Timer Circuits Design

Laboratory Experiment #1
Ranielle John B. Bayani
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
University of San Carlos
Nasipit, Talamban Cebu City, Philippines
raniellejohn@gmail.com

Abstract—This experiment aims to integrate the

conceptualization of the monostable multivibrator and the
astable multivibrator with the 555 IC timer. The verification of
these circuits is assessed in this experiment.

Keywords-monostable, astable, multivibrator, 555 IC timer

I. INTRODUCTION
Most electronics circuitry implement an IC inside it.
The 555 IC timer is an example of this, which was
introduced by Signetics Corporation; developing the
reputation as the most popular integrated circuit timer.
Aside from the 555 IC timer, there are various types of
integrated circuits. For this experiment, a specific IC called
the 555 IC timer is utilized.
This IC timer can be operated in two modes, astable
multivibrator and monostable multivibrator, which is
assessed in this experiment. In the mode for astable
multivibrator, the following equations are used in the
process of designing:
t LOW  0.693R2Ct
t HIGH  0.693( R2  R1 )Ct
Fig. 1 Astable Multivibrator Circuit
Shown above is the circuit used in initializing the astable
multivibrator circuit with the 555 IC timer. One mode of
operation is the astable multivibrator. Astable multivibrator
has an output that shifts from one unstable state to the other
unstable state. This has an output that is free running and
has no stable state. This type of concept is also called a
clock oscillator. The output will be low for a time duration
based on the timing components resistor R2 and the
capacitor, Ct. While the time for the output voltage to be in
high potential is controlled by R1, R2 and Ct. This implies
(1) that the period of oscillation T is equal to the sum of the
(2)
time for low and the time for high voltage output.

T  t LOW  t HIGH (3) D

t LOW

0.693R2Ct
T  0.693(2 R2  R1 )Ct T 0.693( R1  2 R2 )Ct (5)
(4)
R2
D x100%
R1  2 R2 (6)
The duty cycle for this is the ratio of the t LOW to the
period T, which is expressed below. This equation is
In the aspect of designing an astable multivibrator with a
applicable only to the circuits that have less than 50% duty
duty cycle of more than 50%, a different set of equations are
cycle. Astable multivibrator circuits with more that 50%
used in the process.
duty cycle have a different circuit and the time for its output
to be in high potential is calculated differently.
 t HIGH  0.693( R1 )Ct (7)
II. OBJECTIVES
T  t HIGH  t LOW (8) The objectives of this experiment are enumerated as
(9) follows:
T  0.693( R1  R2 )Ct
Thus, 1. To design a monostable multivibrator circuit using the
555 IC timer.
t 2. To design an astable multivibrator circuit using the
D  LOW (10)
T 555 IC timer.
3. To verify the operation of these circuits.
0.693( R2 )Ct
D (11)
0.693( R1  R2 )Ct III. DESIGN
R2 In the first part of the experiment, the students design a
D x100% (12) monostable multivibrator. In the table below are the
R1  R2 specifications that were used by the students in designing.
The first monostable multivibrator the students designed
was supposed to have a pulse width of 1.1 second and the
second was 2 seconds.

Figure 2 Astable Multivibrator Circuit (more than 50% duty

cycle)
Figure 4 Monostable Multivibrator Setup (1)

The following resistor values were used for the first and
second part of the design process, through the equations
shown in this report.

Table 1. R1 Resistance Value

Circuit Resistance R1
First 100KΩ
(13) Second 181.818KΩ

For the second circuit design, there is no resistance value

of 181.818KΩ, so the value was rounded up to 182kΩ. In
order to have a 182K-resistor, a 180KΩ resistor is connected
in series with a 2KΩ.
Figure 3 Monostable Multivibrator

Shown above is the circuit used for the monostable

multivibrator. Monostable multivibrator has an output that
has one stable state and one unstable state. The stable state
is low voltage while the unstable state is a high voltage. The
output shifts from stable to unstable after the trigger. The
unstable state time of the circuit is determined by
component R1 and Ct. This unstable time is referred to as
pulse width.

Pw  1.1R1Ct Figure 5 Monostable Multivibrator Setup (2)

(13)
 IV. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
Table 2. Specifications for Astable Multivibrator
Circuit Frequency(F) Capacitance(Ct) Duty Cycle(D)
In the construction of the circuit for this experiment, the
First 4.8Hz 10μF 66.67% following materials and components are needed.
Second 480Hz 1μF 66.67% 1 – Analog Trainer
1 – Oscilloscope
Shown above is the specifications that are required in 1 – Digital Multimeter
order to design the next mode of operation, the astable 1 – 10μF Capacitor
multivibrator. Using the equations found in this experiment, 1 – .01μF Capacitor
the values of the resistors are shown below: 1 – 1μF Capacitor
1 – 555 IC Timer
Table 3. Resistance Values 1 – LED
Circuit R1 R2 1 – Tact Switch
First 10.02KΩ 20.043KΩ 1 – 180KΩ Resistor
Second 1.002KΩ 2.004KΩ
1 – 100KΩ Resistor
1 – 20KΩ Resistor
1 – 10KΩ Resistor
1 – 2KΩ Resistor
1 – 1KΩ Resistor
1 – 390Ω Resistor
V. TESTING PROCEDURE
After the design process, the students constructed the
circuits shown in the third part of this report. Since this
experiment also aims to verify the operations of the circuits,
the student tested the output of each circuit using the
oscilloscope. For the monostable multivibrator circuits, the
Figure 6 Astable Multivibrator Setup (1) tip of the probe from the oscilloscope was connected to pin
3 of the 555 IC timer while the oscilloscope ground was
connected to the ground. For the astable multivibrator
circuits, the tip of the probe was connected to pin 3 of the
555 IC timer while the oscilloscope ground was connected
to the ground. Same with monostable, LED and resistor was
used to verify that the circuit is working.
VI. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Figure 7 Astable Multivibrator Setup (2)

For the first astable multivibrator circuit, there were no

resistors having the exact value as calculated. For R1, a
10.02KΩ is rounded off to 10KΩ. For R2, a 20.043KΩ is
rounded off to a 20KΩ resistor. For the second, the
resistance values were rounded off. R1 was rounded down to
1KΩ and R2 was then 2KΩ. A diode was connected parallel Figure 8 Monostable Vibrator Oscilloscope Output (1)
to R2 in order to achieve the 66.67% duty cycle.

Figure 9 Monostable Vibrator Oscilloscope Output (2)
Shown above is the first output of the monostable
vibrator. We can distinguish the trigger initialization into the
unstable state of the multivibrator. As reinforced with the
theory, the experimentation resulted in the pulse width
specified in the first part of the experiment.
For the second part of the experiment, circuit assessed
was the astable multivibrato, also called clock oscillator.
The nature of this circuit does not need a switch.
Figure 10 Astable Multivibrator Oscilloscope Output (1)
Figure 11 Astable Multivibrator Oscilloscope Output (2)
VII. CONCLUSION
By the end of this experiment, the objectives of this
experiment were met. The assessment of the two modes of
operations for multivibrators in the 555 IC timer, introduced
by Signetics Corporation, allowed the verification of these
operations. The monostable multivibrator mode of operation
relied on the passive components for the output of the
unstable state. Thus, this unstable state required a trigger
embodying a switch. The pulse width for the unstable state
then exemplified the process of the passive components,
which are the resistor and the capacitor. The other mode of
operation, the astable multivibrator, functioned in the nature
of a clock oscillator. This kind of setup can be used for
timing circuits for a system. Both mode of operations
exemplify the necessity for delay and timing circuits.