555 Timer

Introduction
The 555 Timer is a commonly used IC designed to produce a variety of
output waveforms
Its an “industry standard” waveform generator IC called as the “555
Timer Oscillator” otherwise as “555 Timer”
555 timer gets its name from the fact that there are three internally
connected 5kΩ resistors acting as voltage divider.
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
Pin configuration
Internal Circuit Of 555 Timer

The 555 timer consists of the following:

• Two voltage comparators
• A bi-stable flip flop
• A discharge transistor
• A resistor divider network.
 VCC 8 4 Reset
5KΩ
Control 
Voltage 5 +
VA C1+
Threshold 6 RD Q
5KΩ 3
Trigger 2  SD Q Output
+
VB C2 + RS-FF
5KΩ
Discharge 7 Comparators

Discharge
T
Transistor
GND1
Voltage Divider

Internal components and PIN connections

2/3 VCC VCC
Comparison of Voltage
5KΩ
5 V
. +
 RD and Flipflop Output
A C1 + V6 V2 RD SD
6
V6 <2/3 VCC <1/3 VCC 1 0
5KΩ
 >2/3 VCC >1/3 VCC 0 1
2 + SD
C2 +
V2
VB . <2/3 VCC >1/3 VCC 1 1
5KΩ >2/3 VCC <1/3 VCC 0 0
1/3 VCC
Not permitted

Voltage Divider and RS Flipflop Output

 Transistor output
Comparator 1 Based on FF states
RD Q RD SD Q T
SD Q
Comparator 2
output
1 0 1 off
7 T RS-FF 0 1 0 on
1 1 remain remain
Discharge
Transistor

Transistor output
Based on V6 & V2

RS Flipflop Output &Transistor Output

555 IC Timer applications

Three main modes of Operation:

1.Monostable Multivibrators
Producing a single pulse when triggered.
2. Astable Multivibrators
Producing a continuous square wave
3. Bistable Multivibrators
Schmitt Trigger
Monostable Multivibrator
Used to Generate Pulse of required Width whenever
Trigger pulse is provided at Trigger input
1
1
¿ 𝑉 𝑐𝑐
3

2
¿ 𝑉 𝑐𝑐
3

Output
Pulse
 Steady state
01
1

>2/3 VCC 1 0
1 Q=0

on

Monostable Multivibrator Operation

Monostable Multivibrator Operation

1 Transient state
10

0 1
0 01
Q=1

< 1/3 UCC

off
Monostable Multivibrator Operation

01
Steady state
01

1 1
0 10 Q=1

Q=0
>2/3 VCC
Monostable Multivibrator
ui
•With one stable state
•Normally in its stable t
state, to change to its uC
unstable state only when 2/3UCC
triggered
•Once triggered, to remain in
uO t
its unstable state for a
predetermined length of time
and then return to its stable
state automatically t
tp =1.1RC
Astable Multivibrator

output
 Astable Multivibrator(Oscillator)

8 UCC 4
charge
5KΩ
R1
5 .  10
. 6
VA
+ +
C1 01
R2 RD Q
5KΩ UUCC
>2/3
<1/3
SD Q uO
.
CC
first 2 .  10
+ +
13
uC=0
+
7 5K
VB
. C2 RD=1
uC Ω SD=0
– T
1
discharge (grand) .
 +VCC uC
2/3UCC
R1 1/3UCC
. 5 8 4
t
R 6
u . .
2
2 3 uO
C

C 71 uO

t
tp1 =(R1+R2)C ln2=0.7(R1+R2)C tp1 tp2
tp2 =R2C ln2=0.7R2C
Duty Cycle = tp1/T
T=tp1+tp2 =0.7(R1+2R2)C
Applications using 555 timer
555 timer has variety of applications such as
•one-shot or delay timers
•pulse generation
•LED and lamp flashers
•alarms
•tone generation
•logic clocks
•frequency division
•power supplies
• converters
•A light dimmer
•Traffic Lights
•Infra Red (IR) remote control