What is the 555 timer?

The 555 timer is one of the most remarkable integrated circuits ever developed. It comes in
a single or dual package and even low power cmos versions exist - ICM7555. Common
part numbers are LM555, NE555, LM556, NE556. The 555 timer consists of two voltage
comparators, a bi-stable flip flop, a discharge transistor, and a resistor divider network.

I am particularly indebted to Philips Components and Semiconductors Australia for

their most generous assistance in giving me access to material presented on this page.

Philips describe their 555 monlithic timing circuit as a "highly stable controller capable of
producing accurate time delays, or oscillation. In the time delay mode of operation, the
time is precisely controlled by one external resistor and capacitor. For a stable operation as
an oscillator, the free running frequency and the duty cycle are both accurately controlled
with two external resistors and one capacitor. The circuit may be triggered and reset on
falling waveforms, and the output structure can source or sink up to 200mA."

What are the 555 timer applications?

Applications include precision timing, pulse generation, sequential timing, time delay
generation and pulse width modulation (PWM).

Pin configurations of the 555 timer

Here are the pin configurations of the 555 timer in figure 1 below. 

Figure 1 - 555 timer pin configurations

Pin Functions - 8 pin package

Ground (Pin 1)

Not surprising this pin is connected directly to ground.

Trigger (Pin 2)

This pin is the input to the lower comparator and is used to set the latch, which in turn
causes the output to go high.

Output (Pin 3)

Output high is about 1.7V less than supply. Output high is capable of Isource  up to
200mA while output low is capable of Isink  up to 200mA.

Reset (Pin 4)

This is used to reset the latch and return the output to a low state. The reset is an overriding
function. When not used connect to V+.

Control (Pin 5)

Allows access to the 2/3V+ voltage divider point when the 555 timer is used in voltage
control mode. When not used connect to ground through a 0.01 uF capacitor.

Threshold (Pin 6)

This is an input to the upper comparator. See data sheet for comprehensive explanation.

Discharge (Pin 7)

This is the open collector to Q14 in figure 4 below. See data sheet for comprehensive
explanation.

V+ (Pin 8)

This connects to Vcc and the Philips databook states the ICM7555 cmos version operates
3V - 16V DC while the NE555 version is 3V - 16V DC. Note comments about effective
supply filtering and bypassing this pin below under "General considerations with using a
555 timer"

555 timer in astable operation

When configured as an oscillator the 555 timer is configured as in figure 2 below. This is
the free running mode and the trigger is tied to the threshold pin. At power-up, the
capacitor is discharged, holding the trigger low. This triggers the timer, which establishes
the capacitor charge path through Ra and Rb. When the capacitor reaches the threshold
level of 2/3 Vcc, the output drops low and the discharge transistor turns on.

The timing capacitor now discharges through Rb. When the capacitor voltage drops to 1/3
Vcc, the trigger comparator trips, automatically retriggering the timer, creating an
oscillator whose frequency is determined by the formula in figure 2. 

Figure 2 - 555 timer in astable operation

There are difficulties with duty cycle here and I will deal with them below. It should also
be noted that a minimum value of 3K should be used for Rb. 

Figure 2a - modified duty cycle in astable operation

 Here two signal diodes (1N914 types) have been added. This circuit is best used at Vcc =
15V.

555 timer in monostable operation

Another popular application for the 555 timer is the monostable mode (one shot) which
requires only two external components, Ra and C in figure 3 below. Time period is
determined by 1.1 X Ra C.

Figure 3 - 555 timer in monostable operation

555 timer IC
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NE555 from Signetics in dual-in-line package

Internal block diagram

The 555 Timer IC is an integrated circuit (chip) implementing a variety

of timer andmultivibrator 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
billionunits are manufactured every year.[3]

Depending on the manufacturer, the standard 555 package includes over 20transistors,
2 diodes and 15 resistors on a silicon chip installed in an 8-pin mini dual-in-line package
(DIP-8).[4] 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 falling edge sensitive instead of level sensitive).
Ultra-low power versions of the 555 are also available, such as the 7555 and TLC555.
[5]
 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 power supply bypass capacitor.

The 555 has three operating modes:

 Monostable mode: in this mode, the 555 functions as a "one-shot". Applications include

timers, missing pulse detection, bouncefree switches, touch switches, frequency divider,
capacitance measurement, pulse-width modulation (PWM) etc
 Astable - free running mode: the 555 can operate as an oscillator. Uses include LED and
lamp flashers, pulse generation, logic clocks, tone generation, security alarms, pulse
position modulation, etc.
 Bistable mode or Schmitt trigger: the 555 can operate as a flip-flop, if the DIS pin is not
connected and no capacitor is used. Uses include bouncefree latched switches, etc.
 Contents

 [hide]

1 Usage
o 1.1 Monostable mode
o 1.2 Bistable Mode
o 1.3 Astable mode
2 Specifications
3 Derivatives
o 3.1 Dual timer 556
o 3.2 Quad timer 558
4 Example applications
o 4.1 Joystick interface circuit using quad
timer 558
o 4.2 Atari Punk Console
o 4.3 Pulse-width modulation
5 References
6 Further reading
7 External links

[edit]Usage

Pinout diagram

The connection of the pins is as follows:

