FACULTY OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology

Hamdard University

Lab 12
Objective:
To design Multivibrators (Astable & monostable mode) using 555 timer.

Theory:
The 555 IC:
The 555 is most widely IC used for timer, pulse generation and oscillation circuit. The 555 IC
introduce in 1972 and still in use because it is simple in use, low price and good stability. The 555
IC is available in 8 pin package. Internally 555 contain two comparators, a RS-Flip Flop, an output
non-inverting buffer, a discharge NPN Transistor and three 5-Kohms resistance in series
combination.

The 555 IC Working:

The three series resistances are used to generate different voltages at different nodes. The one
end of series resistance is at VCC and another at ground. There are two nodes in three series
resistance. The node between first two resistances is attached to Upper Comparator and also
Control Voltage Pin (pin 5) of IC. The node between second and third resistance is connected to
Lower Comparator. The voltage between first and second resistance is 2/3V of Vcc and the voltage
between second and third resistance is 1/3V of Vcc.

Figure 12.1: Three 5 kΩ resistance in series in 555 IC

Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology, Hamdard University

Sharae Madinat Al-Hikmah, Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi 74600, Pakistan
 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology
Hamdard University

Figure 12.2: Internal structure of 555 IC

The 2/3V of Vcc is a voltage reference of Upper Comparator and is attached to Inverting Input pin
of Comparator so it is Non-Inverting Comparator. Same as the 1/3V of Vcc is a voltage reference
to Lower Comparator and it is attached to Non-Inverting Input pin of Comparator so it is Inverting
Comparator.

Note that the 2/3 of Vcc is also attached to the Control Voltage pin of IC, this Control Voltage pin
is used in some application like VCO(Voltage Control Oscillation). If this is unused in circuit then
it must be decoupled with ground by a 0.1 uF capacitor.

Figure12.3: De-coupling capacitor circuit for Control Voltage pin of 555

Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology, Hamdard University

Sharae Madinat Al-Hikmah, Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi 74600, Pakistan
 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology
Hamdard University
The output of Upper Comparator is control by the voltage at Threshold pin (pin no 6). When the
voltage applied at Threshold pin is more then 2/3V of Vcc, The output of Upper Comparator
become 1 (or High) and vice versa. The output of Lower Comparator is control by the voltage at
Trigger pin (pin no 2). When the voltage at Trigger pin is less than 1/3V of Vcc the output of Lower
Comparator become 1 (or High) and vice versa.

The output of both comparators is connecting to inputs of RS Flip Flop. R (Reset) is connect from
theoutput of Upper Comparator and S (Set) is connect from the output of Lower Comparator.
When‘R’ input is 1 the Flip Flop output become 0 (or Reset) and when its ‘S’ input set the output
become 1 (or Set).

The output of RS Flip Flop is connected to NPN Discharge Transistor with an inverter in between
them. This is because when the Flip Flop reset its output 555 IC becomes 0 and the Discharge
transistor is on and when Flip Flop is set the output of 555 is 1 and Discharge Transistor off.
The 555 operation in brief

1) When the Threshold pin (pin no 6) voltage increase from 2/3V of Vcc the RS-Flip Flop
reset, the output of IC become 0 and Discharge Transistor turn on.
2) When the Trigger pin (pin no 2) voltage decrease by 1/3V of Vcc the RS-Flip Flop set the
output of IC become 1 and Discharge Transistor turn off.

Multi-vibrator circuits using 555 IC

a) Mono-Stable Multi-vibrator Circuit:

Mono Stable Multi-Vibrator has only one stable state and the other state is unstable that’s way
is called Mono-Stable (1 Stable State). For example if logic 0 (low level) is stable state and logic
1 (high logic) is unstable. The signal remain at low level until an external pulse force it to high
level, the signal will remain at high logic for set time and after if the signal will return to low level.
The signal will sustain at low logic until external trigger force it to logic 1.

Figure 12.4: Waveform of Mono-stable Multi Vibrator

Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology, Hamdard University

Sharae Madinat Al-Hikmah, Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi 74600, Pakistan
 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology
Hamdard University

Working of Mono-Stable Multi-vibrator Circuit:

The input is applied by a switch connected to trigger pin and it also pull-up by resistance.
Threshold pin and Discharge pin are shorted and connected to a RC Circuit to generate ON time
of pulse.

