Digital Electronics

555 Timer
555 Timer
2
This presentation will
Introduce the 555 Timer.
Derive the characteristic equations for the charging and
discharging of a capacitor.
Present the equations for period, frequency, and duty cycle
for a 555 Timer Oscillator.
Going Further.
Detail the operation of a 555 Timer Oscillator.
Derive the equations for period, frequency, and duty cycle for
a 555 Timer Oscillator.
What is a 555 Timer?
The 555 timer is an 8-pin IC that is
capable of producing accurate time delays
and/or oscillators.
In the time delay mode, the delay is
controlled by one external resistor and
capacitor.
In the oscillator mode, the frequency of
oscillation and duty cycle are both
controlled with two external resistors and
one capacitor.
This presentation will discuss how to use
a 555 timer in the oscillator mode.
3
Capacitor
A capacitor is an electrical component that can
temporarily store a charge (voltage).
The rate that the capacitor charges/discharges is
a function of the capacitors value and its
resistance.
To understand how the capacitor is used in the
555 Timer oscillator circuit, you must understand
the basic charge and discharge cycles of the
capacitor.
4
Capacitor Charge Cycle
5
) )
Initial
RC -t/
Initial Final C
V e - 1 V V V + - =
Equation for Charging Capacitor
charge to begins it as capacitor the across voltage initial Any V
charged fully is that capacitor the across voltage The V
capacitor the across voltage The V
: Where
Initial
Final
C
=
=
=
Capacitor is initially discharged.
Switch is moved to position A.
Capacitor will charge to +12 v.
Capacitor will charge through
the 2 KO resistor.
Capacitor Discharge Cycle
6
) )
-t/RC
Final Initial C
e V V V - =
Equation for Discharging Capacitor
discharge to begins it as capacitor the across voltage initial Any V
discharged fully is that capacitor the across voltage The V
capacitor the across voltage The V
: Where
Initial
Final
C
=
=
=
Capacitor is initially charged.
Switch is moved to position B.
Capacitor will discharge to +0 v.
Capacitor will discharge through
the 3 KO resistor.
Capacitor Charge & Discharge
7
0 v
12 v
Switch has been at position B
for a long period of time. The
capacitor is completely
discharged.
Switch is moved to position
A. The capacitor charges
through the 2KO resistor.
Switch is moved back to
position B. The capacitor
discharges through the
3KO resistors.
20 mSec
5 V
V
C
Time
Block Diagram for a 555 Timer
Control Voltage (5)
Threshold Voltage (6)
Trigger Voltage (2)
Ground (1)
Vcc (8) Discharge (7)
Reset (4)
Output (3)
-
+
-
+
RESET
SET
Q
Q
COMP1
COMP2
Flip-Flop
T1
8
Schematic of a 555 Timer in Oscillator Mode
5 Volts
N/C
N/C
Discharge
Threshold /
Trigger
Ground
Output
1.666 V
3.333 V
R
A
R
B
C
9
555 Timer Design Equations
10
t
HIGH
: Calculations for the Oscillators HIGH Time
) C R R 0.693
B A
+ =
HIGH
t
5v
3.333 v
V
c
1.666 v
0 v
p t
HIGH
n
Output
HIGH
LOW
THE OUTPUT IS HIGH WHILE THE CAPACITOR
IS CHARGING THROUGH R
A
+ R
B.
555 Timer Design Equations
11
C 0.693R
B
=
LOW
t
t
LOW
: Calculations for the Oscillators LOW Time
5v
3.333 v
V
c
1.666 v
0 v
p t
LOW n
Output
HIGH
LOW
THE OUTPUT IS LOW WHILE THE CAPACITOR
IS DISCHARGING THROUGH R
B.
555 Timer Period / Frequency / DC
12
)
) . J . J
)C R 2 R 693 . 0 T
C R 693 . 0 C R R 693 . 0 T
t t T
C R 693 . 0 t
C R R 693 . 0 t
B A
B B A
LOW HIGH
B LOW
B A HIGH
+ =
+ + =
+ =
=
+ =
Period:
)C R 2 R 693 . 0
1
F
T
1
F
B A
+
=
=
Frequency:
)
)
)
)
% 100
R 2 R
R R
DC
% 100
C R 2 R 693 . 0
C R R 693 . 0
DC
% 100
T
t
DC
B A
B A
B A
B A
HIGH
-
+
+
=
-
+
+
=
- =
Duty Cycle:
Example: 555 Oscillator
13
Example:
For the 555 Timer oscillator shown below, calculate the circuits,
period (T), frequency (F), and duty cycle (DC).
Example: 555 Oscillator
14
Solution:
F 6.8 C 180 R 390 R
B A
Q = O = O =
)
)
mSec 534 . 3 T
F 8 . 6 180 2 390 693 . 0 T
C R 2 R 693 . 0 T
B A
=
- O - + O =
+ =
Q
Hz 282.941 F
mSec 534 . 3
1
F
T
1
F
=
=
=
)
)
)
)
% 76 DC
% 100
180 2 390
180 390
DC
% 100
R 2 R
R R
DC
B A
B A
=
-
O - + O
O + O
=
-
+
+
=
Period:
Frequency: Duty Cycle:
Example: 555 Oscillator
15
Example:
For the 555 Timer oscillator shown below, calculate the value for
R
A
& R
B
so that the oscillator has a frequency of 2.5 KHz @ 60%
duty cycle.
Example: 555 Oscillator
16
Solution:
)
)
)
)
)
B A
B A
B A B A
B A B A
B A
B A
B A
B A
R 5 . 0 R
R 2 . 0 R 4 . 0
R 2 . 1 R 6 . 0 R R
R 2 R 6 . 0 R R
6 . 0
R 2 R
R R
% 60 % 100
R 2 R
R R
DC
- =
- = -
- + - = +
+ = +
=
+
+
= -
+
+
=
Frequency: Duty Cycle:
)
)
09 . 1228 R 2 R
09 . 1228
f 47 . 0 693 . 0
Sec 400
R 2 R
Sec 400 f 47 . 0 R 2 R 693 . 0 T
Sec 400 C R 2 R 693 . 0 T
Sec 400
kHz 5 . 2
1

