555 timer IC

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NE555 from Signetics in dual-in-line package

Internal block diagram

The 555 timer IC is an integrated circuit (chip) used in a variety of timer, pulse generation, and
oscillator applications. The 555 can be used to provide time delays, as an oscillator, and as a flipflop element. Derivatives provide up to four timing circuits in one package.
Introduced in 1971 by Signetics, the 555 is still in widespread use due to its ease of use, low
price, and stability. It is now made by many companies in the original bipolar and also in lowpower CMOS types. As of 2003, it was estimated that 1 billion units are manufactured every
year.[1]

Design
The IC was designed in 1971 by Hans Camenzind under contract to Signetics, which was later
acquired by Philips (now NXP).
Depending on the manufacturer, the standard 555 package includes 25 transistors, 2 diodes and
15 resistors on a silicon chip installed in an 8-pin mini dual-in-line package (DIP-8).[2] Variants
available include the 556 (a 14-pin DIP combining two 555s on one chip), and the two 558 &

559s (both a 16-pin DIP combining four slightly modified 555s with DIS & THR connected
internally, and TR is falling edge sensitive instead of level sensitive).
The NE555 parts were commercial temperature range, 0 C to +70 C, and the SE555 part
number designated the military temperature range, 55 C to +125 C. These were available in
both high-reliability metal can (T package) and inexpensive epoxy plastic (V package) packages.
Thus the full part numbers were NE555V, NE555T, SE555V, and SE555T. It has been
hypothesized that the 555 got its name from the three 5 k resistors used within,[3] but Hans
Camenzind has stated that the number was arbitrary.[1]
Low-power versions of the 555 are also available, such as the 7555 and CMOS TLC555.[4] The
7555 is designed to cause less supply noise than the classic 555 and the manufacturer claims that
it usually does not require a "control" capacitor and in many cases does not require a decoupling
capacitor on the power supply. Those parts should generally be included, however, because noise
produced by the timer or variation in power supply voltage might interfere with other parts of a
circuit or influence its threshold voltages.

Pins

Pinout diagram
The connection of the pins for a DIP package is as follows:
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
2 TRIG
of CTRL voltage (which is typically 1/3 of VCC, when CTRL is open).
3 OUT This output is driven to approximately 1.7 V below +VCC or GND.
A timing interval may be reset by driving this input to GND, but the timing does not
4 RESET begin again until RESET rises above approximately 0.7 volts. Overrides TRIG
which overrides THR.
5 CTRL Provides "control" access to the internal voltage divider (by default, 2/3 VCC).
The timing (OUT high) interval ends when the voltage at THR is greater than that at
6 THR
CTRL (2/3 VCC if CTRL is open).
Open collector output which may discharge a capacitor between intervals. In phase
7 DIS
with output.

VCC

Positive supply voltage, which is usually between 3 and 15 V depending on the

variation.

Pin 5 is also sometimes called the CONTROL VOLTAGE pin. By applying a voltage to the
CONTROL VOLTAGE input one can alter the timing characteristics of the device. In most
applications, the CONTROL VOLTAGE input is not used. It is usual to connect a 10 nF
capacitor between pin 5 and 0 V to prevent interference. The CONTROL VOLTAGE input can
be used to build an astable with a frequency modulated output.

Modes
The 555 has three operating modes:

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

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
position modulation and so on. The 555 can be used as a simple ADC, converting an
analog value to a pulse length. E.g. selecting a thermistor as timing resistor allows the use
of the 555 in a temperature sensor: the period of the output pulse is determined by the
temperature. The use of a microprocessor based circuit can then convert the pulse period
to temperature, linearize it and even provide calibration means.

Bistable mode or Schmitt trigger: The 555 can operate as a flip-flop, if the DIS pin is not
connected and no capacitor is used. Uses include bounce-free latched switches.

Monostable
See also: RC circuit

Schematic of a 555 in monostable mode

The relationships of the trigger signal, the voltage on C and the pulse width in monostable mode
In the monostable mode, the 555 timer acts as a "one-shot" pulse generator. The pulse begins
when the 555 timer receives a signal at the trigger input that falls below a third of the voltage
supply. The width of the output pulse is determined by the time constant of an RC network,
which consists of a capacitor (C) and a resistor (R). The output pulse ends when the voltage on
the capacitor equals 2/3 of the supply voltage. The output pulse width can be lengthened or
shortened to the need of the specific application by adjusting the values of R and C.[5]
The output pulse width of time t, which is the time it takes to charge C to 2/3 of the supply
voltage, is given by

where t is in seconds, R is in ohms and C is in farads.

While using the timer IC in monostable mode, the main disadvantage is that the time span
between any two triggering pulses must be greater than the RC time constant.[6]

Bistable

Schematic of a 555 in bistable mode

In bistable mode, the 555 timer acts as a basic flip-flop. The trigger and reset inputs (pins 2 and 4
respectively on a 555) are held high via Pull-up resistors while the threshold input (pin 6) is
simply floating. Thus configured, pulling the trigger momentarily to ground acts as a 'set' and
transitions the output pin (pin 3) to Vcc (high state). Pulling the reset input to ground acts as a
'reset' and transitions the output pin to ground (low state). No capacitors are required in a bistable
configuration. Pin 5 (control) is connected to ground via a small-value capacitor (usually 0.01 to
0.1 uF); pin 7 (discharge) is left floating.

