NE555/SA555/NA555
PRECISION TIMERS
Typical Applications Characteristics (cont.)
Astable Operation
As shown in Figure 4, adding a second resistor, RB, to the circuit of Figure 1 and connecting the trigger input to the threshold
input causes the timer to self-trigger and run as a multivibrator. The capacitor C charges through RA and RB and then
discharges through RB. Therefore, the duty cycle is controlled by the values of RA and RB.
This astable connection results in capacitor C charging and discharging between the threshold-voltage level (≉0.67VCC) and
the trigger-voltage level (≉0.33VCC). As in the monostable circuit, charge and discharge times (and, therefore, the frequency
and duty cycle) are independent of the supply voltage.
VCC
(5V to 15V)
0.01µF
Open
RA (See Note A) 5
4
CONT
RESET
7 DISCH
RB
6
THRES
2
TRIG
8
VCC
OUT 3
C
GND
1
RL
Output
Decoupling CONT voltage to ground with a capacitor can
improve operation. This should be evaluated for individual
applications.
Fig. 4 Circuit for Astable Operation
Fig. 5 Typical Astable Waveforms
Figure 5 shows typical waveforms generated during astable operation. The output high-level duration tH and low-level
duration tL can be calculated as follows:
tH = 0.693(RA +RB)C
tL = 0.693(RB)C
Other useful equations are:
period = tH + tL = 0.693(RA + 2RB)C
frequency = 1.44/(RA + 2RB)C
output driver duty cycle = tL/(tH + tL) = RB/(RA + 2RB)
output waveform duty cycle = tH/(tH + tL) = 1 – RB/(RA + 2RB)
low to high ratio = tL/tH = RB/(RA + RB)
Fig. 6 Free Running Frequency
NE555/SA555/NA555
Document number: DS35112 Rev. 4 - 2
8 of 14
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February 2012
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