Clock Signals: 555 Timer

Digital Electronics © 2014 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

 555 Timer
This presentation will
• Introduce the 555 Timer.
• Derive the characteristic equations for the charging and
discharging of a capacitor.
• Present the equations for period, frequency, and duty cycle
for a 555 Timer Oscillator.

Going Further….
• Detail the operation of a 555 Timer Oscillator.
• Derive the equations for period, frequency, and duty cycle for
a 555 Timer Oscillator.
2
 What is a 555 Timer?
• The 555 timer is an 8-pin IC that is
capable of producing accurate time delays
and/or oscillators.
• In the time delay mode, the delay is
controlled by one external resistor and
capacitor.
• In the oscillator mode, the frequency of
oscillation and duty cycle are both
controlled with two external resistors and
one capacitor.
• This presentation will discuss how to use
a 555 timer in the oscillator mode.
3
 Capacitor
• A capacitor is an electrical component that can
temporarily store a charge (voltage).
• The rate that the capacitor charges/discharges
is a function of the capacitor’s value and its
resistance.
• To understand how the capacitor is used in the
555 Timer oscillator circuit, you must understand
the basic charge and discharge cycles of the
capacitor.

4
 Capacitor Charge Cycle
• Capacitor is initially discharged.
• Switch is moved to position A.
• Capacitor will charge to +12 v.
• Capacitor will charge through
the 2 k resistor.

Equation for Charging Capacitor

VC   VFinal  VInitial   1 - e -t/RC

V Initial
Where :
VC  The voltage across the capacitor
VFinal  The voltage across the capacitor that is fully charged
VInitial  Any initial voltage across the capacitor as it begins to charge
5
 Capacitor Discharge Cycle
• Capacitor is initially charged.
• Switch is moved to position B.
• Capacitor will discharge to +0 v.
• Capacitor will discharge through
the 3 K resistor.

Equation for Discharging Capacitor

VC   VInitial  VFinal    e -t/RC 
Where :
VC  The voltage across the capacitor
VFinal  The voltage across the capacitor that is fully discharged
VInitial  Any initial voltage across the capacitor as it begins to discharge

6
 Capacitor Charge & Discharge

12 v
5V
VC 20 mSec

Time 0v

Switch has been at position B Switch is moved to position Switch is moved back to
for a long period of time. The A. The capacitor charges position B. The capacitor
capacitor is completely through the 2k resistor. discharges through the 7
discharged. 3k resistors.
 Block Diagram for a 555 Timer
Vcc (8) Discharge (7)

T1
COMP1 Flip-Flop
Control Voltage (5) -
Threshold Voltage (6) + RESET Q

+ COMP2
SET Q Output (3)
-
Trigger Voltage (2)

8
Ground (1) Reset (4)
Schematic of a 555 Timer in Oscillator Mode
5 Volts

RA
3.333 V
N/C
Discharge

RB Output
1.666 V

Threshold /
Trigger

C
Ground N/C

9
 555 Timer Design Equations
tHIGH : Calculations for the Oscillator’s HIGH Time
THE OUTPUT IS HIGH WHILE THE
CAPACITOR IS CHARGING THROUGH RA
+ RB.
5v
3.333 v

Vc 1.666 v
0v

 tHIGH 

HIGH

Output
LOW

t HIGH  0.693 R A  RB  C 10
 555 Timer Design Equations
tLOW : Calculations for the Oscillator’s LOW Time
THE OUTPUT IS LOW WHILE THE
CAPACITOR IS DISCHARGING THROUGH
RB.
5v
3.333 v

Vc 1.666 v
0v

 tLOW 

HIGH

Output
LOW

t LOW  0.693RBC 11
555 Timer – Period / Frequency / DC
Period: Duty Cycle:
t HIGH  0.693  R A  RB  C t HIGH
DC   100%
T
t LOW  0.693 RBC
0.693  R A  RB  C
T  t HIGH  t LOW DC   100%
0.693  R A  2RB  C
T   0.693  R A  RB  C   0.693 RBC
DC 
R A
 RB 
 100%
T  0.693  R A  2RB  C R A
 2RB 

Frequency:
1
ƒ
T
1
ƒ
0.693 R A  2RB  C 12
 Example: 555 Oscillator
Example:
For the 555 Timer oscillator shown below, calculate the circuit’s,
period (T), frequency (ƒ), and duty cycle (DC).

