1 Introduction:

Digital stop watch is an electronic device that is used to measure time interval for an event
between its start and stop time. These digital stop watches are implemented using digital logic
circuits. It has multiple time resolution range from micro seconds, milliseconds to seconds and
hours. A timing device produce voltage pulses of 1Hz frequency which is counted by a digital
counter. These counted values are then displayed on the seven segments displays. Seven
segments displays don’t understand the output of the counter. So a digital device named BCD
to seven segment decoder is used which converts the output of the counter the output that can
be displayed on the seven segments displays.

1.1 Aims and Objectives:

The objective of this experiment is to design a digital stop watch using two seven segments
displays and the time of resolution 1 seconds can be displayed on these two seven segment
displays from 0 to 59 seconds. The entire units can be controlled by three buttons that include
start, stop and the time reset button.

2 Theory:
For the design of digital stop watch, the first step is to generate the voltage pulse of the
frequency of 1 Hz. In this experiment, this is achieved through 555 time integrated circuit.
After that these pulses are counted through a digital counter. In this experiment digital counter
integrated circuit of model 4510 is used. The output of this counter is binary coded decimal.
After this counting stage, the binary coded decimal output of the timer is converted to the output
that can be displayed on the seven segment display through BCD to 7 segment decoder of the
model 4511. This converted output of the decoder is then displayed on the 7 segment display.

2.1 555 Timer:

555 timer is a digital integrated circuit which is used to generate voltage pulse of different
frequency depending on the value of the resistor and capacitor. It has many applications in
timing oscillatory circuits. 555 timer circuit can be implemented in three different modes: mono
stable, a stable and bi stable. In the first one mode, the 555 timer generate only one pulse which
is used to turn on any component connected to it. In the second mode, continuous voltage pulses
are obtained which frequency is defined by value of resistor and capacitor. In the last mode,
555 timer is used as flip flop element. In this experiment, a stable mode of the 555 timer is
implemented and the values of the resistor and capacitor are set in such a way that it produce
voltage pulse of the frequency 1 Hz.
 Figure 1: A stable circuit of the 555 timer.
The time period of the voltage waveform from 555 timer in the figure 1 is given as:
𝑻 = 𝒕𝟏 + 𝒕𝟐 − − − − −Equation 1
Where
𝒕𝟏 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟗𝟑 × (𝑹𝟏 + 𝑹𝟐 ) × 𝑪𝒆𝒙𝒕 − − − − −Equation 2

𝒕𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟗𝟑 × (𝑹𝟐 × 𝑪𝟏 ) − − − − −Equation 3

Capacitor charge time is given by 𝑡1 and the capacitor discharge time is given as 𝑡2 . The duty
cycle of the voltage pulse is obtained by dividing the time 𝑡1 which is on time by the total time
period of the voltage pulse T.
𝒕
𝑫𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝑪𝒚𝒄𝒍𝒆 = (𝑻) × 𝟏𝟎𝟎 − − − − −Equation 4

If the inverse of time period is taken, the result obtained is the value of the frequency of the
voltage waveform.
𝟏 𝟏.𝟒𝟒
𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒚 = 𝑻 = (𝑹 − − − − −Equation 5
𝟏 +𝟐×𝑹𝟐 )×𝑪𝟏

2.2 Digital Counter (Model 4510):

These are digital integrated circuits which counts the pulse coming from 555 timer circuit. At
each pulse from 555 timer, the output of the digital counter is incremented by 1. The output
of the 4510 counter is 4 bit binary coded decimal. The pin 10 of the 4510 IC acts as selector
for the digital counter for counting the event up or down. If this pin is active LOW, the 4510
counts the events to down direction. If this pin is active HIGH, it counts up from 0 to 9. The
output pins are denoted by A, B, C, D, in these outputs, the A is least significant bit. Pin 9 is
the reset pin. When it active HIGH, the output of 4510 becomes 0.

Figure 2: Pin-out of the 4510 BCD Counter.

2.3 BCD to 7 Segment Decoder (Model 4511):

The output of 4510 counter is binary coded decimal which is then decoded to connect it with
seven segment decoder. For this purpose, BCD to 7 segment decoder 4511 is used.

Table 1: Output of various component of Digital Stopwatch.

In the table 1, the output of the 4510 which is BCD is shown. After that this BCD is decoded
which is eight bit number which is then connected to the seven segment display. The 4511
decoder integrated circuit has four input pins which are connected with output of the BCD
counter. For the normal operation, the pin 3, lamp test input and pin 4, ripple blanking input
are set LOW.
 Figure 3: 4511 BCD to 7 Segment Decoder.