Figure 12.5: Mono-Stable Multi-vibrator circuit using 555 IC

Initially when circuit is power-up, the capacitor is fully discharge mean it has 0V across it, so the
Threshold pin get high voltage (more than 2/3V Vcc) because it is attached to Vcc by a resistance.
So initially the output will be off and also internal Discharge Transistor is on which in parallel with
the capacitor discharge all current to ground.

When the Trigger pin is set to ground (or less than 1/3V of Vcc) the output of comparator set
which set the RS-Flip Flop and also the output and it also turn off the Discharge Transistor. When
the Discharge Transistor turn off; capacitor starts to charge linearly depend upon the value of
resistance and capacitor. As capacitor charge, the voltage across it raises and when it reaches up
to 2/3V of Vcc, the Threshold pin set which set the upper comparator, reset the RS-Flip Flop and
make output to logic 0 and also turn on the Discharge Transistor.

Formula to calculate on-time (set time) of Mono Stable Multi Vibrator

Ton-time = 1.1 R C

Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology, Hamdard University

Sharae Madinat Al-Hikmah, Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi 74600, Pakistan
 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology
Hamdard University

Figure 12.6: Capacitor Voltage and Input vs Output logics

a) Astable Multi-vibrator Circuit and its working:

The Astable Multi-vibrator has no stable state means both logic 0 and logic 1 are at unstable
state. The output is at logic 0 after some time it shifted to logic 1 and again come to logic 0 after
some time. Astable Multi-vibrator is basically square wave generator circuit.

Figure 12.7: Astable Multi-vibrator circuit using 555 IC

Initially the voltage across capacitor is 0V when circuit is power up, so the voltage on Trigger pin
and Threshold pin is 0V, Trigger pin has less than 2/3V of Vcc so the output will at logic 1 and
internal discharge transistor is initially off.

Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology, Hamdard University

Sharae Madinat Al-Hikmah, Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi 74600, Pakistan
 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology
Hamdard University

Figure 12.8: Capacitor Voltages and Output Waveform

The capacitor starts to charge depend upon the value of two resistances (which connect in series)
and capacitor value. After some time when capacitor voltage increase up to 2/3V of Vcc, the
voltage at Threshold pin set the output to logic 0 and also turn on the discharge transistor. The
discharge transistor discharges the capacitor charges which decrease the voltage across
capacitor. When capacitor voltage decrease up to 1/3V of Vcc the trigger pin activated which set
the output to logic 0 and also turn off the discharge transistor and capacitor starts to charge again
and the process repeat. This is how continuous charging and discharging create the square wave.

Formula to calculate Frequency of Astable Multi Vibrator

F = 1.44 / ((R1 + 2R2) C1)

Results:
a) Implement the Mono Stable and Astable Multi-Vibrator circuit and verify the
Frequency and duty cycle of a stable multivibrator from simulation and
mathematically calculated value.

b) For the given resistance and capacitance calculate the on-time for Mono Stable
Multi Vibrator.
1) 10K & 100uF
2) 1K & 50uF
3) 6.8K & 4.7uF

Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology, Hamdard University

Sharae Madinat Al-Hikmah, Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi 74600, Pakistan
 FACULTY OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology
Hamdard University
c) A Mono Stable Multi Vibrator a design with C=100uF and Variable resistance is of
100K Ohms. On what value the variable resistance adjusts to get Set-Time of 1Sec.

d) A Astable Multi Vibrator is design whose C = 100uF and R1 = 10K Ohms. It is required
to produce frequency of 1Hz. What will be the approximately value of R

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

After completing this lab, students will be able to:

LO1: understand the internal working of 555 Timer IC.

LO3: understand and analyze the Monostable and Astable multivibrator circuits in contrast with the internal
structure of 555 Timer IC.
LO3: simulate the experiment and compare the results with the one obtained in practical observation.

Date of submission: Signature

Hamdard Institute of Engineering & Technology, Hamdard University

Sharae Madinat Al-Hikmah, Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi 74600, Pakistan