Lecture 6: 555 Timer

Energy storage,
Periodic Waveforms, and
One of the most useful electronic
devices
February 8, 2009 Introduction to Engineering Electronics 1
K. A. Connor
Examples of Physical Periodic Motion

• Pendulum
• Bouncing ball
• Vibrating string (stringed instrument)
• Circular motion (wheel)
• Cantilever beam (tuning fork)
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 Other Periodic Phenomena
• Daily cycle of solar energy
• Annual cycle of solar
energy
• Daily temperature cycle
• Annual temperature cycle
• Monthly bank balance
cycle
• Electronic clock pulse
trains
• Line voltage and current

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 Daily Average Temperature
Albany-Troy-Schenectady
90
80
70
60
50
Series1
40
Series2
30
20
10
0
1
78
155
232
309
386
463
540
617
694
771
848
925
1002
1079
1156
1233
1310
1387
1464
1541
1618
1695
1772
1849
1926
2003
2080
2157
2234
2311
2388
2465
2542
2619
2696
2773
2850
-10

• Data (blue) covers 1995-2002

• Note the sinusoid (pink) fit to the data
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 Using Matlab to Produce Audio
Signal from Daily Average Temps
Original data (normalized) Sinusoid fit to data
0.8 0.5

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0
-0.2

-0.4

-0.6

-0.8

-1 -0.5
0 200 400 600 0 200 400 600

• Data is normalized to mimic sound

• Data is filtered to find fundamental
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 Matlab Window

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 Periodic Pulse Train from a 555 Timer

• This circuit puts out a steady state train of

pulses whose timing is determined by the
values of R1, R2 and C1
• The formula has a small error as we will see
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 Using Models
• Recall that you should use a model that you
understand and/or know how to properly
apply
• To use it properly

Check for plausibility of predicted values (ballpark
test). Are the values in a reasonable range?

Check the rate of changes in the values (checking
derivative or slope of plot).

Are the most basic things satisfied?
• Conservation of energy, power, current, etc.
• Developing a qualitative understanding of
phenomena now will help later and with
simulations.
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 Charging a Capacitor
10V

TCLOSE = 0 R1
1 2
8V
U1
V V
1k V
1
6V
U2
Capaci t or Vol t age
V1
10V TOPEN = 0 C1
4V
2

1uF

2V

0V
0 0s
V( U2: 1)
1ms
V( R1: 2)
2ms
V( V1: +)
3ms 4ms 5ms 6ms 7ms 8ms 9ms 10ms

Ti me

• Capacitor C1 is charged up by current flowing

through R1 V 1 − VCAPACITOR 10 − VCAPACITOR
I= =
R1 1k
• As the capacitor charges up, its voltage
increases and the current charging it
decreases, resulting in the charging rate
shown
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 Charging a Capacitor
10mA 10V

8mA 8V

6mA 6V
Capaci t or and Resi st or Cur r ent
Capaci t or Vol t age

4mA 4V

2mA 2V

0A 0V
0s 1ms 2ms 3ms 4ms 5ms 6ms 7ms 8ms 9ms 10ms 0s 1ms 2ms 3ms 4ms 5ms 6ms 7ms 8ms 9ms 10ms
I ( R1) I ( C1) V( U2: 1) V( R1: 2) V( V1: +)
Ti me Ti me

− tτ
• Capacitor Current I = Ioe

V = Vo 1 − e 
− tτ
• Capacitor Voltage

• Where the time constant τ = RC = R1 ⋅ C1 = 1ms

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 Charging a Capacitor
10V

8V

6V

Capaci t or Vol t age

4V

2V

0V
0s 1ms 2ms 3ms 4ms 5ms 6ms 7ms 8ms 9ms 10ms
V( U2: 1) V( R1: 2) V( V1: +)
Ti me

• Note that the voltage rises to a little

above 6V in 1ms. (1 − e − 1 ) =.632
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 Charging a Capacitor

• There is a good description of capacitor

charging and its use in 555 timer circuits at
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/gadgets/555/555.html

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 2 Minute Quiz
Name___________
Section___
True or False?
• If C1 < C2, for a fixed charging current, it will
take longer to charge C1 than C2
• If R1 < R2, for a fixed charging voltage, it will
take longer to charge a given capacitor C
through R1 than R2
• When a capacitor C is connected to a battery
through a resistor R, the charging current will
be a maximum at the moment the connection
is made and decays after that.
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 555 Timer

