555 timer used as Astable Multivibrator ( Square Wave Generator )

Pin 1. Ground: This pin should be connected to ground.

Pin 2. TRIGGER: Trigger pin is dragged from the negative input of comparator two. The Lower
comparator output is connected to SET pin of flip-flop. A negative pulse (< Vcc/3) on this Pin sets
the Flip flop and output goes High.
Pin 3. OUTPUT: This pin also has no special function. This is output pin where Load is connected.
It can be used as source or sink and drive upto 200mA current.
Pin 4. Reset: There is a flip-flop in the timer chip. Reset pin is directly connected to MR (Master
Reset) of the flip-flop. This is a active Low pin and normally connected to VCC for preventing
accidental Reset.
Pin 5. Control Pin: The control pin is connected from the negative input pin of comparator one.
Output Pulse width can be controlled by applying voltage at this Pin, irrespective of RC network.
Normally this pin is pulled down with a capacitor (0.01uF), to avoid unwanted noise interference
with the working.
Pin 6. THRESHOLD: Threshold pin voltage determines when to reset the flip-flop in the timer.
The threshold pin is drawn from positive input of upper comparator. If the control pin is open, then
a voltage equal to or greater than VCC*(2/3) will reset the flip-flop. So the output goes low

Using 555 timer IC, we can generate precise time duration of HIGH and LOW output, from
micro seconds to hours, that’s why 555 is very popular and versatile IC. Before going through
below, you should know about 555 timer IC and its PINs, here is the short description about its
PINs
Astable Multivibrator mode of 555 timer IC is also called Free running or self-triggering
mode. Unlike Monostable Multivibrator mode it doesn’t have any stable state, it has two quasi
stable state (HIGH and LOW). No external triggering is required in Astable mode, it automatically
interchange its two states on a particular interval, hence generates a rectangular waveform. This
time duration of HIGH and LOW output has been determined by the external resistors (R1 and
R2) and a capacitor(C1). Astable mode works as a oscillator circuit, in which output oscillate at
a particular frequency and generate pulses in rectangular wave form

Explanation of Operation
The circuit is connected as diagram shown above. The capacitor is uncharged initially. When
1
power supply is applied, the positive terminal of the lower comparator is at 3 rd of VCC. So, lower
comparator will set the Flip Flop (Q = 1 and 𝑄̅ =0 ). Transistor will be OFF. The capacitor will
start charging.
2
This charging will continue till VC1 reaches rd of VCC. At this point the upper comparator will
3
drive into positive saturation leading to Reset the Flipflop (Q = 0 and 𝑄̅ = 1 ). So, the transistor
will start to discharge Pin 7 where the capacitor is connected. So, the capacitor voltage starts to
discharge. This will continue till VC1 falls to 1/3 rd of VCC. The cycle repeats continuously. The
wave shapes are shown on the diagram.

During Charging
This charging and discharging of capacitor continues and a rectangular oscillating output wave for is
generated. While capacitor is getting charge the output of 555 is HIGH, and while capacitor is getting
discharge output will be LOW. So this is called Astable mode because none of the state is stable and 555
automatically interchange its state from HIGH to LOW and LOW to HIGH, so it is called Free running
Multivibrator.

During Charging :

R1

Vcc
R2

C1 VC1
1n

𝑉𝐶1 = 𝑉𝑓 + (𝑉𝑖 − 𝑉𝑓 )𝑒 −𝑡/𝜏

Let us consider that the charging time is 𝑇1 and Discharging time is 𝑇2 .

The capacitor will start charging from 1/3 rd Vcc so, Vi = 1/3
Vcc
 −𝑡/𝜏
𝑉𝐶1 − 𝑉𝑓 𝑉𝑓 − 𝑉𝐶1
𝑒 = =
𝑉𝑖 − 𝑉𝑓 𝑉𝑓 − 𝑉𝑖

𝑉𝑓 −𝑉𝑖 𝑉𝑓 −𝑉𝑖
𝑒 𝑡/𝜏 = 𝑉 or 𝑡 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒 𝑉
𝑓 −𝑉𝐶1 𝑓 −𝑉𝐶1

2 1
At t = Then at t = 𝑇1 𝑉𝐶1 = 3 𝑉𝐶𝐶 𝑉𝑖 = 3 𝑉𝐶𝐶
1
𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝐶𝐶 3−1
3
Putting these values we get 𝑇1 = 𝜏 × 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒 2 = 𝜏 × 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒 3−2
𝑉𝐶𝐶 − 𝑉𝐶𝐶
3

= 0.693 𝜏
Here 𝜏 = (𝑅1 + 𝑅2 )𝐶
During discharge

R2

VC1
C1
1n

VC1 will fall from 2/3rd Vcc to 1/3 rd Vcc.

Putting Vf as 0, Vi = 2/3 Vcc and Vc1 = 1/3 rd Vcc, we get
2
0− 𝑉𝐶𝐶
3
The discharge time, 𝑇2 = 𝜏 × 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒 1 = 𝜏 × 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒 2
0− 𝑉𝐶𝐶
3

= 0.693 𝜏
This time  = R2C
Total period of oscillatin T = T1 + T2 = 0.693(R2 + R1 + R1 ) C = 0.693 (R2 + 2R1)C
 1 1.44
Frequency of oscillation, 𝑓 = = (𝑅
0.693(2𝑅1 +𝑅2 )𝐶 2 +2𝑅1 )𝐶

Now the OUTPUT HIGH and OUTPUT LOW duration, is determined by the Resistors R1 & R2
and capacitor C1. This can be calculated using below formulas:
Time High (Seconds) T1 = 0.693 * (R1+R2) * C1
Time Low (Seconds) T2 = 0.693 * R2 * C1
Time Period T = Time High + Time Low = 0.693 * (R1+2*R2) * C1
Freqeuncy f = 1/Time Period = 1/ 0.693 * (R1+2*R2) * C1 = 1.44 / (R1+2*R2) * C1
Freqeuncy f = 1/Time Period = 1/ 0.693 * (R1+2*R2) * C1 = 1.44 / (R1+2*R2) * C1
Duty Cycle: Duty cycle is the ratio of time for which the output is HIGH to the total time.