2.4 7 Segment Display:

Seven segment displays are electronic devices that display number from 0 to 9. They are a
group of LEDs arranged in a specific pattern. There are 7 LEDs of slot like shape to display
numbers. There is also a decimal point on the display.
Seven segment displays can be divided into two categories: one is common cathode type and
other is common anode type. In the first one, the cathode of all LEDs are connected together
to make a one terminal. This terminal is then connected to the ground. Now, if anode of any
LED is set at HIGH voltage level, it will glow. In the second type, anode of all LEDs are
connected together to make one terminal. This terminal is then connected to High voltage level.
If any of the LED is now connected to the LOW level voltage, it will glow. In this experiment,
common cathode type seven segment display are used.

Figure 4: Seven Segment Display Layout.

3 Components:
In this experiment, following components are used:
1. Proto-board.
2. 555 timer IC.
3. 4510 BCD counter.
4. 4511 BCD to 7 segment decoder.
5. Common Cathode 7 segment display.
6. Diode 4009.
7. AND logic gate.
8. OR logic gate.
9. NAND logic gate.
10. Switch.
11. Resister and capacitor of desired value.

4 Procedure:
The digital stop watch circuit consists of multiple steps. So the whole circuit is implemented
in discrete steps and each step is tested before the construction of next step. At in first step, 555
circuit is implemented and the value of resisters and capacitor are selected in such a way that
the generated pulse has the frequency of 1 Hz.
The output of the 555 timer is then connected to 4510 BCD counter. This BCS counts from 0
to 9 and after that it resets itself to 0 value, so in this way seconds are counted. When the 4510
BCD counter reset itself after counting from 0 to 9, it send a voltage pulse to the pin 7 which
is called carry. This carry pin is connected to the clock pin of BCD counter 2. Each time when
BCD counter 1 reset itself, the BCD counter 2 increments its current state by 1 due to carry
signal at its clock pin.
The BCD counter 2 can count to maximum 5 value which is maximum value of second value
of the second i.e. 59. After that the BCD counter 2 is reset by the connect logic gate circuit.
This circuit is implemented using one AND logic gate and two inverter gate integrated circuit.
When the output of this circuit is HIGH, it resets the BCD counter2.
The output of the BCD counter is then connected to 4011 BCD to seven segment decoder. This
decoder is a digital integrated circuit which converts the binary coded decimal out of the BCD
counter to the output that can be connected to seven segment display.
Figure 5: Schematic of Digital Stop Watch.

Figure 6: Simulation of Digital Stopwatch.

5 Results and Discussion:
In the first step 555 timer generate voltage pulses of frequency 1 Hz. This frequency is achieved
by using equation 5 with the specific values of the resistors and capacitor. The output wave
form of the 555 timer with frequency of 1 Hz is shown in figure 7.

Figure 7: Output Waveform of 555 timer

The capacitor connected in 555 timer circuit has a specific time of charging and discharging.
This time is calculated using equation 2 and 3. Based on that calculation, the output waveform
across capacitor is shown in the figure 8.

Figure 8: Capacitor Output Waveform.

After the pulse generation, it goes to BCD counter which counts the pulses coming from 555
timer and increments its state after every pulse. When it reaches the 9 value it resets itself to 0
value and generate a voltage pulse of short interval of time. This pulse is then connected to the
clock terminal of BCD counter 2. So each time when BCD counter 1 resets itself, the BCD
counter 2 increments itself till 5. In this way, seconds from 00 to 59 are displayed on the 7
segment display. After 59 the both BCD counter are reset to 00 value by digital logic circuit
which consists of the AND gate, Not gate, and OR gate

6 Troubleshooting:
While constructing the circuit on the proto-board, different problems were encountered.
Proper steps were taken to remove those problems that include:
 The BCD counter was not reset after 5 digit to ensure the seconds to count to 59. A
digital circuit was used to counter this problem.
 On seven segment was missing numbers which was due to error of wiring. This
problem was set by correcting the wires.

7 Conclusion:
Digital Stop watch was designed using different digital integrated circuits. 555 timer IC was
used for the generation of voltage pulse with frequency 1Hz. This frequency was set using
specific value of the resistor and capacitor. The output of 555 timer was fed to clock of 4510
BCD counter. The output of the 4510 BCD counter was then decoded using 4511 BCD to 7
segment decoder. A digital circuit was designed to rest the BCD counters when they reaches
to 59. In this a stop watch was implemented.