Institute of engineering and

technology

Electronics and instrumentation

Engineering
Electronics workshop-2
Project name:- motion detector using
ne555 timer
Name:-ashutosh
dharekar
Enrol. No.:- de16208
Roll no.:-16e4028
 555 Timer
The 555 Timer is a commonly used IC designed to produce a variety of output waveforms with the
addition of an external RC network

We have seen that Multivibrators and CMOS Oscillators can be easily constructed from discrete
components to produce relaxation oscillators for generating basic square wave output waveforms. But
there are also dedicated IC’s especially designed to accurately produce the required output waveform
with the addition of just a few extra timing components.

One such device that has been around since the early days of IC’s and has itself become something of an
industry “standard” is the 555 Timer Oscillator which is more commonly called the “555 Timer”.

The basic 555 timer gets its name from the fact that there are three internally connected 5kΩ resistors
which it uses to generate the two comparators reference voltages. The 555 timer IC is a very cheap,
popular and useful precision timing device which can act as either a simple timer to generate single
pulses or long time delays, or as a relaxation oscillator producing a string of stabilised waveforms of
varying duty cycles from 50 to 100%.

The 555 timer chip is extremely robust and stable 8-pin device that can be operated either as a very
accurate Monostable, Bistable or Astable Multivibrator to produce a variety of applications such as one-
shot or delay timers, pulse generation, LED and lamp flashers, alarms and tone generation, logic clocks,
frequency division, power supplies and converters etc, in fact any circuit that requires some form of
time control as the list is endless.

The single 555 Timer chip in its basic form is a Bipolar 8-pin mini Dual-in-line Package (DIP) device
consisting of some 25 transistors, 2 diodes and about 16 resistors arranged to form two comparators, a
flip-flop and a high current output stage as shown below. As well as the 555 Timer there is also available
the NE556 Timer Oscillator which combines TWO individual 555’s within a single 14-pin DIP package and
low power CMOS versions of the single 555 timer such as the 7555 and LMC555 which use MOSFET
transistors instead.
A simplified “block diagram” representing the internal circuitry of the 555 timer is given below with a
brief explanation of each of its connecting pins to help provide a clearer understanding of how it works.

555 Timer Block Diagram

555 timer block diagram

• Pin 1. – Ground, The ground pin connects the 555 timer to the negative (0v) supply rail.

• Pin 2. – Trigger, The negative input to comparator No 1. A negative pulse on this pin “sets” the internal
Flip-flop when the voltage drops below 1/3Vcc causing the output to switch from a “LOW” to a “HIGH”
state.

• Pin 3. – Output, The output pin can drive any TTL circuit and is capable of sourcing or sinking up to
200mA of current at an output voltage equal to approximately Vcc – 1.5V so small speakers, LEDs or
motors can be connected directly to the output.
• Pin 4. – Reset, This pin is used to “reset” the internal Flip-flop controlling the state of the output, pin 3.
This is an active-low input and is generally connected to a logic “1” level when not used to prevent any
unwanted resetting of the output.

• Pin 5. – Control Voltage, This pin controls the timing of the 555 by overriding the 2/3Vcc level of the
voltage divider network. By applying a voltage to this pin the width of the output signal can be varied
independently of the RC timing network. When not used it is connected to ground via a 10nF capacitor
to eliminate any noise.

• Pin 6. – Threshold, The positive input to comparator No 2. This pin is used to reset the Flip-flop when
the voltage applied to it exceeds 2/3Vcc causing the output to switch from “HIGH” to “LOW” state. This
pin connects directly to the RC timing circuit.

• Pin 7. – Discharge, The discharge pin is connected directly to the Collector of an internal NPN
transistor which is used to “discharge” the timing capacitor to ground when the output at pin 3 switches
“LOW”.

• Pin 8. – Supply +Vcc, This is the power supply pin and for general purpose TTL 555 timers is between
4.5V and 15V.

The 555 Timers name comes from the fact that there are three 5kΩ resistors connected together
internally producing a voltage divider network between the supply voltage at pin 8 and ground at pin 1.
The voltage across this series resistive network holds the negative inverting input of comparator two at
2/3Vcc and the positive non-inverting input to comparator one at 1/3Vcc.

