555 TIMER IC

Introduction:
The 555 timer IC is an integrated circuit (chip) used in a variety of timer, pulse generation,
and oscillator applications. The 555 can be used to provide time delays, as an oscillator, and as
a flip-flop element. The IC got its name from the three resistors each of value 5k ohms inside it.

History:
The IC was designed in 1971 by Hans R. Camenzind under contract to Signetics, which was later
acquired by Dutch company Philips Semiconductors (now NXP). The 555 is still in widespread
use due to its low price, ease of use, and stability. It is now made by many companies in the
original bipolar and also in low-power CMOS types. As of 2003, it was estimated that 1 billion
units are manufactured every year.

Pin Configuration:
As the diagram show the IC contains
the following parts:

Comparators (2x)
Flip flop
Output stage
Transistor(2x)
5k ohms resistors(3x)
As shown the IC consists of 8 pins
where pin 8 is for Vcc(9 volts) and pin
1 is for ground. The output is taken for
pin 3. The output obtained from pin 3 is
in the form of square form.
Pi
n
1
2

Name

Purpose

GND
TRIGGER

3
4

OUTPUT
RESET

Ground reference voltage (0 V)

The OUT pin goes high and a timing interval starts when this input falls
below 1/2 of CTRL voltage (which is typically 1/3 VCC, CTRL being
2/3 VCC by default if CTRL is left open) simply we can say that output
will be high as long as trigger is kept at low voltage. output of the timer
totally depends upon the amplitude of the external tigger voltage
applied to this pin.
A square wave is obtained from this pin
A timing interval may be reset by driving this input to GND, but the
timing does not begin again until RESET rises above approximately 0.7

CTRL

6
7

THRESHOL
D
DISCHARGE

Vcc

volts. Overrides TRIG which overrides THR.

Provides "control" access to the internal voltage divider (by default,
2/3 VCC).
The timing (OUT high) interval ends when the voltage at THR
("threshold") is greater than that at CTRL (2/3 VCC if CTRL is open).
Open collector output which may discharge a capacitor between
intervals. In phase with output.
Positive supply voltage, which is usually between 3 and 15 V depending
on the variation.

Mode of operation:
The IC 555 has three operating modes:
1. Bistable
2. Monostable
3. Astable
In the implementation of 555 timer IC we are going to be using it in Astable mode so we will
discuss Astable mode in detail.

Astable mode:
In astable mode, the 555 timer puts out a continuous
stream of rectangular pulses having a specified frequency.
Resistor R1 is connected between VCC and the discharge
pin (pin 7) and another resistor (R2) is connected between
the discharge pin (pin 7), and the trigger (pin 2) and
threshold (pin 6) pins that share a common node. Hence
the capacitor is charged through R1 and R2, and discharged
only through R2, since pin 7 has low impedance to ground
during output low intervals of the cycle, therefore
discharging the capacitor.
In the astable mode, the frequency of the pulse stream depends on the values of R1, R2 and C
F=

1.44
( R 1+2 R 2 )C

As seen from the equation the frequency of output wave depends upon the values of resistors and
the capacitor. If the factor [(R1+R2)*C] is greater than frequency will be low.