17-Sep-14

Lecturer Name
lecturer_email@ite.edu.sg
Contact Number
IT2001PA
Engineering Essentials (2/2)
Chapter 16 - Astable Operation of the 555
IC Timer
Chapter 16 - Astable Operation of the 555 IC Timer
IT2001PA Engineering Essentials (2/2)
2
Lesson Objectives
Upon completion of this topic, you should be able to:
Students should be able to calculate the time
delay/frequency of a 555 timer circuit with given
formula.
Chapter 16 - Astable Operation of the 555 IC Timer
IT2001PA Engineering Essentials (2/2)
Specific Objectives
Students should be able to :
Draw the circuit of an astable multivibrator using IC 555.
Calculate the mark and space timing of the astable
multivibrator.
Calculate the oscillator frequency using the formula :
F
osc
= 1.44 /(R
1
+ 2R
2
) C
Chapter 16 - Astable Operation of the 555 IC Timer
IT2001PA Engineering Essentials (2/2)
4
The Astable Multivibrator
It is a free-running oscillator.


Astable
Multivibrator
Circuit Output Input
None
It outputs a rectangular wave and does not require
any trigger input.

Application as oscillators, square-wave enerators etc.
Chapter 16 - Astable Operation of the 555 IC Timer
IT2001PA Engineering Essentials (2/2)
5
555 as Astable Multivibrator
555
R1
R2
C
7
6
2
8
3
5
1
0.01F
Output
+V
Output
Vcc
t1 t2
t1 = 0.693 (R1 + R2 ) C
t2 = 0.693 R2C
0.693 (R1 + R2 ) C
fOSC =
1.44
Chapter 16 - Astable Operation of the 555 IC Timer
IT2001PA Engineering Essentials (2/2)
6
Example : To calculate the Mark , Space and the frequency of oscillations of the
output waveform. Given that C = 0.001f, R
1
= 4 K and R
2
= 100K.
Mark, t
1
= 0.693 (R1 + R2)C
= 0.693 (4 K + 100K) 0.001f
= 0.693 (4 000 + 100 000) 0.001 x 10
-6

= 0.000 0721s
= 72.1s
Space, t
2
= 0.693 R
2
C
= 0.693 (100K) 0.001f
= 0.693 (100 000) 0.001 x 10
-6

= 0.000 0693s
= 69.3s
Solution :
Frequency, f
osc
=

=

= 7059Hz
)C 2R2 (R1
1.44
+
) 0.001 x 10
-6
200 k (4k
1.44
+
t
1

V
cc


0
Output
t
2

t
osc
Chapter 16 - Astable Operation of the 555 IC Timer
IT2001PA Engineering Essentials (2/2)
7
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