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555 timer IC
The 555 Timer IC is an integrated circuit (chip) implementing a
variety of timer and multivibrator applications. The IC was designed
by Hans R. Camenzind in 1970 and brought to market in 1971 by
Signetics (later acquired by Philips). The original name was the SE555
(metal can)/NE555 (plastic DIP) and the part was described as "The IC
Time Machine".[1] It has been claimed that the 555 gets its name from
the three 5 kΩ resistors used in typical early implementations,[2] but
Hans Camenzind has stated that the number was arbitrary.[3] The part
is still in wide use, thanks to its ease of use, low price and good
stability. As of 2003, it is estimated that 1 billion units are NE555 from Signetics in dual-in-line package
Ultra-low power versions of the 555 are also available, such as the
7555 and TLC555.[5] The 7555 requires slightly different wiring using Internal block diagram
Usage
The connection of the pins is as follows:
Pinout diagram
555 timer IC 2
5 CTRL Control voltage allows access to the internal voltage divider (2/3 VCC)
6 THR The threshold at which the interval ends (it ends if the voltage at THR is at least 2/3 VCC)
7 DIS Connected to a capacitor whose discharge time will influence the timing interval
Monostable mode
In the monostable mode, the 555 timer acts as a “one-shot” pulse
generator. The pulse begins when the 555 timer receives a trigger
signal. The width of the pulse is determined by the time constant of an
RC network, which consists of a capacitor (C) and a resistor (R). The
pulse ends when the charge on the C equals 2/3 of the supply voltage.
The pulse width can be lengthened or shortened to the need of the
specific application by adjusting the values of R and C.[6]
The pulse width of time t, which is the time it takes to charge C to 2/3
of the supply voltage, is given by
where t is in seconds, R is in ohms and C is in farads. See RC circuit for an explanation of this effect.
555 timer IC 3
Bistable Mode
In bistable mode, the 555 timer acts as a basic flip-flop. The trigger and reset inputs (pins 2 and 4 respectively on a
555) are held high via pull-up resistors while the threshold input (pin 6) is simply grounded. Thus configured,
pulling the trigger momentarily to ground acts as a 'set' and transitions the output pin (pin 3) to Vcc (high state).
Pulling the reset input to ground acts as a 'reset' and transitions the output pin to ground (low state). No capacitors
are required in a bistable configuration. Pin 8 (Vcc) is, of course, tied to Vcc while pin 1 (Gnd) is grounded. Pins 5
and 7 (control and discharge) are left floating.
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:
Standard 555 Astable Circuit
[7]
where R1 and R2 are the values of the resistors in ohms and C is the value of the capacitor in farads.
Specifications
These specifications apply to the NE555. Other 555 timers can have better specifications depending on the grade
(military, medical, etc).
Operating temperature 0 to 70 °C
555 timer IC 4
Derivatives
Many pin-compatible variants, including CMOS versions, have been built by various companies. Bigger packages
also exist with two or four timers on the same chip. The 555 is also known under the following type numbers:
Exar XR-555
Harris HA555
Intersil SE555/NE555
Motorola MC1455/MC1555
Raytheon RM555/RC555
RCA CA555/CA555C
USSR K1006ВИ1
Example applications
Bibliography
• van Roon, Tony (1995). "555 Timer Tutorial" [15] Tony van Roon (VA3AVR) Website. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
• Engdahl, Tomi (1994). "PC analogue joystick interface" [16]. EPanorama.net. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
• Eggebrecht, Lewis C. (1983). "Interfacing to the IBM Personal Computer". Sams Publishing. ISBN:
978-0672220272. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
555 timer IC 6
External links
• CSS555 Data Sheet(PDF) [17] \Custom Silicon Solutions.
• Surtell, Tim (2001). 555 Timer Circuits - the Astable, Monostable and Bistable [18] Electronics in Meccano.
• Hewes, John (2010) 555 and 556 Timer Circuits [19] The Electronics Club.
• LF/LM555 Data Sheet(PDF) [20] Fairchild Semiconductor, 2002.
• Falstad, John (2010)Java simulation [21] of 555 oscillator circuit. Falstad.com
• NE555 datasheet (PDF) [22] Collection of 555 Datasheets. DataSheetArchive.com.
• Roca, Juan Carlos Galarza (2007) Using NE 555 as a Temperature DSP [23] "The Parallel port as an Input/output
Interface" (unpublished book)
• NE555 Frequency and duty cycle calculator [24] for astable multivibrators. Daycounter.com. 2004. Notes 20%
inaccuracy.
• "Eagleapex" (2007) Time-lapse [[intervalometer [25]] for SLRs using a 555]. Instructables.com.
References
[1] van Roon, "pg. 1" (http:/ / www. sentex. ca/ ~mec1995/ gadgets/ 555/ 555. html)
[2] Scherz, Paul (2000) "Practical Electronics for Inventors," p. 589. McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics. ISBN: 978-0070580787. Retrieved
2010-04-05.
[3] Ward, Jack (2004). The 555 Timer IC - An Interview with Hans Camenzind (http:/ / www. semiconductormuseum. com/ Transistors/
LectureHall/ Camenzind/ Camenzind_Page2. htm). The Semiconductor Museum (http:/ / www. semiconductormuseum. com/ ). Retrieved
2010-04-05.
[4] van Roon, Fig 3 & related text.
[5] Jung, Walter G. (1983) "IC Timer Cookbook, Second Edition," pp. 40–41. Sams Technical Publishing; 2nd ed. ISBN: 978-0672219320.
Retrieved 2010-04-05.
[6] van Roon, Chapter "Monostable Mode."
[7] van Roon Chapter: "Astable operation."
[8] http:/ / www. customsiliconsolutions. com
[9] Engdahl, pg 1.
[10] Engdahl, "Circuit diagram of PC joystick interface"
[11] Engdahl, "Joystick construction" (http:/ / www. epanorama. net/ documents/ joystick/ pc_joystick. html#introduction).
[12] Engdahl, "PC analogue joystick interface" (http:/ / www. epanorama. net/ documents/ joystick/ pc_joystick. html#pc_interface).
[13] Eggebrecht, p. 197.
[14] Eggebrecht, pp. 197-99
[15] http:/ / www. sentex. ca/ ~mec1995/ gadgets/ 555/ 555. html
[16] http:/ / www. epanorama. net/ documents/ joystick/ pc_joystick. html
[17] http:/ / www. customsiliconsolutions. com/ products-for-ASIC-solutions/ standard-IC-products_no. aspx
[18] http:/ / www. eleinmec. com/ article. asp?1
[19] http:/ / www. kpsec. freeuk. com/ 555timer. htm
[20] http:/ / www. fairchildsemi. com/ ds/ LM%2FLM555. pdf
[21] http:/ / www. falstad. com/ circuit/ e-555square. html
[22] http:/ / www. datasheetarchive. com/ search. php?q=NE555& sType=part& ExactDS=Starts
[23] http:/ / www. globu. net/ pp/ english/ pp/ ne555. htm
[24] http:/ / www. daycounter. com/ Calculators/ NE555-Calculator. phtml
[25] http:/ / www. instructables. com/ id/ SORIJ3MFAQDX2PW/
Article Sources and Contributors 7
License
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