What is 555 Timer..How its working?
What is 555 Timer..How it Working?
Timers
Timers are those circuits, which provide periodic signals to a digital
system which change the state of that system. In other words, those
circuits, which work on the base of multivibrator changes or a device,
which can be used as multivibrator is called Timer. (We will discuss
Multivibrator in detail in next coming posts)
555 Timer
555 Timer is a digital monolithic integrated circuit which may be used
as a clock generator. In other words, 555 Timer is a circuit which may
be connected as a stable or monostable multivibrator.
555 Timer is a versatile and most usable device in the electronics
circuits and designs which work for both stable and monostable states.
It may provide time delay from microseconds up to many hours.
Below is the pin diagram of DIP (Dual inline Package) 555 timer with 8 pins.
555 timer is a very cheap IC which works for wide range of potential
difference (typically, from 4.5 to 15V DC) and the different provided
input voltages do not affect the timer output.
555 Timer is a linear device and it can be directly connected to the
CMOS or TTL (Transistor – Transistor Logic) digital circuits due to its
compatibility but, interfacing is must to use 555 timer with other
digital circuits.
555 Timer Construction
There are lots of manufacturers who manufacture 555 timer which included
the number 555 e.g. NE555, CA555, SE555, MC14 555 etc. typically, two
555 timers sandwiched inside a single chip which is called 556.
Nowadays, chips are available with four 555 timers in it. These devices
are available in circular IC with eight (8), DIP (Dual inline Package)
with 8 pins or DIP with 14 pins.
Here is the simple explanation of the 8 pins of 555 Timer.
1. Ground (GND)
It’s the common ground point of the circuit. The ground terminal of
external circuit as well as power supply (Vcc) ground terminal is
connected with this i.e. GND (Ground) terminal of 555 timer.
2. Trigger
When Trigger terminal gets one –third (1/3) of the supply voltage i.e.
Vcc/3 equal amplitude’s negative trigger pulse, then the circuit output
changes form Low to High.
3. Output
This terminal is used for getting output and connected with load. At any instant, its value is low or high.
4. Reset
Without taking into account the previous state of output, by providing a
trigger pulse to this terminal resets the device. I.e. Its output
becomes low.
5. Control Voltage
There are two third positive voltages of the total Supply voltages (Vcc)
at control voltage terminal. Thus, it becomes a part of the comparator
circuit. Generally, a capacitor is connected between ground and voltage
control terminals.
6. Threshold Voltage
Threshold voltage and control voltage is the two inputs of comparator
circuit. The circuit compares the available voltage at threshold voltage
terminal to the available reference voltage at control terminal.
If the available voltage at threshold terminal (Pin 6) is greater than
the control voltage i.e. two-third of Vcc, then the output would be low,
otherwise, it would be high.
7. Discharge
When output is low, then Discharge terminal provides a low resistance
discharge path to the externally connected capacitor. However, it acts
an open circuit, when output is high.
8. +Vcc (Supply Voltage Terminal)
Supply voltage is provided at this terminal for timer operation.
A simple 555 timer circuit is shown below in fig _ which shows the
internal construction of 555 timer. According to the fig, the timer
contains on two comparators, an RS flip flop, an Output stitch (output
buffer) and a Discharge Transistor Q1.
In addition, there are three 5kΩ resistors are connected in series with
5kΩ resistor which first end is connected with Vcc (Pin 8 = Supply
voltage) and the other end is connected with ground (GND = Pin 1).
Good to Know: due to the three 5kΩ series connected resistors, this IC timer chip is called 555 Timer J.
Working Principle of 555 Timer
In the 555 Timer block or functional diagram, comparators are those
devices which output is high, when their positive input voltage is
greater than their negative input voltage and vise versa.
The voltage divider in the circuit (which contains on three series
connected 5kΩ resistors), which provides the trigger level of one-third
of Vcc (Vcc/3) and two-third (2/3) of threshold voltage. To understand
this point, suppose the input value is 15V. In this case, the value of
trigger level would be 5V as (Vcc/3 = 15V/3 = 5V). And the value of
threshold level would be 10V as (Vcc x 2/3 = 15V x (2/3)) = 10V.
When needed, the trigger level and threshold can be adjusted by using
the Control Voltage terminal (Pin 5) i.e. by changing the control
voltage at Pin 5, we may change the trigger level and threshold voltage
according to the required specification. However, in this case, the
value of trigger and threshold would be remain equal to 1/3 Vcc and 2/3
Vcc respectively.
When the normal high trigger input value instantaneously reduce then the
1/3 Vcc, Then the output of Comparator B becomes High from Low, as a
result, RS latch or RS Flip flop goes to “set”. When flip flop goes to
set, then Output (at Point 3) becomes high. Simultaneously, the
discharge transistor Q1 gets off and The output remains high until the
value of normally low threshold input does not increase then the 2/3
Vcc.
As soon as the threshold input increase than the 2/3Vcc, then the output
of comparator A becomes Low, as a result, RS flip flop get reset
(because the output of comparator is directly connected to the RS flip
flop’s input R as shown in the fig). When flip flop gets reset, output
becomes low and discharge transistor Q1 goes to on.
The flip flop can be reset by applying external input reset without
threshold circuit. Note that, the trigger and threshold inputs (Pin 2
and Pin 6) are controlled by externally components and the 555 timer can
be used for stable or monostable operation by controlling the trigger and threshold inputs with the help of those external components.
Types of Timers
There are two basic types of 555 Timer with respect to function and operation.
- 555 Timer as Astable Multivibrator
- 555 Timer as Monostable Multivibrator
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