Lecture 5

The 555 Timer

Objectives
• The objectives of this lecture are to:
• Discuss and analyze the 555 timer and use it in oscillator
applications
• Describe the monostable operation of a 555 timer
• Describe the astable operation of a 555 timer
– Determine the frequency of oscillation
– Determine the duty cycle
• Discuss the application of the 555 timer as a voltage-
controlled oscillator
The 555 timer
• The 555 timer was introduced in 1972 as a bipolar integrated
circuit, but is also available in CMOS technology and from a
number of manufacturers.
• It is basically a monolithic timing circuit that produces
accurate and highly stable time-delays or oscillations.
• The timer IC is setup to work in either of the two modes:
– one-shot (monostable multi-vibrator), or
– free-running (astable multivibrator).
Features of the 555 timer
• The important features of the 555 timer are:
– It operates from a wide range of power supplies ranging from + 5
Volts to + 18 Volts supply voltage.
– Sinking or sourcing 200 mA of load current.
– The external components should be selected properly so that the
timing intervals can be made into several minutes along with the
frequencies exceeding several hundred kilo hertz.
– The output of a 555 timer can drive a transistor-transistor logic (TTL)
due to its high current output.
– The duty cycle of the timer is adjustable
Pin Configuration
• The pin configuration for the 8-pin DIP 555 timer is represented in
Figure 5.1.

Figure 5.1
Pin Configuration
• The use of each pin in the IC is explained below.
5.1 The 555 Circuit
• Figure 5.1 shows a block-diagram representation of the 555
timer circuit.
• The circuit consists of two comparators, an SR flip-flop, and a
transistor Q1 that operates as a switch.
• One power supply (VCC) is required for operation, with the
supply voltage typically 5 V.
• A resistive voltage divider, consisting of the three equal-valued
resistors labeled R1, is connected across VCC and establishes the
reference (threshold) voltages for the two comparators.
• These are:
VTH = ⅔ VCC for comparator 1, and
VTL = ⅓ VCC for comparator 2.
5.1 The 555 Circuit (contd)
• For our purposes here we note that an SR flip-flop (also called
a latch) is a bistable circuit having complementary outputs,
denoted Q and Q’ .
• In the SET state, the output at Q is "high" (approximately
equal to VCC) and that at Q’ is "low" (approximately equal to 0
V).
• In the other stable state, termed the RESET state, the output
at Q is low and that at Q’ is high.
• The flip-flop is set by applying a high level (VCC) to its SET
input terminal, labeled S.
• To reset the flip-flop, a high level is applied to the RESET
input terminal, labeled R.
5.1 The 555 Circuit (contd)
• Note that the RESET and SET input terminals of the flipflop in
the 555 circuit are connected to the outputs of comparator 1
and comparator 2, respectively.
• The positive-input terminal of comparator 1 is brought out to
an external terminal of the 555 package, labeled Threshold.
• Similarly, the negative-input terminal of comparator 2 is
connected to an external terminal labeled Trigger, and the
collector of transistor Q1 is connected to a terminal labeled
Discharge.
• The output of the flip-flop is connected to the output terminal
of the timer package, labeled Out.
5.2 Implementing a Monostable Multivibrator Using
the 555 IC
• Figure 5.2(a) shows a monostable multi-vibrator implemented
using the 555 IC together with an external resistor R and an
external capacitor C.
• In the stable state the flip-flop will be in the reset state, and
thus its Q’ output will be high, turning on transistor Q1.
• Transistor Q1 will be saturated, and thus VC will be close to 0 V,
resulting in a low level at the output of comparator 1.
• The voltage at the trigger input terminal, labeled Vtrigger, is kept
high (greater than VTL), and thus the output of comparator 2
also will be low.
• Finally, note that since the flip-flop is in the reset state, Q will
be low and thus Vo will be close to 0 V.
Figure 5.2(a)
5.2 Implementing a Monostable Multivibrator Using
the 555 IC (contd)
• To trigger the monostable multi-vibrator, a negative input
pulse is applied to the trigger input terminal.
• As Vtrigger goes below VTL, the output of comparator 2 goes to
the high level, thus setting the flip-flop.
• Output Q of the flip-flop goes high, and thus Vo goes high,
and output Q’ goes low, turning off transistor Q1.
• Capacitor C now begins to charge up through resistor R, and
its voltage VC rises exponentially toward VCC, as shown in
Fig. 5.2(b).
• The monostable multi-vibrator is now in its quasi-stable
state.
Figure 5.2(b)
5.2 Implementing a Monostable Multivibrator Using
the 555 IC (contd)
• This state prevails until VC reaches, and begins to exceed, the
threshold of comparator 1, VTH, at which time the output of
comparator 1 goes high, resetting the flip-flop.
• Output Q’ of the FF now goes high and turns on transistor Q1.
• In turn, transistor Q1 rapidly discharges capacitor C, causing VC
to go to 0 V.
• Also, when the flip-flop is reset its Q output goes low, and thus
Vo goes back to 0 V.
• The monostable multi-vibrator is now back in its stable state
and is ready to receive a new triggering pulse.
5.2 Implementing a Monostable Multivibrator Using
the 555 IC (contd)
• From the description above we see that the monostable
multi-vibrator produces an output pulse Vo as indicated in
Fig. 5.2(b).
• The width of the pulse, T, is the time interval that the
monostable multi-vibrator spends in the quasi-stable state; it
can be determined by reference to the waveforms in Fig.
5.2(b) as follows: Denoting the instant at which the trigger
pulse is applied as t = 0, the exponential waveform of VC can
be expressed as
5.2 Implementing a Monostable Multivibrator Using
the 555 IC (contd)

• Substituting VC = VTH = ⅔ VCC at t = T gives

T = CR [ ln 3] = 1.1 CR (5.2)

• Thus the pulse width is determined by the external

components C and R, which can be selected to have values
as precise as desired.
5.3 An Astable Multivibrator Using 555 IC

• A useful application of the 555 Timer is as an astable multivibrator.