13
 Example: 555 Oscillator
Solution:
R A  390  RB  180  C  6.8 F
Period:
T  0.693 R  2R  C
 A B
T  0.693 390Ω  2 180Ω  6.8μ.
T  3.5343 mSec

Frequency: Duty Cycle:

1  R  R   100%
ƒ DC  A B

T  R  2R 
A B

ƒ
1
DC 
 390   180    100%
3.534mSec  390   2  180  
ƒ  282.941Hz DC  76% 14
 Example: 555 Oscillator
Example:
For the 555 Timer oscillator shown below, calculate the value for
RA & RB so that the oscillator has a frequency of 2.5 kHz @ 60%
duty cycle.

15
 Example: 555 Oscillator
Solution:
Frequency: Duty Cycle:
1 1 DC 
R  RB 
 100%  60%
T   400Sec
A

f 2.5 kHz R A
 2RB 
T  0.693 R A  2RB  C  400Sec R  RB 
A
 0 .6
T  0.693 R A  2RB  0.47F  400Sec R A
 2RB 

R A  2 RB 
400Sec
 1228.09 R A  RB  0.6 R A  2RB 
0.693 0.47F R A  RB  0.6  R A  1.2  RB
R A  2 RB  1228.09
0 .4  R A  0 .2  R B
R A  0 .5  R B

Two Equations & Two Unknowns!

16
 Example: 555 Oscillator
Solution:
Frequency: Duty Cycle:
R A  2 RB  1228.09 R A  0.5  RB

Substitute and Solve for RB

R A  2 RB  1228.09 
0.5  RB  2 RB  1228.09 
2.5 RB  1228.09 
R B  491.23 
Substitute and Solve for RA

R A  2 RB  1228.09 
R A  2  491.23    1228.09 
R A  982.472   1228.09 
R A  245.618 
17
Going Further…

555 Oscillator
Detail Analysis

18
 Detail Analysis of a 555 Oscillator
5v
3.333 v

Vc 1.666 v
0v

HIGH
RESET LOW

HIGH
SET LOW

HIGH
Q LOW

ON
T1 OFF

19
HIGH
Q LOW
 Detail Analysis of a 555 Oscillator
5v
3.333 v

Vc 1.666 v
0v

HIGH
RESET LOW

HIGH
SET LOW

HIGH
Q LOW

ON
T1 OFF

20
HIGH
Q LOW
 Detail Analysis of a 555 Oscillator
5v
3.333 v

Vc 1.666 v
0v

HIGH
RESET LOW

HIGH
SET LOW

HIGH
Q LOW

ON
T1 OFF

21
HIGH
Q LOW
 Detail Analysis of a 555 Oscillator
5v
3.333 v
OUTPUT IS HIGH WHILE THE
CAPACITOR IS CHARGING THROUGH
Vc 1.666 v RA + RB.
0v

HIGH
RESET LOW

HIGH
SET LOW

HIGH
Q LOW

ON
T1 OFF
OUTPUT IS LOW WHILE THE
CAPACITOR IS DISCHARGING
22
Q
HIGH THROUGH RB.
LOW
 555 Timer Design Equations
tHIGH : Calculations for the Oscillator’s HIGH Time

 VInitial   1 - e RC   VInitial
  1 - e RC 

t t

VC   VFinal
 
1
2
   
 RC 
t t

 
 
2
3 V  V  1
3 V   1 - e   31 VCC  21  e RC

 
CC CC CC

ln   ln e RC 

t


VCC   VCC   1 - e RC   31 VCC


t 1
 2
2
3
2
3  
 
t
3 VCC  3 VCC
2 1
 
RC 
t
 0.693  
  1 - e  RC
2
3 V  
t HIGH  0.693 R C
CC

 1 - e RC 

t


t HIGH  0.693 R A  RB  C
1
2
 
23
 555 Timer Design Equations
tLOW: Calculations for the Oscillator’s LOW Time

 VFinal    e RC 
   e RC 

t t

VC   VInitial
 
1
2
   
 RC 
ln 2   ln e RC 

t t

3 VCC   3 VCC  0    e
 
1 2
 1

   
 RC 
t
t
 

1
3 V  2
3 V   e   0.693  
 
CC CC
RC
3 VCC
1
 
RC 
t
t LOW  0.693 R
 e 
3 VCC
2
  t LOW  0.693 RBC
  e RC 

t

1
2
 
24
555 Timer – Period / Frequency / DC
Period: Duty Cycle:
t HIGH  0.693  R A  RB  C t HIGH
DC   100%
T
t LOW  0.693 RBC
0.693  R A  RB  C
T  t HIGH  t LOW DC   100%
0.693  R A  2RB  C
T   0.693  R A  RB  C   0.693 RBC
DC 
R A
 RB 
 100%
T  0.693  R A  2RB  C R A
 2RB 

Frequency:
1
ƒ
T
1
ƒ
0.693 R A  2RB  C 25