Electronic Principle Course

By A.Prof.Dr.Eng. Rabee M. Hagem

(University of Mosul) UOM
Computer Engineering Department (CED)

555 Timer (Oscillator)

IC 555
• The 555 Timer is versatile and widely used.
• Can be used as Monostable multivibrator (one-
shot)
• Can be used as Astable multivibrator (oscillator)
• We can calculate the charging and discharging
time for a capacitor.
• We can calculate the period and frequency for a
555 Timer Oscillator.
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What is the IC 555?
The IC 555 is an 8-pin DIP chip (Dual-Inline package)
Integrated Circuit (IC)
that is capable of
producing accurate time
delays and/or
oscillations.

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The 555 timer is an 8-Pin D.I.L. Integrated Circuit or ‘chip’

Notch

Pin 1

What it looks like

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IC 555 timer
Time Delay Mode Oscillator Mode
• In the time delay mode, the • In the oscillator mode, the
delay is controlled by one frequency of oscillation are
external resistor and controlled with two external
capacitor. resistors and one capacitor.
Example: Turn a light on in a Example: Can make a light
delayed amount of time. flash a specific rate.
(Just turn on or off once) (Can turn on and off
repeatedly)
This presentation will discuss how to use a 555 timer in the
oscillator mode.
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IC 555 timer
Oscillator mode = astable multivibrator mode

Translation: in this mode the IC 555 will continue to

put out pulses until you remove the battery.
(your choice of resistors and capacitors
determines the vibration frequency)

The 555 timer is a two state device: HI and LO

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 Operation:
•Contains 25 transistors, 2 diodes and 16 resistors
• Maximum operating voltage 16V
• Maximum output current 200mA
• Best treated as a single component with required
input and output

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

If you input certain signals they will be processed / controlled

in a certain manner and will produce a known output.
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 What the 555 timer is used for:
•To switch on or off an output after a certain time delay i.e.

Games timer, Porch light, Childs mobile, Exercise timer.

•To continually switch on and off an output i.e.

Hazard warning lights, Soft toy, Bicycle indicators.

•As a pulse generator i.e.

To provide a series of clock pulses for a counter.

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Digital Terminology:
To use the 555 timer correctly you have to be aware of
the correct terminology:

• Monostable Time

• Astable Time

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• MONOSTABLE:
This is a system which has only one stable state.
It can be made to change but it will always return
to its original stable state. A spring operated
push button switch is an example of this.
Monostable circuits are used as timers and as a
single pulse generator.

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• ASTABLE:
This is a system which has no stable state. It
changes from one state to the other all the time.
A pendulum swings from one side to the other
continuously. Astable circuits are used to flash
lights or sound a loudspeaker. It can act as a
square wave oscillator

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IC 555 – Monostable (One-Shot)

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 IC 555 – Monostable (One-Shot)

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 Example

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 555 Astable

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 Circuit Modification to reduce the
Duty cycle to less than 50%

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 Example

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IC 555 timer
Astable multivibrator mode schematic

Notice:
2 resistors and 1 capacitor
OUTPUT is square wave pulses

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Output = High
tHIGH : Calculations for the Oscillator’s HIGH Time
THE OUTPUT IS HIGH WHILE THE CAPACITOR
IS CHARGING THROUGH RA + RB.

t HIGH  0.693R A  RB C
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Output = Low
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
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IC 555 timer

How does the

charge and
discharge of
the capacitor
relate to the
blinking LED?

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Period
The Period is the total time of an
on/off cycle and depends on the
values of RA, RB, and C

t HIGH  0.693 RA  RB  C

t LOW  0.693 RB C
T  t HIGH  t LOW
T  0.693 RA  RB  C   0.693 RB C 
Calculate the period of the flashing light.

T  0.693 RA  2 RB  C
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 Frequency
The frequency of an oscillation
(or anything that exhibits a
repeating pattern) is inversely
proportional to the period

1 Unit of Measure:
F cycles/second = Hertz (Hz)
T
1

FCalculate
light.R A  2R B  C
the frequency (or blinking rate) of the
0.693
flashing

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Practice

Calculate the
period and
frequency of the
blinking LED.

μ = 10-6

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Solution

Period Frequency
T  0.693 R A  2RB  C 1
F
T  0.693 390  2  180   6.8 F T
T  3.534 mSec 1
F
3.534 mSec
F  282.941Hz

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Theme : A Safe Environment
Monostable:
Egg Timer : Food / Electrical safety
Bath / Oven Timer

Astable:
Hazard / warning lights / school crossing
Bicycle indicators
Burglar Alarm
Steep Gradiant Indicator
Personal Alarm

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