The two comparators produce an output voltage dependent upon the voltage difference at their inputs
which is determined by the charging and discharging action of the externally connected RC network. The
outputs from both comparators are connected to the two inputs of the flip-flop which in turn produces
either a “HIGH” or “LOW” level output at Q based on the states of its inputs. The output from the flip-
flop is used to control a high current output switching stage to drive the connected load producing
either a “HIGH” or “LOW” voltage level at the output pin.

The most common use of the 555 timer oscillator is as a simple astable oscillator by connecting two
resistors and a capacitor across its terminals to generate a fixed pulse train with a time period
determined by the time constant of the RC network. But the 555 timer oscillator chip can also be
connected in a variety of different ways to produce Monostable or Bistable multivibrators as well as the
more common Astable Multivibrator.
Introduction to Motion Detector Circuit Diagram with Working Principle

The first motion detector was invented in the early 1950s by Samuel Bango, and which was a burglar
alarm. He applied the fundamentals of a radar to ultrasonic waves – a frequency to detect fire or thief
and that which human beings cannot hear. Samuel motion detector is based on the principle of Doppler
Effect. Nowadays, most of the motion detectors work on the principle of Samuel Bango’s detector. IR
sensors and microwave sensors can detect motion by the alterations in the frequencies they emit.

Motion detectors are used as security systems in banks, offices and shopping malls, and also as intruder
alarm in home. The prevailing motion detectors can stop serious accidents by sensing the persons who
are in close proximity to the detector. We can observe motion detectors in shopping malls or stores with
automatic doors. The main element in the motion detector circuit is the dual infrared reflective sensor
or any other detecting sensor.

Types of Motion Detector Sensor

The motion detector is a device; it detects the motion of the people or moving objects and gives
appropriate output to the main controller. In general, motion detectors use different sensors like IR
sensors, ultrasonic sensors, microwave sensors and passive infrared sensor. These motion detection
sensors are mentioned below.

1. Passive Infrared Sensor (PIR)

PIR sensors detect a person’s body heat when the person comes in close proximity. These sensors are
small, low power, inexpensive and easy to use. Due to these
reasons, PIR sensors are generally used in gadgets, home
appliances, business enterprises, industries, etc. PIR gives digital
output when it detects motion. It consists of pyro-electric sensor
that detects the infrared radiation emitted from humans.
2. Ultrasonic Sensors
Generally ultrasonic sensors are also called as transducers,
and these sensors are used to measure the reflection of a
moving object. When a voltage is applied in the form of an
electric pulse to the ultrasonic transducer, it vibrates with a
certain spectrum of frequencies and produces sound waves.
When any obstacle comes within the spectrum of the
ultrasonic sensor, then the sound waves get reflect back
(echoes) and the process generates electric pulse. Hence, the motion of the object is detected with
these echo patterns.

3. IR Sensors

IR Sensor is an electronic device that emits or detects IR radiation

to sense the aspects of its background. This consists of an IR LED
source that emits the light with the specific IR wavelengths. This
particular frequency of the IR beam is received by the detector circuit which also consists of an optical
component to focus the infrared radiation and also to limit the spectral response.

Motion Detector Circuit

Motion detector circuit can be implemented by using different controllers like 555 timers,
microcontrollers, etc., and by using different sensors like IR, PIR, and the Ultrasonic sensors discussed
above.

Motion Sensor Detector Circuit with a Timer

Motion detector consists of two sections: transmitter and receiver. A 555 timer and IR sensors are used
in the transmitter section, whereas photo transistor, another 555 timer and an alarm are used in the
receiver section. In the transmitter section, the IR sensor generates a high-frequency beam, and this
frequency depends on the RC constant of the timer. In the receiver section, a photo-transistor
conduction enables the timer circuit to generate an alarm for a specific time that also depends on the RC
constant.
 block diagram of
motion sensor

motion detector circuit

For sensing the motion of any object, the IR sensor and photo transistors are placed in such a way that
the beam emitted by the IR LED towards the transistor gets obstructed. In the transmitter section, the IR
sensor produces a high-frequency beam of 5 kHz with the help of the 555 timer, which is set to unstable
the multi-vibrator; and, the frequency that is produced by the sensor in the transmitter is received by
the photo transistor.

When there is no interruption in between the IR sensor and the photo transistor, then the frequency will
be in one phase, and therefore, this circuit will not give any output in the receiver side. When there is a
disturbance between the infrared sensor and the photo transistor, the frequency detected by the
transistor will be in a different phase. This triggering makes the timer to give a buzzing sound. In this
way, one can design the motion-detector alarm for several applications.