• At the beginning of the cycle, C1 is

charged through resistors R1 and R2.
The charging time constant is τ = ( R1 + R2)C1
• The voltage reaches (2/3)Vcc in a time
τ = 0.693( R1 + R2)C1
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 555 Timer

• When the voltage on the capacitor

reaches (2/3)Vcc, a switch is closed at
pin 7 and the capacitor is discharged to
(1/3)Vcc, at which time the switch is
opened and the cycle starts over
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 555 Timer

• The capacitor voltage cycles back and

forth between (2/3)Vcc and (1/3)Vcc at
times τ 1 = 0.693( R1 + R2)C1 and
τ 2 = 0.693( R2)C1

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 555 Timer

• The frequency is then given by

1 144
.
f = =
0.693( R1 + 2 ⋅ R2)C1 ( R1 + 2 ⋅ R2)C1
Note the error in the figure

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 Inside the 555

• Note the voltage divider inside the 555

made up of 3 equal 5k resistors

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 555 Timer

8
VCC
R
7
DIS

3
Q
6
2 THR
TR

GND
5
CV
NE555

1
• These figures are from the lab writeup
• Each pin has a name (function)
• Note the divider and other components inside
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 Astable and Monostable Multivibrators
5V
5V

Ra

8
R

8
VCC
R

VCC
7

R
DIS 7
DIS
1K
Rb 3 3
Q Q
6 6
2 THR 2 THR
TR LED TR LED

GND
GND

5 5

2
CV CV

0.01uF
NE555
0.01uF

NE555 C

1
C
1

1
• Astable puts out a continuous sequence
of pulses
• Monostable puts out one pulse each
time the switch is connected
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 Astable and Monostable Multivibrators

• What are they good for?

Astable: clock, timing signal

Monostable: a clean pulse of the correct
height and duration for digital system

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 Optical Transmitter Circuit

Astable is used to produce carrier pulses at a

frequency we cannot hear (well above 20kHz)

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 Optical Receiver Circuit

• Receiver circuit for transmitter on previous slide

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 Clapper Circuit

• Signal is detected by microphone

• Clap is amplified by 741 op-amp
• Ugly clap pulse triggers monostable to
produce clean digital pulse
• Counter counts clean pulses to 2 and triggers
relay through the transistor
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 555 Timer Applications

• 40 LED bicycle light with 20 LEDs

flashing alternately at 4.7Hz
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 555 Timer Applications

• 555 timer is used to produce an

oscillating signal whose voltage output is
increased by the transformer to a
dangerous level, producing sparks. DO
NOT DO THIS WITHOUT SUPERVISION
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Tank Circuit: A Classical Method Used to
Produce an Oscillating Signal

• A Tank Circuit is a combination of a

capacitor and an inductor
• Each are energy storage devices
1 2 1 2
WM = WL = LI WE = WC = CV
2 2

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 Tank Circuit: How Does It Work?
TOPEN = 0 TCLOSE = 0
1 2 1 2
U1 U2
V
V1 L1
10V
C1 10uH

1uF

• Charge capacitor to 10V. At this point, all of

the energy is in the capacitor.
• Disconnect voltage source and connect
capacitor to inductor.
• Charge flows as current through inductor until
capacitor voltage goes to zero. Current is
then maximum through the inductor and all of
the energy is in the inductor.
February 8, 2009 Introduction to Engineering Electronics 28
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 Tank Circuit
TOPEN = 0 TCLOSE = 0
1 2 1 2
U1 U2
V
V1 L1
10V
C1 10uH

1uF

• The current in the inductor then

recharges the capacitor until the cycle
repeats.
• The energy oscillates between the
capacitor and the inductor.
• Both the voltage and the current are
sinusoidal.
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 Tank Circuit Voltage and Current
4. 0A

Cur r ent

0A

- 4. 0A
I ( L1)
10V

Vol t age

0V

SEL>>
- 10V
0s 10us 20us 30us 40us 50us 60us 70us 80us 90us 100us
V( C1: 1)
Ti me

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 4. 0A
Tank Circuit
Cur r ent

0A

- 4. 0A
I ( L1)
10V

Vol t age

0V

SEL>>
- 10V
0s 10us 20us 30us 40us 50us 60us 70us 80us 90us 100us
V( C1: 1)
Ti me

• There is a slight decay due to finite wire

resistance.
• The frequency is given by f =
1
(period is about 10ms) 2π LC
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 Tank Circuit
•Tank circuits are the basis of most oscillators. If
such a combination is combined with an op-amp,
an oscillator that produces a pure tone will result.
•This combination can also be used to power an
electromagnet.
•Charge a capacitor
•Connect the capacitor to an electromagnet
(inductor). A sinusoidal magnetic field will
result.
•The magnetic field can produce a magnetic
force on magnetic materials and conductors.

