555 Timer IC

EE 503, SP

 Widely used IC
It can run in:
Monostable mode (one stable state) - it can
produce accurate time delays from micro-secs to
hours
Astable mode ( no stable states) it can produce
Rectangular waves with variable duty cycle
Bistable Mode (two stable states)
And lots of other circuits
EE 503, SP

Pin Configuration

EE 503, SP

Pin Configuration

EE 503, SP

Functional Block Diagram

Upper comparator
_
Q
Q
Lower comparator

Discharge Transistor

Reset Transistor

EE 503, SP

555 IC comprises of :
Two op-amp comparators
A flip-flop
A discharge transistor
A reset transistor
Three identical resistors (e.g 5 k)
Output stage
The resistors set the reference voltage levels at
the non-inverting I/P of the lower comparator &
inverting I/P of the upper comparator at +Vcc/3
& +2Vcc/3
EE 503, SP

when output Q bar is high, the discharge transistor

is off (as Q low)
When output low, discharge transistor On
Pin 6 Voltage (threshold) > 2Vcc/3 : O/P of upper
comparator high, S=1, Q=1, discharge transistor
On
Pin 2 voltage (trigger) < Vcc/3 : O/P of the lower
comparator high, R =1, Q=0, discharge
transistor off
EE 503, SP

Main Features
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Timing from micro-secs to hours

Monostable and astable operation
Adjustable duty cycle
Ability to operate from a wide range of supple
voltages
O/P compatible with CMOS, DTL & TTL (when
used with a 5V supply)
High current. O/P can sink or source 200 mA
Trigger and reset inputs are logic compatible
O/P can be operated normal on and normal off
High temperature stability
EE 503, SP

Descriptions of the Pins

Pin 1: Ground
Pin 2: Trigger:
Pin 2 voltage (trigger) < Vcc/3 : O/P of the lower
comparator high
Pin 3: O/P : Two ways of connecting a load
i) between pin 3 & ground (pin 1)
Or
ii) Between pin 3 & +Vcc (pin 8)
EE 503, SP


When O/P is low:
(i) If the load is connected between pin 3 &
1(gnd):
The current through the load is zero normally off
load
(ii) If the load is connected between pin 3 &
8(+Vcc):
The current through the load flows into the O/P
terminal & is called sink current. The load
connected between pin 3 & +Vcc is called
normally on load
EE 503, SP


When O/P is high:
(i) If the load is connected between pin 3 &
1(gnd):
The output terminal supplies the current to the
normally off load. This current is called source
current
(ii) If the load is connected between pin 3 &
8(+Vcc):
The current through the load is zero

EE 503, SP

 Pin 4: Reset: The timer can be reset or disabled (o/p

voltage zero) by applying a ve pulse to this pin
When not is use, this terminal should be connected to
+Vcc to avoid any possibility of false triggering

Pin 5: Control voltage: If we do not want to operate the

comparators at +Vcc/3 or +2Vcc/3.
An external voltage applied to this pin (or by connecting
a pot between this pin & gnd) changes threshold as well
as trigger voltage
When not is use, this pin should be bypassed to gnd with a
0.01F capacitor to prevent any noise problem
EE 503, SP

Pin 6: Threshold: When pin 6 voltage > 2Vcc/3, the

o/p of the upper comparator high, S=1, Q=1,
discharge transistor On, O/P of the timer low
Pin 7: Discharge: This pin is internally connected
to the collector of the discharge transistor.
Pin 8: +Vcc: The supply voltage of +5V to +18V is
applied to this pin w.r.t ground (pin 1)

EE 503, SP

Operation as Astable Multivibrator

EE 503, SP

Operation as Astable Multivibrator

R1

R2

EE 503, SP

Operation as Astable Multivibrator

Initially C is fully discharged which forces the
O/P to high state.
Pin 2 < Vcc/3, R=1, Q=0, discharge transistor
Off, the capacitor starts charging from +Vcc
through R1 & R2.
When Vc > 2Vcc/3, Q=1, discharge transistor on, C
is discharged through this transistor & R2
When Vc < Vcc/3, Q=0, discharge transistor off, C
will again starts charging to 2Vcc/3
EE 503, SP

High & Low state time periods are generated by

the charge (+Vcc/3 to +2Vcc/3) & discharge
(+2Vcc/3 to +Vcc/3)
High state time period, Thigh or Ton =0.69(R1+R2)C
Low state time period, Tlow or Toff =0.69R2C
Time period, T = Thigh + Tlow = 0.69(R1 + 2R2)C
f= 1 / 0.69(R1 + 2R2)C
Disadvantage:
1. Thigh is always > Tlow
2. Thigh & Tlow both dependent on R2
EE 503, SP

Operation as Monostable Multivibrator

(Monoshot)

=0.01F

EE 503, SP

Operation as Monostable Multivibrator

(Monoshot)
Pin 2 (trigger) is initially kept at +Vcc. So O/P
low. Now pin 2 is lowered
Pin 2< vcc/3 , Q=1, C starts charging through R.
When Vc > 2Vcc/3, Q=1, C discharges through
discharge transistor.

EE 503, SP

Operation as Monostable Multivibrator

(Monoshot)

EE 503, SP

Operation as Monostable Multivibrator

(Monoshot)
Everytime the O/P is appropriately triggered, the
O/P goes to high state & stays there for a time
period taken by the capacitor to charge from 0 to
+2Vcc/3.
The time period or the monoshot pulse width, T,
T =1.1 RAC
The pulse width of the trigger I/P should be less
than the high time of the monoshot O/P
EE 503, SP