Motion Detection by Microcontroller

This circuit uses a microcontroller as a main controller similar to the timer in the above project. This
system also uses ultrasonic sensor to detect the motion of any object. As we have discussed above, the
ultrasonic sensor detects an object with the use of sound waves with specific spectral frequency. This
object detection by the ultrasonic sensor is implemented in this project to operate door gun by properly
programming the microcontroller.

motion detection by microcontroller

When the object motion is sensed by the ultrasonic sensor that operates at a 40MHz sound frequency, it
gives signals to the microcontroller as an interrupt signal. By receiving this signal, the microcontroller
sends the command signals to the transistor circuitry to operate the door gun. With this ultrasonic
motion detection, one can operate several loads like lamps, fans and other appliances in place of the
door gun.

Applications of Motion Sensing Circuit

Motion detection can be used in:

Offices, banks, shopping malls and in intruder alarm in homes.

Automatic light control and counting machines.

Many systems like home-automation systems, energy-efficient systems and control systems and
automatic door opening systems

Thus, this article concludes with the brief description, explanation and information about the motion
detector circuit and its working principle.

Infrared sensors:- Are much common in our electronics life. They are used in many real time
applications like for opening and closing the gates at Metro Station. Even they are used in our Mobile
phone to turn off the display light during the call.

IR sensor is very popular sensor, which is frequently used in many applications in electronics, like it is
used in Remote control system, motion detector, Product counter, Line follower Robots, Alarms etc. We
have already covered complete working of IR sensor here in this article: IR Sensor Module Circuit. IR
Sensor basically consists a IR LED and a Photodiode.

In this circuit, we are going to demonstrate an application related to IR sensors which is IR Detection
using 555 Timer IC. Here we have used IR LED or TV/DVD remote as a IR transmitter and Photo Diode as
IR Receiver to detect the IR signal. Detection of IR signal will Trigger the 555 timer and buzzer will start
beeping. Almost same concept has already been covered in our previous circuit: IR Based Security Alarm,
where we used voltage comparator IC LM358, in place to transistor, to trigger the 555 IC.

Required Components:
555 Timer IC

BC547 transistor

BC557 transistor

IR LED or TV/DVD Remote

IR receiver or Photo diode

10K resistor

1K resistor

22K resistor

Buzzer

LED

Power supply 5 Volt

10 uF capacitor

220 Ohm resistor

Bread board

Circuit and Working Explanation:

Before going into the explanation, we should note that Transistor Q1 BC547 is a NPN transistor, which
conducts or Turns On, when a small positive voltage is applied to its base. And Transistor BC557 is PNP
transistor which Conducts or Turns On, when a negative voltage (or ground) is applied to its base. Circuit
of this IR detector is given below:

When the IR Sensor Circuit is switched ON, IR LED starts emitting the Infrared, which falls upon the
photodiode and a potential difference is generated across PHOTO diode which Turns On the transistor
BC547, which further Turns On the Transistor BC557 by pulling down its base to Ground. Now Transistor
BC557 starts conducting and power supply is applied to the 555 Timer IC (at PIN 8), which turns ON the
555 IC. 555 Timer IC is configured in Astable Mode, so the LED and buzzer, which are connected to its
Output (PIN 3), start blinking and beeping, with a particular frequency. This frequency of LED blinking
can be determined by the given formulae of Astable Multvibrator:

F = 1.44 / (R1+2*R2) * C1

Where R1 represents the resistor between Pin 7 & Pin 8 and R2 represents the resistor between Pin 6 &
Pin 7. C1 is capacitor between Pin 6 and Ground of 555 Timer IC. R (resistance) is in ohm and C
(capacitance) is in farads.

555 Timer IC is here generating some variable frequency. 555 Timer IC is a general purpose IC which
can be configured in some different modes like A-stable, Mono-stable, Bi-stable, having different
applications for each mode. Here in this project we have configured 555 Timer as an A-stable multi-
vibrator in which both the stage of signal are unstable. Astable mode is also called frequency generator.

To detect or read the IR light, we can also use TSOP1738 as IR Receiver, its output is active low, means
output remains High when there is no IR, and becomes low when it detects IR, you can check IR
Transmitter and Receiver using TSOP