Analog ICs and

Systems
(EC1401)
555 Timer
Contents
• Introduction
• Pin details of 555 timer IC
• Functional Diagram of 555 IC
• Astable multivibrator
• Positive and negative edge triggered monostable multivibrator
• Linear ramp generator
• FSK generator
555 Timer
• The 555 timer is a linear IC, which works as a monostable multivibrator, an astable
multivibrator, a Schmitt trigger, a function generator with output waveforms (such as square
waves), time delay pulses, and pulse-width modulation (PWM) and pulse-position modulation
(PPM) circuits has various electronic control applications.
• The 555 Timer is a precision timing circuit that can produce pulses of accurate and highly
stable time delays from microseconds to hours.
• It is mostly used in practical circuits as flip-flop in monostable, bistable, and astable forms.
From its applications, it is known as IC time machine.
• The 555 IC is used mostly for timer functions in commercial electronic circuits.
• In the timer applications, the duration or length of the output pulses is determined by
charging and discharging a capacitor through resistors connected externally to a 555 timer.
• The duty cycle of the output pulse is adjustable by timing circuit components R and C.
• The 555 timers operate on supply voltages ranging from +5 V to +18 V.
Applications of 555 IC Timer
1. Monostable multivibrator: It works as a one-shot pulse generator.
2. Astable multivibrator: It works as a free-running pulse generator (oscillator).
3. Bistable multivibrator: It works as a flip-flop (Schmitt trigger).

Other applications of 555 IC timer are found in:

4. DC–DC converters and digital logic probes
5. Waveform generators (ramp and square wave generator)
6. Converts an analog voltage to a pulse length in analog to digital conversion
7. Analog frequency meters and tachometers
8. Accurate clock signals
9. De-bounce switches PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) and PPM (Pulse Position Modulation)
circuits
 PIN Diagram of 555 Timer
Pin Name Purpose
1 GND Ground reference voltage, low level (0 V)
The OUT pin goes high and a timing interval starts when this
input falls below 1/2 of CTRL voltage (which is typically 1/3 Vcc,
2 TRIG CTRL being 2/3 Vcc by default if CTRL is left open). In other
words, OUT is high as long as the trigger low. Output of the timer
totally depends upon the amplitude of the external trigger
voltage applied to this pin.

3 OUT This output is driven to approximately 1.7 V below +Vcc, or to GND.

4 RESET A timing interval may be reset by driving this input to GND, but the timing does not begin again until RESET
rises above approximately 0.7 volts. Overrides TRIG which overrides threshold.
5 CTRL Provides “control” access to the internal voltage divider (by default, 2/3 Vcc).
6 THR The timing (OUT high) interval ends when the voltage at threshold is greater than that at CTRL (2/3 Vcc if
CTRL is open).
7 DIS Open collector output which may discharge a capacitor between intervals. In phase with output.
8 Vcc Positive supply voltage, which is usually between 3 and 15 V depending on the variation.
Block Diagram of 555 Timer
Pin Function of 555 Timer IC:
The pin numbers of Timer IC 555 and their
functions are discussed below :
Pin 1 : Ground
All the voltages are measured with respect to this
terminal.
Pin 2 : Trigger
The 555 Timer IC uses two comparators. The voltage
divider consists of three equal resistances. Due to
voltage divider, the voltage of noninverting terminal of
comparator 2 is fixed at VCC/3. The inverting input of
comparator 2 which is compared with VCC/3, is nothing
but trigger input brought out as pin number 2. When
the trigger input is slightly less than VCC/3 the
comparator 2 output goes high. This output is given to
reset input of R-S flip-flop. So high output of
comparator 2 resets the flip-flop.
 Block Diagram of 555 Timer
Pin 3 : Output
The complementary signal output (Q) of the flip-flop goes to pin 3
which is the output. The load can be connected in two ways. One
between pin 3 and ground while other between pin 3 and pin 8.
Pin 4 : Reset
This is an interrupt to the timing device. When pin 4 is grounded, it
stops the working of device and makes it off. Thus, pin 4 provides
on/off feature to the 555 Timer IC. This reset input overrides all other
functions within the timer when it is momentarily grounded.
Pin 5 : Control Voltage Input
In most of the applications, external control voltage input is not used. This pin is nothing but the inverting input terminal
of comparator 1. The voltage divider holds the voltage of this input at 2/3 V CC. This is reference level for comparator 1 with
which threshold is compared. If reference level required is other than 2/3 V CC for comparator 1 then external input is to be
given to pin 5.
If external input applied to pin 5 is alternating then the reference level for comparator 1 keeps on changing above and
below 2/3 VCC. Due to this, the variable pulse width output is possible:, This is called pulse width modulation, which is
possible due to pin 5.
 Block Diagram of 555 Timer
Pin 6 : Threshold
This is the noninverting input terminal of comparator 1. The external
voltage is applied to this pin 6. When this voltage is more than 2/3 V CC,
the comparator 1 output goes high. This is given to the set input of R-S
flip-flop. Thus high output of comparator 1 sets the flip-flop. This
makes Q of flip-flop high and Q low. Thus the output of 555 Timer IC at
pin 3 goes low.