 Pi
Name Purpose
n

1 GND Ground, low level (0 V)

2 TRIG OUT rises, and interval starts, when this input falls below 1/3 VCC.

3 OUT This output is driven to +VCC or GND.

4 RESET A timing interval may be interrupted by driving this input to GND.

5 CTRL "Control" access to the internal voltage divider (by default, 2/3 VCC).

6 THR The interval ends when the voltage at THR is greater than at CTRL.

7 DIS Open collector output; may discharge a capacitor between intervals.

8 V+,VCC Positive supply voltage is usually between 3 and 15 V.

[edit]Monostable mode

Schematic of a 555 in monostable mode

The relationships of the trigger signal, the voltage on C and the pulse width in 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 signal at the trigger input that falls below a third of
the voltage supply. The width of the output pulse is determined by the time constant of
an RC network, which consists of a capacitor (C) and aresistor (R). The output pulse
ends when the charge on the C equals 2/3 of the supply voltage. The output pulse width
can be lengthened or shortened to the need of the specific application by adjusting the
values of R and C.[6]

The output 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.
[edit]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. Pins 5 and 7 (control and discharge) are left floating.
[edit]Astable mode
Standard 555 Astable Circuit

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 (R 2) 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 R 1 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:

[7]

The high time from each pulse is given by

and the low time from each pulse is given by

where R1 and R2 are the values of the resistors in ohms and C is the

value of the capacitor in farads.

note: power of R1 must be greater than 

To achieve a duty cycle of less than 50% a diode can be added in

parallel with R2 towards the capacitor. This bypasses R2during the
high part of the cycle so that the high interval depends only on R 1 and
C.

To achieve a duty cycle of 50% R1 can be removed and R2 should

connect to OUT instead of DIS.
[edit]Specifications

These specifications apply to the NE555. Other 555 timers can have
different specifications depending on the grade (military, medical,
etc).

Supply voltage (VCC) 4.5 to 15 V

Supply current (VCC = +5 V) 3 to 6 mA

Supply current (VCC = +15 V) 10 to 15 mA

Output current (maximum) 200 mA

Maximum Power dissipation 600 mW

Power Consumption (minimum operating) 30 mW@5V, 225 mW@15V

Operating temperature 0 to 70 °C

[edit]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:

Manufacturer Model Remark

 CMOS from 1.2 V,
Custom Silicon Solutions CSS555/CSS555C
IDD < 5 µA

Avago Technologies Av-555M

ECG Philips ECG955M

Exar XR-555

Fairchild Semiconductor NE555/KA555

Harris HA555

IK Semicon ILC555 CMOS from 2 V

Intersil SE555/NE555

Intersil ICM7555 CMOS

Lithic Systems LC555

Maxim ICM7555 CMOS from 2 V

Motorola MC1455/MC1555

National Semiconductor LM1455/LM555/LM555C

National Semiconductor LMC555 CMOS from 1.5 V

NTE Sylvania NTE955M

Raytheon RM555/RC555

RCA CA555/CA555C

STMicroelectronics NE555N/ K3T647

Texas Instruments SN52555/SN72555

Texas Instruments TLC555 CMOS from 2 V

USSR K1006ВИ1

Zetex ZSCT1555 down to 0.9 V

NXP Semiconductors ICM7555 CMOS

HFO / East Germany B555

[edit]Dual timer 556

The dual version is called 556. It features two complete 555s in a 14
pin DIL package.
[edit]Quad timer 558
The quad version is called 558 and has 16 pins. To fit four 555s into a
16 pin package the control, voltage, and reset lines are shared by all
four modules. Also for each module the discharge and threshold are
internally wired together and called timing.
[edit]Example applications

[edit]Joystick interface circuit using quad timer

558
The Apple II microcomputer used a quad timer 558 in monostable (or
"one-shot") mode to interface up to four "game paddles" or
two joysticks to the host computer.

A similar circuit was used in the IBM personal computer.[8] In the

joystick interface circuit of the IBM PC, the capacitor (C) of the RC
network (see Monostable Mode above) was generally a 10 nF
capacitor. The resistor (R) of the RC network consisted of
the potentiometer inside the joystick along with an external resistor of
2.2 kilohms.[9] The joystick potentiometer acted as a variable resistor.
By moving the joystick, the resistance of the joystick increased from a
small value up to about 100 kilohms. The joystick operated at 5 V. [10]

Software running in the host computer started the process of

determining the joystick position by writing to a special address (ISA
bus I/O address 201h).[11][12] This would result in a trigger signal to the
quad timer, which would cause the capacitor (C) of the RC network to
begin charging and cause the quad timer to output a pulse. The width
of the pulse was determined by how long it took the C to charge up to
2/3 of 5 V (or about 3.33 V), which was in turn determined by the
joystick position.[11][13]

Software running in the host computer measured the pulse width to

determine the joystick position. A wide pulse represented the full-right
joystick position, for example, while a narrow pulse represented the
full-left joystick position.[11]
[edit]Atari Punk Console
One of Forrest M. Mims III's many books was dedicated to the 555
timer. In it, he first published the "Stepped Tone Generator" circuit
which has been adopted as a popular circuit, known as the Atari Punk
Console, by circuit benders for its distinctive low-fi sound similar to
classic Atari games[citation needed].
[edit]Pulse-width modulation
The 555 can be used to generate a variable PWM signal using a few
external components. The chip alone can drive small external loads
or an amplifying transistor for larger loads.