Astable

Standard 555 astable circuit

In astable mode, the 555 timer puts out a continuous stream of rectangular pulses having a
specified frequency. Resistor R1 is connected between VCC and the discharge pin (pin 7) and
another resistor (R2) is connected between the discharge pin (pin 7), and the trigger (pin 2) and
threshold (pin 6) pins that share a common node. Hence the capacitor is charged through R1 and
R2, and discharged only through R2, since pin 7 has low impedance to ground during output low
intervals of the cycle, therefore discharging the capacitor.
In the astable mode, the frequency of the pulse stream depends on the values of R1, R2 and C:

[7]

The high time from each pulse is given by:

and the low time from each pulse is given by:

where R1 and R2 are the values of the resistors in ohms and C is the value of the capacitor in
farads.

The power capability of R1 must be greater than

Particularly with bipolar 555s, low values of

must be avoided so that the output stays
saturated near zero volts during discharge, as assumed by the above equation. Otherwise the
output low time will be greater than calculated above. It should be noted that the first cycle will
take appreciably longer than the calculated time, as the capacitor must charge from 0V to 2/3 of
VCC from power-up, but only from 1/3 of VCC to 2/3 of VCC on subsequent cycles.
To achieve a duty cycle of less than 50% is to use a small diode (that is fast enough for the
application) in parallel with R2 (instead of placing it on pin 7), with the cathode on the capacitor
side. This bypasses R2 during the high part of the cycle so that the high interval depends
approximately only on R1 and C. The presence of the diode is a voltage drop that slows charging
on the capacitor so that the high time is longer than the expected and often-cited ln(2)*R1C =
0.693 R1C. The low time will be the same as without the diode as shown above. With a diode, the
high time is

where Vdiode is when the diode has a current of 1/2 of Vcc/R1 which can be determined from its
datasheet or by testing. As an extreme example, when Vcc= 5 and Vdiode= 0.7, high time = 1.00
R1C which is 45% longer than the "expected" 0.693 R1C. At the other extreme, when Vcc= 15 and
Vdiode= 0.3, the high time = 0.725 R1C which is closer to the expected 0.693 R1C. The equation
reduces to the expected 0.693 R1C if Vdiode= 0.
The operation of RESET in this mode is not well defined, some manufacturers' parts will hold
the output state to what it was when RESET is taken low, others will send the output either high
or low.

Specifications
These specifications apply to the NE555. Other 555 timers can have different specifications
depending on the grade (military, medical, etc.).
Supply voltage (VCC)
Supply current (VCC = +5 V)
Supply current (VCC = +15 V)
Output current (maximum)
Maximum Power dissipation
Power consumption (minimum operating)

4.5 to 15 V
3 to 6 mA
10 to 15 mA
200 mA
600 mW
30 mW@5V, 225 mW@15V

Operating temperature

0 to 70 C

Derivatives
Many pin-compatible variants, including CMOS versions, have been built by various companies.
Bigger packages also exist with two or four timers on the same chip. The 555 is also known
under the following type numbers:
Manufacturer
Custom Silicon Solutions[8]
CEMI
ECG Philips
Exar
Fairchild Semiconductor
GoldStar
Harris
IK Semicon
Intersil
Intersil
Lithic Systems
Maxim
Motorola
National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor
NTE Sylvania
Raytheon
RCA
STMicroelectronics
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments
USSR
X-REL Semiconductor
Zetex
NXP Semiconductors
HFO / East Germany

556 Dual timer

Model
CSS555/CSS555C
ULY7855
ECG955M
XR-555
NE555/KA555
GSC555
HA555
ILC555
SE555/NE555
ICM7555
LC555
ICM7555
MC1455/MC1555
LM1455/LM555/LM555C
LMC555
NTE955M
RM555/RC555
CA555/CA555C
NE555N/ K3T647
SN52555/SN72555
TLC555
K10061
XTR655
ZSCT1555
ICM7555
B555

Remark
CMOS from 1.2 V, IDD < 5 A

CMOS
CMOS from 2 V
CMOS
CMOS from 2 V

CMOS from 1.5 V

CMOS from 2 V
Operation from -60C to 250+C
down to 0.9 V
CMOS

Die of a 556 dual timer manufactured by STMicroelectronics.

The dual version is called 556. It features two complete 555s in a 14 pin DIL package.

558 Quad timer

The quad version is called 558 and has 16 pins. To fit four 555s into a 16 pin package the
control, voltage, and reset lines are shared by all four modules. Each module's discharge and
threshold circuits are wired together internally.

XTR651 Extended Functionality HiRel HiTemp (-60C to 250+C)

This version includes non-overlapped complementary outputs, coarse temperature sensor and onchip 200pF timing capacitance.[9]
555 is a very commonly used IC for generating accurate timing pulses. It is an 8pin
timer IC and has mainly two modes of operation: monostable and astable. In
monostable mode time delay of the pulses can be precisely controlled by an external
resistor and a capacitor whereas in astable mode the frequency & duty cycle are
controlled by two external resistors and a capacitor. 555 is very commonly used for
generating time delays and pulses.

Pin Diagram:

Pin Description:
Pin No

Function

Name

Ground (0V)

Ground

Voltage below 1/3 Vcc to trigger the pulse

Trigger

Pulsating output

Output

Active low; interrupts the timing interval at Output

Reset

Provides access to the internal voltage divider; default 2/3 Vcc

Control Voltage

The pulse ends when the voltage is greater than Control

Threshold

Open collector output; to discharge the capacitor

Discharge

Supply voltage; 5V (4.5V - 16 V)

Vcc

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