555 TIMER

A 555 timer IC is most versatile and highly reliable linear IC. It is used for generating accurate time delay or oscillations. SIGNETICS corporation introduce the device SE\NE 555 . This device is available first

as 8 pin metal can, 8 pin range from -55

mini DIP. The SE 555 is designed for the operating temperature

degree centigrade to +125 degree centigrade while the NE 555 operates on a range from 0 degree centigrade to 70 degree centigrade. The NE 555 timer operates on +5v to +18v power supply. It has adjustable duty cycle from micro seconds to hours. It has highly current output. It can source or sink 200mA. It is compatible with both TTL and CMOS logic circuits.

2.4.1 FUNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAM OF 555 TIMER

The block diagram of 555 timer is shown in figure5.7 It consists of two comparators resistive divider network flip-flop and a discharge transistor. The

upper comparator has a threshold input and a control input. The control voltage is 2\3 VCC. When ever the threshold voltage exceeds the control the high output from the comparator will set the flip-flop. The collector of the discharge transistor is goes to pin number 7. When this pin is connected to an external timing capacitor. high Q

output from the flip-flop will saturate the transistor and discharge the capacitor. When Q is low transistor opens and the capacitor will charge.

The complementary signal of the flip-flop is taken as output of the 555 (pin no 3). The reset pin prevents the flip-flop from working. Hence in most applications reset pin is connected to supply voltage.

The lower comparator is connected trigger input and a fixed voltage 1\3 V CC. When the trigger voltage is slightly less than 1\3 V CC the comparator output goes high and reset the flip-flop. Pin no1 is known as ground the supply pin 8.

Figure 5.9 Block Diagram of 555 Timer

2.4.2 PIN DIAGRAM OF 555 TIMER

Figure 5.10 Pin Diagram of 555

2.4.3 PIN DIAGRAM DESCRIPTION

Ground (Pin 1) Not surprising this pin is connected directly to ground. Trigger (Pin 2) This pin is the input to the lower comparator and is used to set the latch, which in turn causes the output to go high. Output (Pin 3)

Output high is about 1.7V less than supply. Output high is capable of Isource up to 200mA while output low is capable of Isink up to 200mA. Reset (Pin 4) This is used to reset the latch and return the output to a low state. The reset is an overriding function. When not used connect to V+. Control (Pin 5) Allows access to the 2/3V+ voltage divider point when the 555 timer is used in voltage control mode. When not used connect to ground through a 0.01 uF capacitor. Threshold (Pin 6) This is an input to the upper comparator. See data sheet for comprehensive explanation.

Discharge (Pin 7) This is the open collector to Q14 in figure 4 below. See data sheet for

comprehensive explanation. V+ (Pin 8) This connects to VCC and the Philips data book states the ICM7555 CMOS version operates 3V - 16V DC while the NE555 version is 3V - 16V DC. Note comments about effective supply filtering and bypassing this pin below under "General considerations with using a 555 timer"

The 555 can be connected as monostable multivibrator and astable multivibrator mode.

2.4.4 MONOSTABLE MULTIVIBRATOR USING 555 TIMER

The monostable multivibrator has one quasi stable state and one stable state. When a trigger pulse is applied, the multi changes its state to unstable state. It remains to unstable state for a predetermined time and comes to the original state without any trigger. When the trigger pulse slightly less than 1\3Vcc is applied, the lower comparator gives high output and resets the flip-flop i.e. Q is low and Q' is high. Q is connected to base of the transistor. Therefore the transistor will be cutoff and capacitor starts charging through resistance R with a time constant RAC. When the capacitor voltage is slightly greater than 2\3 V CC, the upper comparator gives high output which will sets the flip-flop i.e. Q is high and Q' is low. Therefore the transistor enters into saturation region and the capacitor discharges immediately. As a result a rectangular output pulse obtained. The width of the pulse is given by T = 1.1 RAC

Figure 5.11 555 as Monostable operation It is clear that the pulse width of the pulse is determined by the external components RA and C. By varying these parameters the width of the pulse can change to desired value.

2.4.5 ASTABLE MULTIVIBRATOR USING 555 TIMER

The 555 timer is connected is astable mode is shown in figure. The astable multivibrator has two quasi stable states. Initially when the output is high i.e. Q is low Q' is high, the capacitor C starts charging towards V CC through R1 and R2 with time constant (R1+R2)C. However as soon as voltage across the capacitor equals to 2\3 VCC, comparator1 triggers the flip-flop and the output switches to low i.e. Q is high and Q' is low. Because of this transistor acts as short circuit which results the capacitor starts discharging through R2 and discharge transistor Q1. When the voltage across equals 1\3Vcc comparator2 output resets the flip-flop and output goes high, again the above cycle repeats. The time during which the capacitor charges from 1\3Vcc to 2\3Vcc is equal to the time the output is high and is given by TC = 0.69 (RA+RB)C Similarly, the time period during the capacitor discharges from 2\3Vcc to 1\3Vcc is equal to the time output is low and is given by Td = 0.69RB*C Thus the total time period is given by T = TC +Td = 0.69(RA+2RB)C Thus the astable multivibrator generates the asymmetric square wave with frequency of oscillations and is given by f = 1\T = 1.49\(RA+2RB)C And the duty cycle is given by

D = (RA+RB)\(R1+2RB)

Figure 5.12 555 as Astable operation

By varying any resistor and capacitor values, time period, frequency and duty cycle adjusted to any desired value.

(a) 5.3.6 General considerations with using a 555 timer

Most devices will operate down to as low as 3V DC supply voltage. However correct supply filtering and bypassing is critical, a capacitor between .01 uF to 10 uF (depending upon the application) should be placed as close as possible to the 555 timer supply pin. Owing to internal design considerations the 555 timer can generate large current spikes on the supply line. While the 555 timer will operate up to about 1 MHz it is generally recommended it not be used beyond 500 KHz owing to temperature stability considerations. Owing to low leakage capacitor considerations limit maximum timing periods to no more than 30 minutes.

2.4.6 FEATURES:
High current drive capability Adjustable duty cycle Timing from microseconds to hours Turn off time less than 2 microseconds