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 Tank Circuit Application

• In lab 9 we will be using the circuit from

a disposable camera.
• We can also use this type of camera as
a power source for an electromagnet.
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 Disposable Camera Flash Capacitor
Connected to a Small Electromagnet

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 Disposable Camera Flash Experiment/Project

• A piece of a paperclip is placed part way into the

electromagnet.
• The camera capacitor is charged and then triggered to
discharge through the electromagnet (coil).
• The large magnetic field of the coil attracts the paperclip to
move inside of the coil.
• The clip passes through the coil, coasting out the other side
at high speed when the current is gone.
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 Coin Flipper and Can Crusher

• The can crusher device (not presently in

operation) crushes a soda can with a
magnetic field.

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 Can Crusher and Coin Flipper

• This is an animation a student made as

a graphics project a few years ago

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 Can Crusher and Coin Flipper
• For both the can crusher and coin flipper, the coil fed
by the capacitor acts as the primary of a transformer.
• The can or the coin acts as the secondary.
• A large current in the primary coil produces an even
larger current in the can or coin (larger by the ratio of
the turns in the primary coil)
• The current in the coin or can is such that an
electromagnet of the opposite polarity is formed
(Lenz’ Law) producing two magnets in close proximity
with similar poles facing one another.
• The similar poles dramatically repel one another

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 Magnetic Launchers

• Coilguns/Railguns
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 Coilguns & Railguns

• Two types of launchers are being developed

for a variety of purposes.
February 8, 2009 Introduction to Engineering Electronics 40
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Where Will You See This Material Again?
• Electromagnetic Fields and Forces:
Fields and Waves I
• 555 Timers: Many courses including
Analog Electronics and Digital
Electronics
• Oscillators: Analog electronics
• Clocks, etc: Digital Electronics,
Computer Components and Operations,
and about half of the ECSE courses.
February 8, 2009 Introduction to Engineering Electronics 41
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 Appendix

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 Using Conservation Laws to Derive
Fundamental Equations

• Energy stored in capacitor plus inductor

1 2 1
Energy = WTOTAL = LI + CV 2
2 2

• Total energy must be constant, thus

dWTOTAL 1 dI 1 dV
= 0 = L2 I + C 2V
dt 2 dt 2 dt

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 Using Conservation Laws

• Simplifying
dWTOTAL dI L dVC
=0=L IL + C VC
dt dt dt
• This expression will hold if
dI L dVC
VL = L IC = C
dt dt

• Noting that
VC = −VL IC = I L

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 Using Conservation Laws
I
+ VL

VC +

• Note that for the tank circuit

The same current I flows through both
components

The convention is that the current enters
the higher voltage end of each component
February 8, 2009 Introduction to Engineering Electronics 45
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 Using Conservation Laws

• Experimentally, it was also determined

that the current-voltage relationship for
a capacitor is dVC
IC = C
dt
• Experimentally, it was also determined
that the current-voltage relationship for
an inductor is dI L
VL = L
dt
February 8, 2009 Introduction to Engineering Electronics 46
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 Using Conservation Laws
• Applying the I-V relationship for a
capacitor to the expressions we saw
before for charging a capacitor through
a resistor

V = Vo 1 − e τ 
dVC − tτ − t
IC = C I = Ioe
dt
• We see that
−t dVC  −t 
IC = Ioe τ
=C
dt
= CVo  0 − − 1τ e τ  ( )
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 Using Conservation Laws
• Simplifying
dV
−t  −t 
IC = Ioe τ = C
dt
C
= CVo  1 e τ 
τ ( )
• Which is satisfied if
Vo
τ = RC Io =
R
• The latter is the relationship for a
resistor, so the results work.
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