Pin 7 : Discharge
This pin is connected to the collector of the discharge transistor Q d. When the output is high then Q is low and transistor
Qd is off. It acts as an open circuit to the external capacitor C to be connected across it, so capacitor C can charge as
described earlier. When output is low, Q is high which drives the base of Q d high, driving transistor Qd in saturation. It acts
as short circuit, shorting the external capacitor C to be connected across it.
Pin 8 : Supply +VCC
The 555 Timer IC can work with any supply voltage between 4.5 V and 16 V.
 Connecting Load to IC 555
• The output of 555 is used to drive load (controlling devices)
such as transistors and relays. There are two ways of
connecting load to output terminal : either between output
terminal (pin 3) and ground (pin 1) or between output
terminal (pin 3) and supply voltage (pin 8) as shown in Fig.

Normally output is low. Thus, load current flows through the load connected between VCC and output terminal. The load
connected in this way is called normally ON LOAD and load current is called the sink current. However, the current
through the grounded load is zero when the output is low. Thus, the load connected between output terminal and
ground is called normally OFF LOAD. On the other hand, when the output is high, the current through the load
connected between VCC and output terminal is zero. However, the output terminal supplies current to the normally off
load. This current is called the source current. In 555 timer maximum value of sink or source current is 200 mA.
 Monostable Multivibrator Using
IC 555

• The IC 555 timer can be operated as a

Monostable Multivibrator using IC 555 The circuit has only one stable state. When trigger is applied, it
by connecting an external resistor and produces a pulse at the output and returns back to its stable state.
a capacitor. The duration of the pulse depends on the values of R and C. As it
has only one stable state, it is called one shot multivibrator.
 Working of Monostable
Multivibrator Using IC 555

Operation
• The flip-flop is initially set i.e. Q is high. This drives the transistor Q d in saturation. The capacitor discharges completely and voltage
across it is nearly zero. the output at pin 3 is low.
• When a trigger input, a low going pulse is applied, then circuit state remains unchanged till trigger voltage is greater than 1/3 V cc. When
it becomes less than 1/3 Vcc, then comparator 2 output goes high. This resets the flip-flop so Q goes low and Q goes high. Low Q makes
the transistor Qd off. Hence capacitor starts charging through resistance R, as shown by dark arrows in Fig 1.
• The voltage across capacitor increases exponentially. This voltage is nothing but the threshold voltage at pin 6. When this voltage
becomes more than 2/3 Vcc , then comparator 1 output goes high. This sets the flip-flop i.e. Q becomes high and low. This high Q drives
the transistor Qd in saturation. Thus capacitor C quickly discharges through Q d as shown by dotted arrows in the Fig. 2
• So it can be noted that Vout at pin 3 is low at start, when trigger is less
than 1/3 Vcc it becomes high and when threshold is greater than 2/3
Vcc again becomes low, till next trigger pulse occurs. So a rectangular
wave is produced at the output. The pulse width of this rectangular
pulse is controlled by the charging time of capacitor. This depends on
the time constant RC. Thus RC controls the pulse width.
 Derivation of Pulse Width
The voltage across capacitor increases exponentially and is given by

• where C in farads, R in ohms, t in seconds.

• Thus, we can say that voltage across capacitor will reach 2/3
Vcc in approximately 1.1 times, time constant i.e. 1.1 RC
• Thus the pulse width denoted as W is given by,
• W = 1.1 RC
Linear Ramp Generator
 Astable Multivibrator Using IC
555

Fig. 1 shows the operation of Astable

Multivibrator Using IC 555. The threshold
input is connected to the trigger input. Two
external resistances RA, RB and a capacitor C
This circuit has no stable state. The circuits changes its
is used in the circuit.
state alternately. Hence the operation is also called free
running nonsinusoidal oscillator.
 Working of Astable
Multivibrator using IC 555

When the flip-flop is set, Q is high which drives the transistor Q d in saturation and the capacitor gets
discharged. Now the capacitor voltage is nothing but the trigger voltage. So while discharging, when it
becomes less than 1/3 VCC, comparator 2 output goes high. This resets the flip-flop hence Q goes low and Q
goes high.
The low Q makes the transistor off. Thus capacitor starts charging through the resistances R A, RB and VCC. The charging
path is shown by thick arrows in the Fig. 1. As total resistance in the charging path is (R A + RB), the charging time constant
is (RA + RB) C.
 Now the capacitor voltage is also a threshold voltage.
While charging, capacitor voltage increases i.e. the
threshold voltage increases. When it exceeds 2/3 VCC,
then the comparator 1 output goes high which sets the
flip-flop. The flip-flop output Q becomes high and output
at pin 3 i.e. Q becomes low. High Q drives transistor Qd in
saturation and capacitor starts discharging through
resistance RB and transistor Qd. This path is shown by
dotted arrows in the Fig. 1. Thus the discharging time
constant is RB C. When capacitor voltage becomes less
than 1/3 VCC, comparator 2 output goes high, resetting
the flip-flop. This cycle repeats.
• Thus when capacitor is charging, output is high while when it is discharging the output is low. The output is a rectangular wave. The
capacitor voltage is exponentially rising and falling. The waveforms of Astable Multivibrator Using IC 555 are shown in the Fig. 2
FSK Generator