f
1
T
B A
B A
B A
B A
= +
O =
-
= +
= + =
= + =
= = =
Q
Q
Q Q
Q
Q
Two Equations & Two Unknowns!
Example: 555 Oscillator
17
Solution:
B A
R 5 . 0 R - =
Frequency: Duty Cycle:
09 . 1228 R 2 R
B A
= +
Substitute and Solve for R
B
O =
O =
O = + -
O = +
23 . 491 R
09 . 1228 R 5 . 2
09 . 1228 R 2 R 5 . 0
09 . 1228 R 2 R
B
B
B B
B A
)
O =
O = O +
O = O +
O = +
618 . 245 R
09 . 1228 472 . 982 R
09 . 1228 491.23 2 R
09 . 1228 R 2 R
A
A
A
B A
Substitute and Solve for R
A
18
Going Further
555 Oscillator
Detail Analysis
Detail Analysis of a 555 Oscillator
19
5v
3.333 v
V
c
1.666 v
0 v
RESET
HIGH
LOW
SET
HIGH
LOW
HIGH
LOW
T1
ON
OFF
Q
HIGH
LOW
Q
20
5v
3.333 v
V
c
1.666 v
0 v
RESET
HIGH
LOW
SET
HIGH
LOW
HIGH
LOW
T1
ON
OFF
Q
HIGH
LOW
Q
Detail Analysis of a 555 Oscillator
21
5v
3.333 v
V
c
1.666 v
0 v
RESET
HIGH
LOW
SET
HIGH
LOW
HIGH
LOW
T1
ON
OFF
Q
HIGH
LOW
Q
Detail Analysis of a 555 Oscillator
22
5v
3.333 v
V
c
1.666 v
0 v
RESET
HIGH
LOW
SET
HIGH
LOW
HIGH
LOW
T1
ON
OFF
Q
HIGH
LOW
Q
OUTPUT IS LOW WHILE THE CAPACITOR
IS DISCHARGING THROUGH R
B.
OUTPUT IS HIGH WHILE THE CAPACITOR IS
CHARGING THROUGH R
A
+ R
B.
Detail Analysis of a 555 Oscillator
555 Timer Design Equations
23
)
)
)

'
+

'

'
+

'

'
+

'

- =
+

'
+

'

- =
+

'
+

'

- =

RC
t
2
1
RC
t
CC
3
2
CC
3
1
CC
3
2
CC
3
1 RC
t
CC
3
2
CC
3
2
CC
3
1 RC
t
CC
3
1
CC CC
3
2
Initial
RC
t
Initial Final C
e - 1
e - 1
V
V V
V e - 1 V V
V e - 1 V V V
V e - 1 V V V
)
)C R R 693 . 0 t
C R 693 . 0 t
RC
t
693 . 0
e ln ln
e
e - 1
B A HIGH
HIGH
RC
t
2
1
RC
t
2
1
RC
t
2
1
+ =
=
=

'
+

'

=
=

'
+

'

t
HIGH
: Calculations for the Oscillators HIGH Time
555 Timer Design Equations
24
)
)
)

'
+

'

'
+

'

'
+

'

- =

'
+

'

- =

'
+

'

- =

RC
t
2
1
RC
t
CC
3
2
CC
3
1
RC
t
CC
3
2
CC
3
1
RC
t
CC
3
2
CC
3
1
RC
t
Final Initial C
e
e
V
V
e V V
e 0 V V
e V V V
)
C R 693 . 0 t
R 693 . 0 t
RC
t
693 . 0
e ln ln
e
B LOW
LOW
RC
t
2
1
RC
t
2
1
=
=
=

'
+

'

'
+

'

t
LOW
: Calculations for the Oscillators LOW Time
555 Timer Period / Frequency / DC
25
)
) . J . J
)C R 2 R 693 . 0 T
C R 693 . 0 C R R 693 . 0 T
t t T
C R 693 . 0 t
C R R 693 . 0 t
B A
B B A
LOW HIGH
B LOW
B A HIGH
+ =
+ + =
+ =
=
+ =
Period:
)C R 2 R 693 . 0
1
F
T
1
F
B A
+
=
=
Frequency:
)
)
)
)
% 100
R 2 R
R R
DC
% 100
C R 2 R 693 . 0
C R R 693 . 0
DC
% 100
T
t
DC
B A
B A
B A
B A
HIGH
-
+
+
=
-
+
+
=
- =
Duty Cycle: