What is the pin configuration and functioning of each

pin of the IC?

Details of IC 555 timer It is basically an 8pin timer IC, which can produce precise time delay. It works on wide range of
power supply voltage from 3V to 18V. The function of each pin of the IC is
given below

Pin1: it is connected to ground (0V) terminal of power supply.

Pin2: It starts up timing cycle, when its voltage is less
thanVcc, the output of IC becomes high (1).

Pin3: it is output pin which either source or sink current up to

200mA.

Pin4: it is reset pin. When it is +ve, IC works normally.

However, when it is ve, IC stops its working completely.

Pin5: control voltage pin. It may not be used in normal

working.

Pin6: it is threshold pin. It finalizes the timing cycle of the IC, when its voltage is equal to or greater thanVcc,
the output of IC becomes low (0).

Pin7: it is discharge pin. It discharges external capacitor into itself.

Pin8: it is connected to +ve terminal of battery, generally 318V.

Note: The red-circled pin-5 is generally not used in regular applications of the IC555.

What is the internal block diagram of IC555?

It consists of three resistors of 5kW each, two comparators, one flip-flop and a transistor. When threshold voltage(at pin
6) is equal to or greater than Vcc, then it SETs the flip-flop.
So we get Q = 1 and Q-bar = 0. Similarly, when trigger voltage (at pin2) is equal to or less than Vcc, then it RESETs the
flip-flop. So we get Q = 0 and Q-bar = 1. The transistor T1 is called discharge transistor. Its collector is internally connected
to pin7. So when it is forward biased, it discharges a capacitor (C) (connected externally) into itself. There is one more
important device the RS flip-flop. It has two main inputs (Sset & RReset) having two outputs (Qactive output & Q-bar
inactive output). THESE OUTPUTS ARE ALWAYS COMPLEMENTARY i.e. when Q = 1, Q-bar= 0 and vice versa. The
output of the IC is available at pin3. It is connected to output terminal Q-bar of the RS flip-flop. Also, when pin4 of the IC is
connected to +ve (i.e. high), the IC works normally but when it is grounded(i.e. low), the IC is disabled and stops its working.
Finally pin1 is connected to ve terminal and pin8 to +ve terminal of battery respectively.

Click the block diagram for more detailed view of its internal structure

Look at the block diagram of the IC, to see that there are three resistors of 5kohm each (highlighted with yellow
pen) connected in series. These three resistors produce 1/3 and 2/3 voltage levels for controlling the action of trigger and
threshold comparators inside the IC. Due to this arrangement of the three resistors, the IC has a typical code number
as IC555.

More about IC 555

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. Derivatives provide up to four timing
circuits in one package. Introduced in 1971 by Signetics, the 555 is still in widespread use, thanks to its ease of use, low
price and good stability, and 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.
The IC was designed in 1971 by Hans R. Camenzind under contract to Signetics, which was later acquired by Philips.
Depending on the manufacturer, the standard 555 package includes over 20 transistors, 2 diodes and 15 resistors on a
silicon chip installed in an 8-pin mini dual-in-line package (DIP-8). Variants available include the 556 (a 14-pin DIP combining
two 555s on one chip), and the 558 (a 16-pin DIP combining four slightly modified 555s with DIS & THR connected
internally, and TR is falling edge sensitive instead of level sensitive).
The NE555 parts were commercial temperature range, 0 C to +70 C, and the SE555 part number designated the military
temperature range, 55 C to +125 C. These were available in both high-reliability metal can (T package) and inexpensive
epoxy plastic (V package) packages. Thus the full part numbers were NE555V, NE555T, SE555V, and SE555T. It has been
hypothesized that the 555 got its name from the three 5 k resistors used within, but Hans Camenzind has stated that the
number was arbitrary.
Low-power versions of the 555 are also available, such as the 7555 and CMOS TLC555. The 7555 is designed to cause
less supply glitching than the classic 555 and the manufacturer claims that it usually does not require a "control" capacitor
and in many cases does
not require a decoupling capacitor on the power supply. Such a practice should nevertheless be avoided, because noise

produced by the timer or variation in power supply voltage might interfere with other parts of a circuit or influence its
threshold voltages.

Look at the block diagram of the IC, to see that there are three resistors of 5kohm each (highlighted with yellow
pen) connected in series. These three resistors produce 1/3 and 2/3 voltage levels for controlling the action of trigger and
threshold comparators inside the IC. Due to this arrangement of the three resistors, the IC has a typical code number
as IC555.

More about IC 555

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. Derivatives provide up to four timing
circuits in one package. Introduced in 1971 by Signetics, the 555 is still in widespread use, thanks to its ease of use, low
price and good stability, and 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.
The IC was designed in 1971 by Hans R. Camenzind under contract to Signetics, which was later acquired by Philips.
Depending on the manufacturer, the standard 555 package includes over 20 transistors, 2 diodes and 15 resistors on a
silicon chip installed in an 8-pin mini dual-in-line package (DIP-8). Variants available include the 556 (a 14-pin DIP combining
two 555s on one chip), and the 558 (a 16-pin DIP combining four slightly modified 555s with DIS & THR connected
internally, and TR is falling edge sensitive instead of level sensitive).
The NE555 parts were commercial temperature range, 0 C to +70 C, and the SE555 part number designated the military
temperature range, 55 C to +125 C. These were available in both high-reliability metal can (T package) and inexpensive
epoxy plastic (V package) packages. Thus the full part numbers were NE555V, NE555T, SE555V, and SE555T. It has been
hypothesized that the 555 got its name from the three 5 k resistors used within, but Hans Camenzind has stated that the
number was arbitrary.
Low-power versions of the 555 are also available, such as the 7555 and CMOS TLC555. The 7555 is designed to cause
less supply glitching than the classic 555 and the manufacturer claims that it usually does not require a "control" capacitor
and in many cases does
not require a decoupling capacitor on the power supply. Such a practice should nevertheless be avoided, because noise
produced by the timer or variation in power supply voltage might interfere with other parts of a circuit or influence its
threshold voltages.

voltage falls to 1/3rdvcc.to start timing cycle

you will see that when capacitor voltage is 1/3 of Vcc, then it is sensed by the (-) inverting terminal of trigger comp. So
simply its output becomes HIGH. This RESETs the RSFF and its output at Qbar = 1.
In this way the timing cycle is started.
To understand this, you will have to consider the IC555 as AMV only.

What are the applications of IC 555 timer?

Tutorials on important applications like
AMV, MMV, of IC555 timer
December 17, 2011 | By Vidyasagar

Sir | 3 Replies

This IC has innumerable applications. Only some of the important applications are
discussed below. Astable Multivibrator (AMV), Monostable Multivibrator (MMV), Bistable
Multivibrator (BMV), Pulse Position Modulator (PPM), Pulse Amplitude Modulator (PAM),
Pulse Width Modulator (PWM), Ramp Generator, Frequency Shift Keying (FSK).

How an astable multivibrator circuit works?

When power supply is switched on, capacitor C starts charging through R1 + R2. At this
instant, voltage at pin2 is less than Vcc. So trigger comparator operates and pin3
becomes high (i.e. 1) and pin7 is cutoff. Hence, capacitor C starts charging. When voltage of capacitor C becomes equal to
or greater thanVcc, the threshold comparator operates and pin3 becomes low (i.e. 0). Now pin7 becomes active and
discharges the capacitor into itself through R2 only. In this way, capacitor C charges through R1 + R2 but discharges through
R2 only. So charging time is greater than discharging time. In this process, the capacitor voltage rises and fall exponentially
as shown in the wave diagram. Also, the output of IC becomes high during charging and becomes low during discharging.
Hence, rectangular wave is obtained at the output. This wave is NOT symmetrical because charging time is longer than
discharging time.

The time-width (W) is the on-time or the charging time of the capacitor.
Since charging time (t1) and discharging time (t2) are different, we have following equations to calculate the different values
of the circuit

The red circled value of 1.44 is the error constant, which is reciprocal of 0.693.

How a Monostable Multivibrator circuit works?

When power supply is switched on, the output of the IC remains low (i.e. 0) this state of the IC is called as stable state. But
when ve pulse is applied to pin2, the trigger comparator operates, and it RESETs the flip-flop, now pin3 becomes high
(i.e. 1) and pin7 becomes inactive. This state of the IC is called as Quasi-stable state. Now the capacitor C starts charging
through R1. When voltage of capacitor C becomes equal to Vcc, threshold comparator operates and it SETs the flip-flop.
Hence, output of IC becomes low again. Now pin7 becomes active and capacitor C discharges QUICKLY into it (because
there is no resistor, in its discharging path). Thus, the IC restores into its stable stateagain! The time required to charge the
capacitor C is called RC time constant. This duration for which the capacitor charges is called the time width W. It is given
by the following equation. The capacitor of 0.01mFd is used to absorb noise in the circuit.

W = 1.1 R1 x C
The red circled pin-2 of the IC is floating. When this pin is touched just with bare hand, the negative voltage induced in
our body, triggers the IC and the timing cycle of the IC starts.

Watch the video on IC555, the basic approach

Good video on IC555

Tags: capacitor, charging a capacitor, control voltage, discharge, discharging a capacitor, potential divider, reset,sink and
source output, threshold setting, trigger