 + R2) C as the total resistance in the charging path is R1 + R2. While
discharging, the capacitor discharges through the resistor R2 only. Hence, the discharge time
constant is R2C.

Duty Cycle

The charging and discharging time constants depend on the values of the resistors R1 and R2.
Generally, the charging time constant is more than the discharging time constant. Hence the
HIGH output remains longer than the LOW output and therefore the output waveform is not
symmetric. Duty cycle is the mathematical parameter that forms a relation between the high
output and the low output. Duty Cycle is defined as the ratio of time of HIGH output i.e., the
ON time to the total time of a cycle.

If TON is the time for high output and T is the time period of one cycle, then the duty cycle D
is given by:

D = TON/ T

Therefore, percentage Duty Cycle is given by:

%D = (TON / T) * 100

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T is sum of TON (charge time) and TOFF (discharge time).

The value of TON or the charge time (for high output) TC is given by:

TON = TC = 0.693 * (R1 + R2) C

The value of TOFF or the discharge time (for low output) T D is given by

TOFF = TD = 0.693 * R2C

Therefore, the time period for one cycle T is given by

T = TON + TOFF = TC + TD

T = 0.693 * (R1 + R2) C + 0.693 * R2C

T = 0.693 * (R1 + 2R2) C

Therefore, %D = (TON/ T) * 100

%D = (0.693 * (R1 + R2) C)/(0.693 * (R1 + 2R2) C) * 100

%D = ((R1 + R2)/(R1 + 2R2)) * 100

If T = 0.693 * (R1 + 2R2) C, then the frequency f is given by

f = 1 / T = 1 / 0.693 * (R1 + 2R2) C

f = 1.44/( (R1 + 2R2) C) Hz

Selection of R1, R2 and C1

The Selection of values of R1, R2 and C1 for different frequency range are as follow:

R1 and R2 should be in the range 1KΩ to 1MΩ. It is best to Choose C1 first (because
capacitors are available in just a few values and are usually not adjustable, unlike resistors) as
per the frequency range from the following table.

Choose R2 to give the frequency (f) you require.

R2 = 0.7 /(f × C1)

Choose R1 to be about a tenth of R2 (1KΩ min.)

Expression For Time Periods.

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C1 R2 = 10KΩ R2 = 100KΩ R2 = 1MΩ
R1 = 1KΩ R1 = 10KΩ R1 = 100KΩ

0.001µF (102) 68 KHz 6.8 KHz 680 Hz

0.01µF (103) 6.8 KHz 680 Hz 68 Hz

0.1µF (104) 680 Hz 68 Hz 6.8 Hz

1µF 68 Hz 6.8 Hz 0.68 Hz

10µF 6.8 Hz 0.68 Hz 0.068 Hz

(41 per min.) (4 per min.)

Applications of Astable Multivibrator

Square Wave Generation

The duty cycle of an astable multivibrator is always greater than 50%. A square wave is
obtained as the output of an astable multivibrator when the duty cycle is 50% exactly. Duty

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cycle of 50% or anything less than that is not possible with the IC 555 as an astable
multivibrator mentioned above. Some modifications are to be made to the circuit.

The modification is to add two diodes. One diode in parallel to the resistor R 2 with cathode
connected to the capacitor and another diode in series with the resistor R2 with anode
connected to the capacitor. By adjusting the values of the resistors R 1 and R2, a duty cycle in
the range of 5% to 95% can be obtained including the square wave output. The circuit for
square wave generation is shown below.

In this circuit, while charging, the capacitor charges through R1 and D1 by passing R2. While
discharging, it discharges through D2 and R2.

Therefore, the charging time constant is TON = TC and is given by:

TON = 0.693 * R1 * C

And the discharging time constant TOFF = TD is given by:

TOFF = 0.693 * R2 * C

Therefore, the duty cycle D is given by:

D = R1/(R1 + R2)

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In order to get a square wave, the duty cycle can be made 50% by making the values of
R1 and R2 equal. The waveforms of the square wave generator are shown below.

A duty cycle of less than 50% is achieved when the resistance of R 1 is less than that of R2.
Generally, this can be achieved by using potentiometers in place of R1 and R2. Another circuit
of square wave generator can be constructed from the astable multivibrator without using any
diodes. By placing the resistor R2 between pins 3 and 2 i.e., output terminal and trigger
terminal. The circuit is shown below:

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In this circuit, both the charging and discharging operations occur through the resistor
R2 only. The resistor R1 should be high enough not to interfere with the capacitor while
charging. It is also used to ensure that the capacitor charges to the maximum limit (V CC).

Advantages of Astable Multivibrator

1. No external triggering required.

2. Circuit design is simple.

3. Inexpensive.

4. Can function continuously.

Disadvantages of Astable Multivibrator

1. Energy absorption is more within the circuit.

2. Output signal is of

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