Analog Electronics II:

Op-amp & 555 Timer

Course instructor: EEE 311
Dr. Mohsin Sajjad Lecture
Assistant Professor # 14
North South University

©Dr.NafisaNoor,Assistant Professor, North South University

Chapter 15.4. from Microelectronic Circuit Analysis and Design by Donald A Neaman 4th Ed.

Many applications, especially digital electronic systems, use a nonsinusoidal squarewave

oscillator to provide a clock signal for the system.
In other applications, a single pulse of known height and width is used to initiate a
particular set of functions.

The Schmitt trigger can be used in an

oscillator circuit to generate a square-
wave output signal.
This circuit has no stable states. It is therefore
called an astable multivibrator.

The high saturated output denoted by VH = VP

The low saturated output denoted by VL = −VP

If vO is low, or vO = −VP , then v+ = −(1/2)VP .

When vX drops just slightly below v+, the output

switches high so that vO = +VP and v+ = +(1/2 )VP

The RXCX network sees a positive step-increase

in voltage, so capacitor CX begins to charge and
voltage vX starts to increase toward a final
value of VP .
The general equation for the voltage across a
capacitor in an RC network is

Voltage vX increases exponentially with time

toward a final voltage VP . However, when vX
becomes just slightly greater than v+ = +(1/2)VP ,
the output switches to its low state of vO = −VP
and v+ = −(1/2)VP .
The RXCX network sees a negative step change
in voltage, so capacitor CX now begins to
discharge and voltage vX starts to decrease
toward a final value of −VP .

Time t1 can be found by setting t = t1 when

vX = VP/2,
Multivibrator
Multivibrator is an electronic circuit used to implement 2-state devices,
such as oscillator, timer, flip flop, etc.
2-state: 2 voltage levels Vhigh and Vlow
In digital electronics, Logic 1 and Logic 0
Multivibrators can be made with op-amp / 555 timer / transistor.
Based on the number of stable states, multivibrators can be categorized
into 3 types
555 Timer
Popular in timing related applications

✓ Tone and alarm generation

✓ Frequency division
✓ Provide timing delays
✓ As relaxation oscillator
555 Timer – Pin diagram

8 pin DIP Package

555 Timer – Block diagram

Comparator 1

Driver
Comparator 2 SR circuit

R
555 Timer – Voltage divider network
Supply voltage pin: 4.5 to 15 V (Vhigh)

0 V (Vlow)
555 Timer – comparators
Pin 6 and pin 2 can change the timings of the output signal

R Comparator 1
Pin 6, Vx: input of comparator 1
x VO1
t h reshold x VO1 = Vhigh
R
Comparator 2
VO2
y
Pin 2, Vy: input of comparator 2

trigger y VO2 = Vhigh

R
SR Flip-flop
S R Q(n) Q(n+1)

0 0 0/1 0/1

0 1 0/1 0 (RESET)

1 0 0/1 1 (SET)

1 1 0/1 × (INVALID)
555 Timer – Block diagram External R and C are connected between
pin 6 (threshold) and 7(discharge) between
Externally other Vref can be applied to comparator 1, pins 8 (Vcc) and 1 (Gnd)
it can change the o/p signal timing, too

R Comparator 1

x
Driver
R SR circuit
Comparator 2
y

R
555 Timer – Block diagram Reset pin: Logic 0 (Active low pin)
It resets the flip-flop and o/p of flip-flop

R Comparator 1

x
Driver
R SR circuit
Comparator 2
y

R
A monostable multivibrator, also called a one-shot, operates by charging a timing
capacitor with a current set by an external resistance.

With a high voltage V+ applied to the

trigger input, the trigger comparator
output is low, the flip-flop output .Q is
high.
The discharge transistor is turned on, and
the timing capacitor C is discharged to
nearly ground potential. The output of the
555 circuit is then low,

The 555 circuit connected as a

monostable multivibrator
When a negative-going pulse is applied to the
trigger input, the output of the trigger
comparator goes high when the trigger pulse
drops below (1/3)V+.
Then output Q goes low, which means that the
output of the 555 goes high, and the discharge
transistor turns off.

The output of the 555 remains high even if the

trigger pulse returns
to its initial high value, because the reset input
to the flip-flop is still low.

The capacitor voltage is given by

The width of the output pulse is determined by
setting v(t) = (2/3)V+ and t = T
Astable Multivibrator (Free running) - Review
Output is not stable in any of the two states.
Output continuously change between the 2 states.
There is no input trigger

Thigh and Tlow depend on externally connected R and C

Application: relaxation oscillator
Astable Multivibrator
Reset (4) and control (5) pins are not used.
Reset pin (4) is connected to Vhigh = Vcc (⸪ active low).
Control pin (5) is connected to Vlow = 0 V via a capacitor.

Threshold (6) and trigger (2) pins are connected (⸪ no input trigger).
Astable Multivibrator When the circuit is just turned ON,
Capacitor is fully uncharged: 2 6

0
off
V6 1
Vx VO1

Vy VO2
0 1
V2

𝑥 𝐶𝐶 𝑦 𝐶𝐶

𝑥 2 𝑦 6

𝑂1 = 𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑂2 = ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ
Astable Multivibrator 𝑥 𝐶𝐶 𝑦 𝐶𝐶

0
off
V6 1
Vx VO1

Vy VO2
0 1
V2

When :
Transistor is OFF
𝑜 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ

Capacitor will charge through R1 and R2

2 6 will gradually increase
Astable Multivibrator 𝑥 𝐶𝐶 𝑦 𝐶𝐶

0
off
V6 1
Vx VO1

Vy VO2
0 1
V2

When 2 :
𝑂2 = 𝑙𝑜𝑤

Memory state :
Transistor is OFF
𝑜 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ
Astable Multivibrator 𝑥 𝐶𝐶 𝑦 𝐶𝐶

V6 Vx VO1

Vy VO2

V2

When 6 :
𝑂1 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ

Reset state :
Capacitor will discharge through R2 Transistor is ON
2 6 will gradually decrease 𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑤
Astable Multivibrator 𝑥 𝐶𝐶 𝑦 𝐶𝐶

V6 Vx VO1

Vy VO2

V2

When 6 :
𝑂1 𝑙𝑜𝑤

Memory state :
Transistor is ON
Capacitor will discharge through R2
6 will gradually decrease
𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑤
2
Astable Multivibrator 𝑥 𝐶𝐶 𝑦 𝐶𝐶

V6 Vx VO1

Vy VO2

V2

When 2 :
𝑂2 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ

Set state :
Transistor is OFF
Capacitor will charge through R1 and R2
ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ
6 will gradually increase
𝑜
2
 In the astable mode, the timing capacitor
C charges through RA = RB until v(t) reaches
(2/3)V+. The threshold comparator output then
goes high, forcing the flip-flop output Q to go
high

The discharge transistor turns on, and the

timing capacitor C discharges through RB and
the discharge transistor. The capacitor voltage
decreases until it reaches (1/3)V+, at which
Astable multivibrator 555 circuit point the trigger comparator switches states
and sends Q low.

When v(t) reaches the threshold level of

(2/3)V+, the cycle repeats itself.
When the timing capacitor is charging, during
the time 0 < t < TC

where τA = (RA + RB)C.

At time t = TC the capacitor voltage reaches the

threshold level

When the timing capacitor is discharging,

during the time 0 < t< TD
At time t= TD, the capacitor voltage reaches the
trigger level
Combining Equations of RA and RB