• The astable multivibrator is a pulse generator producing waveforms
such as that shown in Figure 5.3.
• Period = T = T1 + T2
• Pulse Repetition Frequency = f = 1/T
• Duty Cycle = T1/T

Figure 5.3
5.3 An Astable Multivibrator Using 555 IC

• Figure 5.4 shows the circuit of an astable multi-vibrator employing a

555 IC, two external resistors, RA and RB, and an external capacitor C.
• To see how the circuit operates:
• Assume that initially C is uncharged and the flipflop is set.
• Thus Vo is high and transistor Q1 is off (does not conduct).

• Capacitor C will charge up through the series combination of RA and

RB, and the voltage across it, vC, will rise exponentially toward VCC.
• As vC reaches the value VTL = (1/3 VCC) the output of comparator 2
goes low and the SR flip-flop remains set.
Figure 5.4
5.3 An Astable Multivibrator Using the 555 IC (contd)

• When the voltage across the capacitor reaches the value vc =

VTH = 2/3 VCC,, the output of comparator 1 goes high and
resets the SR flip-flop and thus the output Q goes low, Q’ goes
high, and transistor Q1 is turned on (becomes saturated).
• The collector voltage of the saturated transistor becomes
almost zero, and since it appears at the common node of
resistors RA and RB, the capacitor begins to discharge through
resistor RB and the collector of Q1.
• The voltage vC decreases exponentially with a time constant
CRB toward 0 V.
5.3 An Astable Multivibrator Using the 555 IC
(contd)
• When vC reaches the threshold of comparator 2, VTL= 1/3 VCC ,
the output of comparator 2, goes high and sets the flip-flop.
The output Q then goes high, and Q’ goes low, turning off Q1.
• Capacitor C begins to charge through the series combination
of RA and RB, and its voltage vc rises exponentially toward VCC
with a time constant equal to C(RA + RB).
• When vC reaches the value VTH = 2/3 VCC the output of
comparator 1 goes high, resetting the flip-flop, and the cycle
is repeated.
5.3 An Astable Multivibrator Using the 555 IC
(contd)
• We are interested in the pulse repetition frequency f = 1/T and the
duty cycle T1/T where T = T1 + T2.
• These values are dependent on appropriate values of resistors RA, RB
and the capacitor C.
• As we know, the capacitor voltage as a function of time is given by

• where V is the final value and Vin is the initial value of the voltage
across the capacitor.
• For the charging interval T1 the circuit is as shown in Figure
5.5.
• For this interval, V = VCC, Vin = 1/3 VCC, and Req = RA + RB.
Then, Equation 5.3 becomes

Eqn 5.4

• At t = T1, vc(t) = 2/3 VCC and Eqn.(5.4) becomes

Figure 5.5: Circuit for the charging interval
• Rearranging

• or

Eqn 5.5
• For the discharging interval the circuit is as shown in Figure
5.6.
• For this interval, V = 0 V, Vin = 2/3 VCC, and Req = RB. Then,
Equation (5.3) becomes

Eqn 5.6

• At t = T2, vc(t) = 1/3 VCC and Eqn. (5.6) becomes

Figure 5.6: Circuit for the discharging interval
• or
T2 = ln 2 (RBC) = 0.69 RBC Eqn. (5.7)
• The period T is the summation of (5.5) and (5.7). Thus,

T = T1 + T2 = 0.69 (RA + RB)C + 0.69 RB C

= 0.69(RA + 2RB)C (5.8)

• The right side of (5.8) cannot be negative; accordingly, the circuit of
Figure 5.6 cannot achieve the condition T2 > T1.
• Moreover, from (5.5) and (5.7) we observe that T1 and T2 cannot be
equal.
• Therefore, with the circuit of Figure 5.6, T1 will always be greater than
T2.
5.3 An Astable Multivibrator Using the 555 IC (contd)

• The duty cycle of the output square wave can be found

from Eqs. (5.5) and (5.7):

• Note that the duty cycle will always be greater than 0.5
(50%); it approaches 0.5 if RA is selected to be much
smaller than RB (unfortunately, at the expense of supply
current).
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), as indicated in Figure 5.4.
• As shown in Figure 5.5, the control voltage (VCONT) changes the
threshold values of 1⁄3(VCC) and 2⁄3(VCC) for the internal
comparators.
• With the control voltage, the upper value is VCONT and the
lower value is 1⁄2 VCONT, as you can see by examining the
internal diagram of the 555 timer.
Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO)

• 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.
• An interesting application of the VCO is in phase-locked loops,
which are used in various types of communication receivers
to track variations in the frequency of incoming signals.
Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO)

Figure 5.5: The VCO output frequency varies inversely with VCONT because the
charging and discharging time of Cext is directly dependent on the control voltage.